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Surviving cancer is a huge accomplishment! You fought valiantly through months of cancer therapy and the side effects that came with it, but thankfully, you triumphed! However, just because you’ve reached the end of your treatment doesn’t mean cancer hasn’t left some long-term effects on your body and mind.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the transition from active cancer treatment to survivorship, as well as how to manage some of the long-term side effects.
What kind of long-term side effects can you expect after treatment?
Thanks to advancements in medicine, we are seeing more cancer fighters living into survivorship. However, there can be long-term side effects due to damage caused by the traumas of cancer and treatment. While most side effects improve after treatment, there are some that can be long-lasting or even become permanent.
The most common long-lasting side effects include:
- Pain
- Sensory Neuropathy – numbness, tingling, cold sensitivity, or pain in the hands or feet
- Fatigue
- Anxiety and depression
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Bowel Dysfunction
Pain and Neuropathy
Pain is very frequent in people who have had metastatic cancer. Pain and neuropathy can last for months after treatment has ended, and some patients have reported lingering neuropathy for years. If these side effects are interfering with your life, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your solutions. They may suggest specific treatment options or refer you to a pain management professional or physical therapist.
Fatigue
Many cancer survivors will experience fatigue far beyond the end of their cancer treatment. To help with fatigue, it is suggested to stay active during and after treatment. Exercise is important, so find something that you enjoy doing. It can be walking, biking, running, or taking an exercise class. Just make an active approach to consistently exercise. Studies show that cancer fighters who exercised daily experienced 40-50 percent reduced fatigue. Even though exercise can be daunting, it is important to keep your body moving.
Bowel dysfunction and Nutritional Deficiencies
Cancer treatment is effective at killing cancer cells, but it also harms the healthy cells that line your intestines. The healthy cells in your GI, called villi, oversee nutrient absorption. Many patients lose weight during treatment due to villi damage. Additionally, treatment can cause gaps to form between the healthy cells in the gut, allowing harmful toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This results in nausea, diarrhea, and overall fatigue. If not treated, these side effects can be long lasting.
Due to the long-term effects of cancer treatment, many cancer survivors will have bowel disfunction and malabsorption issues. Chronic diarrhea affects up to 49% of cancer survivors, with episodes lasting up to ten years following treatment. Radiation treatment can induce scarring or blunting of the villi in your gut, which can lead to issues with absorption and diarrhea.
Enterade: Feel better, for longer into survivorship
Enterade is a clinically proven, plant-based medical food that helps to manage the side effects from cancer treatment. Enterade has no known side effects and can help relieve discomfort from diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, dehydration, and unwanted weight loss. Enterade’s unique blend of plant-based amino acids helps by rebuilding the cells that line your intestines, fortifying your gut against the long-term damage caused by cancer treatments. Using Hydro Active Technology, enterade is formulated to hydrate better than leading sports drinks, oral rehydration solutions, and even water.
References
After Gastrointestinal Cancer » Coping with Cancer (copingmag.com)
Chronic Diarrhea in Post-treatment Colorectal Cancer Survivors (cancernetwork.com)
Should You Exercise When You Have Cancer? – Cleveland Clinic
How Exercise Can Lower Cancer Risk
Should You Exercise When You Have Cancer? – Cleveland Clinic
The nausea medicine I take prior to receiving Vidaza causes constipation. Will using Enterade replace the nausea medicine
Hi George, Unfortunately, if you are struggling with constipation then enterade could make it worse. Enterade is great at managing diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, dehydration and unwanted weight loss.
I am a 2x Metastatic Cancer Survivor having both chemotherapy, radiation and most recently immunotherapy. I was struggling recovering from treatments with terrible GI issues and problems within the colon. Surgery is not an option for me so my nutritionist recommended Entrade to me with confidence it would help.
I I am shocked at how well this works! I call it liquid gold! It has made such a positive difference in my recovery process. It works in ways that your body needs unknowingly. Thank you Entrade!
Thank you, Kelly for sharing! That is so great, we are very happy that enterade has allowed you to feel better and gain more confidence while going through treatment.