large_hero

About Breast Cancer > Side effects

Side effects

8 Min. Read

About Breast Cancer > Side effects

general_content

Each person diagnosed with breast cancer is unique. So is each treatment plan, and different people experience different side effects. For example, some chemotherapies cause hair loss; others don't. And some people experience nausea or weight gain during treatment, while others may not.

Side effects can be short-term or last longer (long-term effects). Side effects can also happen at different times: during treatment, or months or years afterward. Those — the ones that show up years after treatment has ended — are called late effects.

on_this_page
general_content

There are many different types of side effects, and whether they happen depends on many things, including:

  • The type of treatment being used
  • The treatment dose
  • Other treatments being taken at the same time
  • How your individual body reacts to a medicine

We know that side effects don’t just impact your body — they can affect your sense of emotional wellbeing, too. You may look different than you did before your diagnosis. You may feel different physically, and how you feel about your body may change.

On a practical level, side effects can sometimes mean changes to your daily routine. Recovering from surgery can impact an exercise regimenChemotherapy can sometimes affect appetite and diet.

At LBBC, we’re here for you with support for managing side effects. Many side effects are temporary, and most can be reduced. On this page, we’ll share links to more information about different side effects: what they can feel like, when and how likely they are to occur, and the treatments that may cause them.

We’ll also share tips for talking about side effects, and ways to start a conversation with your doctors. Talking openly with your healthcare team can help.

It’s important to know that symptoms of breast cancer are different than the side effects of breast cancer treatment. For more information about symptoms of breast cancer, visit Breast cancer symptoms.

general_content

Common side effects

Here are some of the common side effects that can happen with different breast cancer treatments. Not everyone will experience every side effect. On each page below, we’ll walk you through tips and strategies for managing them if they do happen.

3_callout_rows
general_content

Practical and personal issues

Breast cancer affects more than just your breasts. It can impact your quality of life: your day-to-day routines and the person you know yourself to be, emotionally and physically.

  • Surgeries such as mastectomy or hair loss from chemotherapy are just some examples of how treatment can change the way you feel about your physical self — your body image.
  • A breast cancer diagnosis and treatment can also have emotional side effects.
  • If you are young and premenopausal (still having menstrual periods), breast cancer treatments can affect your fertility.
  • Hair loss may affects the way you view your body and femininity.

Still, there are many ways to manage body image and emotional issues that can come up, including one-on-one counseling and support groups. You can learn more by visiting our community page.

general_content

Treatment side effects

Here are the most common breast cancer treatments that can cause side effects:

While there can be many different side effects with different treatments, remember that not everyone experiences every side effect. Your healthcare team can help you prevent or manage the ones that do happen.

general_content

Reporting side effects

If you’re experiencing a side effect that’s concerning to you, let your doctor know. Most treatments for breast cancer have well-known side effects. Treatments that are newly approved may have rare side effects. If you’re trying a newly approved treatment and have a side effect that wasn’t expected, talk with your doctor about the possibility of reporting it to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Reporting rare side effects lets the FDA know about any unexpected risks with a new drug, and can help protect public health. To learn more, visit FDA.

related_resources_article_carousel

Related resources

Related articles and posts

3_callout_columns
stay_connected

Stay connected

Sign up to receive emotional support, medical insight, personal stories, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly.

about_this_page_tabbed_module