Side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy | Side effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer

Side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy

An adjuvant (postoperative) therapy for breast cancer means that this therapy is used after an operation. Often the operated tumours were localised. It is recommended that adjuvant chemotherapy is given after the operation to reduce the risk of relapse.

Even after a successful operation, there is still the possibility that cancer cells can still be found somewhere in the body, which can cause a relapse, a so-called recurrence. Non-specific (i.e. broad-based) chemotherapy is used to destroy potentially remaining cancer cells. All chemotherapy, whether adjuvant or neoadjuvant, has similar side effects, but they vary from person to person. Dry mucous membranes are less common in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients.

Side effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy

With neoadjuvant (preoperative) chemotherapy, basically the same side effects occur as with adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant means that chemotherapy is given before surgery. In this way, the tumour can be reduced in size or disappear completely in some patients. Again, the symptoms are not regionally limited to the tumor, but affect the entire body.

Late effects of chemotherapy

While the acute side effects can usually be kept in check very well with highly effective drugs, it is not yet completely clear whether chemotherapy will have late effects. Many cancer patients are not affected because they are already advanced in age during the disease. However, this is particularly important for children and adolescents, as chemotherapy is mostly used because of its effectiveness and patients have a long life expectancy after successful treatment.

It is assumed that some cytostatic drugs can cause secondary tumours, but only many years after the treatment of the first tumour. In addition, damage to other organs can occur. The organ tissue is destroyed and can severely restrict the function of the affected organ.

Nerve cells are often attacked in the process. In addition, the heart is also increasingly attacked in some patients. In some young women, a premature onset of the menopause has been noticed and in young men often a loss of fertility.