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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Chemotherapy may cause the following long-term side effects:Bone conditionsIn addition to targeting cancerous cells, chemotherapy affects healthy cells such as those in the bones and marrow. This may speed up bone loss, leading to broken bones. Chemotherapy can also cause dietary problems and may make it possible for a person to have bone issues resulting from vitamin D deficiency.Other therapies, such as hormone therapies, may also affect the bones and bone density. A person who undergoes hormone therapy as part of their cancer treatment may experience bone density changes.Doctors may recommend taking a baseline bone density measurement before starting treatment. This can help them identify treatment effects and recommend secondary treatments and precautions for those at a higher risk of bone loss.Heart-related conditionsIn some people, chemotherapy may cause late side effects in the heart, such as:irregular heartbeat or arrhythmiaheart diseasehigh blood pressurecongestive heart failurevalvular diseasestrokeResearch from 2017 notes that some side effects, such as cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) complications, may not occur until 20 years after cancer treatment.Heart-related side effects may be more pronounced if a person undergoes other therapies in the same area of the body, such as chest radiation therapy for lung cancer.Lung conditionsdecreased lung capacitypulmonary fibrosis, which is an increase in scar tissueinflammation in the lungstrouble breathing or shortness of breathLung problems may be more likely with specific drugs or with treatments that target the lung area, such as chest radiation therapy for lung cancer. Anyone with a high risk for other lung conditions should discuss
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