Late effects of cancer treatment
A guide to help people who have finished cancer treatment
Some people have side effects from cancer treatment that begin months or years after treatment has finished. These are called late effects. Physical late effects may include tiredness (fatigue), pain or sleep issues. Emotional late effects may include depression or anxiety. Late effects may last for a short or long time.
Some physical late effects are linked to certain treatments. Emotional effects can happen after any cancer treatment. Your healthcare team can help you with advice and support.
To learn more about late effects, how common they are and how they can be managed, see our Late effects of cancer treatment information at the Cancer Connect website.
Need to talk?
Key resource
The information on this page is also available for download.
Prof Janette Vardy, Medical Oncologist, Research Lead Behaviour and Health, Australian Research Centre for Cancer Survivorship (a UNSW partnership with Cancer Council NSW); Gillian Blanchard, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater Newcastle, NSW; Gregory Bock, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Oncology Coordinator, Urology Cancer Nurse Coordination Service, Cancer Network WA; Dr Teresa Brown, Assistant Director Dietetics, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Anthea Carey, Consumer; Dr Simon Cowap, General Practitioner, Fountain St General Practice, NSW; Dr Nicola Fearn, Lecturer, The University of Sydney, Occupational Therapist and Accredited Lymphoedema Therapist, The Lymphoedema Clinic Wollongong, NSW; Dr Maria Ftanou, Director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Helena Hobson, Senior Social Worker, Cancer Centre, Fiona Stanley Hospital and South Metropolitan Health Service, WA; Melanie Moore, Lead Exercise Physiology Clinical Educator, University of Canberra, Faculty of Health Clinics, Canberra, ACT; Giovanna Raco, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council VIC; Danielle Rippin, Consumer; Dr Kirsty Wiltshire, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Clinical (Senior Lecturer), The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, VIC.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.