Side effects of early breast cancer treatment

It’s important to remember that some people have very few side effects from early breast cancer treatment.

The symptoms you experience depend on the type of treatment you receive. Your general health and wellbeing can also affect how you respond to surgery or medications.

We explain the normal and less common side effects and ways to manage them.

Talk to your breast cancer specialist or GP about any side effects that are bothering you.

Side effects of treatment

We explain the common and less-common side effects you may experience during and after treatment.

• Chemotherapy side effects
• Radiotherapy side effects
• Targeted therapy side effects
• Hormone-blocking therapy side effects.

Individual side effects

If side effects are affecting your life and bothering you, ask your treating team for ways to help. Often you can reduce the impact.

• Brain fog or cognitive impairment – feeling ‘vague’ or ‘in a fog'
• Constipation
• Cording – tightness under your arm that makes it hard to lift your arm or extend your elbow
• Diarrhoea
• Eye problems
• Fatigue – extreme tiredness
• Hair loss
• Infection
• Joint pain
• Lymphoedema – swelling in the tissue under the skin
• Menopausal symptoms and early menopause
• Mouth problems such as mouth ulcers, dry mouth and taste changes
• Nail changes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nerve and muscle problems
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Bone density – bones may become weak
• Seroma – fluid under the skin post-surgery
• Sexual changes
• Skin issues or reactions
• Sleep problems
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Urinary symptoms.

Emotional wellbeing

It’s important to look after your emotional and mental health while you are dealing with side effects. Anxiety and depression during and after treatment are common but help is available.

Find out about:

• Emotional wellbeing
• Psychology and counselling support.