A lung cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. You may have many questions about what it means or what happens next. Remember that every person's lung cancer experience is unique. There is no "right" way to feel after receiving a diagnosis. Whatever emotions you're experiencing are valid. You don't have to face this alone. Your healthcare team, family, friends, and GO2 are all here to support you.
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What are the side effects of lung cancer treatment?
Side effects from lung cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment you receive, how long your treatment lasts, and how your body responds to it. You may not have any side effects, or you may only have a few. It is always important to talk to your healthcare team about ways to manage side effects before or as soon as they develop because they can often be prevented, treated, or eased with healthy practices or medicines. Cancer treatments have improved over time and so has the management of side effects.
Important things to know about the side effects of lung cancer treatment:
Some side effects of lung cancer treatment can be long-lasting. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to prevent and/or manage them. This is especially important if your ability to complete your daily activities or your quality of life is affected.
- Side effects from lung cancer treatment are not a measure of how well the treatment is working. Treatments can be very effective even if you don’t develop any side effects.
- Most lung cancer treatment side effects only occur during treatment and go away shortly after it has ended. Some side effects can last longer than others or never completely go away.
- Even if you are on the same medication as someone else, their side effects may not be the same as yours. The way someone’s body works is unique to that person.
- The longer you receive treatment, the more likely you are to have a side effect.
What are the long-term side effects of lung cancer treatment?
Some side effects of lung cancer treatment can be long-lasting. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to prevent and/or manage them. This is especially important if your ability to complete your daily activities or your quality of life is affected.
Examples of long-term side effects:
- Neuropathy, a feeling of numbness or tingling pain, usually in the hands and/or feet
- Hearing loss
- Difficulty breathing due to lung tissue damage, inflammation, or thickening of the lining of the lungs
- Heart problems such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and coronary artery disease
- Lymphedema, a buildup of fluid that causes swelling and can occur if you’ve had surgery and lymph nodes were removed
- Infertility, the inability to conceive.
Side effects of lung cancer treatment by treatment type
Your healthcare team will talk to you about the lung cancer treatment side effects that could occur with your specific treatment. Some are mild, and others require prompt medical care. It’s important to talk about possible side effects before you begin treatment so you know methods to prevent and treat them and when to contact your healthcare team or seek urgent medical care.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
Chemotherapy treatment may involve one or more chemotherapy drugs given together through an IV (a small tube placed in your vein). It works by killing fast-growing and dividing cells, such as cancer cells.
You will receive chemotherapy in cycles followed by a rest period. This cycle often repeats every 3 weeks. Other medications, such as steroids or anti-nausea medicines, may also be added to your chemotherapy as needed. All the medicines together are sometimes called a “chemo cocktail.”Chemotherapy’s side effects can include nausea, vomiting, loss of taste or appetite, hair loss, and fatigue. It can also cause low white blood cell and red blood cell counts, nerve pain, shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat and mouth sores.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
What to expect
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatment may involve one or more chemotherapy drugs given together through an IV (a small tube placed in your vein). It works by killing fast-growing and dividing cells, such as cancer cells.
You will receive chemotherapy in cycles followed by a rest period. This cycle often repeats every 3 weeks. Other medications, such as steroids or anti-nausea medicines, may also be added to your chemotherapy as needed. All the medicines together are sometimes called a “chemo cocktail.”Chemotherapy’s side effects can include nausea, vomiting, loss of taste or appetite, hair loss, and fatigue. It can also cause low white blood cell and red blood cell counts, nerve pain, shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat and mouth sores.
What happens after a scan
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
What to expect
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
What to expect
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
What to expect
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
What to expect
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
What to expect
The goal of lung cancer surgery is to remove all tumor tissue, along with a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue, to ensure that all probable cancer tissue is removed. Side effects from surgery can include pain on the side of the body where surgery occurred, numbness, and scarring at the surgery site.
Common side effects
Lack of interest in eating. Caused by changes in taste and/or smell or many other factors such as fatigue or pain.
Forceful release of air from the lungs. Can be caused by lung cancer itself or side effects of treatment.
Only if chest is treated
When hair falls out. Can vary based on the treatment type, dosage, and time in treatment. It can occur over time or all at once, affecting specific areas or the entire body.
Only to the radiated area
Trouble remembering things or completing tasks and/or feeling like it takes more mental effort to focus.
Only if brain is treated
Sensitive or painful spots on the inside of the mouth or gums. Can make eating difficult.
Feeling a need to expel food and/or doing so. It can be caused by all lung cancer treatments but can often be prevented or eased with help from your healthcare team.
Having a low white blood cell count in the blood. It can increase the risk of getting an infection.
New issues with the skin that are sometimes uncomfortable. They can include rash, redness, very dry skin, and/or changes in nails and hair.
When the throat feels swollen and inflamed or painful, or you have trouble swallowing.
Issues with falling or staying asleep that can be due to medicines, stress, or anxiety, and can occur even when you feel very tired.
Supporting you on your journey
The first step in coping with the side effects of lung cancer treatment is to have a plan in place for prevention and treatment before they occur. The next step is to tell your healthcare team about any new or serious side effects as soon as you notice them.Many people find that connecting with and learning from other people diagnosed with lung cancer is very helpful. Contact the GO2 HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org to learn about our support programs. You can join our Phone Buddy program to connect with someone who is living with lung cancer or Gathering HOPE for group support.
Palliative care
Palliative care prevents and treats symptoms and side effects related to lung cancer and lung cancer treatment. Its goal is to improve your comfort and your quality of life no matter where you are on your treatment path, you can enjoy more of what matters most to you. You can receive palliative care at any time during your cancer treatment.
Palliative care is vital if you have advanced or late-stage lung cancer. Studies show that people with lung cancer who receive ongoing palliative care that begins early in the treatment process have improved quality of life and live longer.
Ask your healthcare team if your treatment center has a palliative care team and make an appointment. If your treatment center does not have a palliative care team, ask for a referral.