Understanding & Managing Long-Term Effects After Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatment can be life-saving, but sometimes it comes with side effects that last longer than expected – or appear much later. These are called late effects.
Late effects fall into two main types:
- Long-term effects that start during or shortly after treatment and last for more than six months (and may be permanent).
- Late-onset effects that only appear months or even years after treatment has finished.
Not everyone will experience late effects, and for many people, they don’t have a big impact on daily life. Others may need to make some small adjustments – but the good news is that there’s lots of support and ways to manage them.
Your medical team can explain what, if any, late effects you might be at risk of, depending on:
- the type of cancer you had
- the treatment you received
- how old you were during treatment
Support & Information
To help you stay informed, we’ve provided a link below to a Late Effects Factsheet from The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association. These are written by clinical experts who specialise in supporting young people after cancer treatment. They’re designed to help you understand what to expect and how to take care of your health now and in the future.
Your follow-up team will also guide you through which late effects are most relevant to you and how to monitor your health going forward.