Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Chemotherapy

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Long-Term Complications.

• Fatigue and Somatic Symptoms. Chemotherapy has been associated with long-term somatic symptoms, which are general conditions, such as fatigue and aches and pains that have no apparent physical basis. Fatigue is especially common after chemotherapy and may last for several years.
• The most serious long-term complications from chemotherapy are secondary cancers, particularly in people over age 40.
• Infertility is a risk, particularly with the use of cyclophosphamide.
• Some patients develop osteoporosis (bone thinning) and damage in bone cells.
• Regimens containing certain drugs, particularly doxorubicin or mitoxantrone, increase the risk for future heart failure.

In general, these serious late side effects are dependent on the cumulative drug dose and rate of administration.

Review Date: 01/27/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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