Side effects of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs can cause unpleasant side effects. However, these are mostly temporary and there are often ways of controlling or reducing them.
The main areas of the body that are affected are those where normal cells rapidly divide and grow. These include cells in the mouth, the lining of the digestive system, the skin, hair follicles and the bone marrow.
Different children will be affected by chemotherapy in different ways. Your child will not have all of the side effects described here but may have some of them. Your child’s doctor or nurse will tell you more about the side effects that are likely to occur during your child’s treatment, and ways of managing them.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
Some chemotherapy drugs lower the number of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow, so your child may become anaemic. This can make them feel very tired and breathless, and look pale. If the number of blood cells is very low, a blood transfusion can be given.
This information was written by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG).
Discover More Stories…
Uttam’s Story
Meet Uttam – just one of the 662 children as part of our ‘Closing the Cancer Gap’ appeal, including matched funding from the UK Government.
Read moreAlile’s Story
Discover Alile’s journey through cancer as recounted by her mother, from the initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment.
Read moreNaa’s Story
We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.
Read moreJoseph’s update
We first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.
Read moreKayin’s story
Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
Read moreRebecca’s Update
Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.
Read moreHassan’s story
14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.
Read moreTiwo’s story
Five years after developing cancer and two years of treatment later, six-year-old Tiwo is doing well
Read moreFranklyn’s Story
Meet Franklyn, now 17, who is fully recovered from cancer and dreams of becoming a doctor to help others
Read moreRebecca’s Success Story
Rebecca is now able to return to school after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana
Read moreMy road to recovery
Prince went on to become a childhood cancer advocate and help many other children just like him when he recovered from leukaemia. Read More
Read moreEstaphanie is excited to start university!
Meet Estaphanie, who is excited to start university after being forced to take time out of school following a cancer diagnosis
Read moreMeet Bulu
Bulu is looking forward to following in his brother’s footsteps getting back on the football field
Read moreMeet Oscar
Oscar was six years old when his mother noticed a swelling on his tummy and took him to a traditional village doctor
Read more