Common side effects of non-surgical cancer treatments

Non-surgical cancer treatments include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy which includes hormone therapy.

All of these treatments can have side effects - from general issues such as fatigue and nausea to more specific effects. However, this depends on the type of treatment and the area of the body involved.

These are some of the most common side effects that patients experience.You can also watch the video below to learn about specific side effects of radiotherapy.

constipation Created with Sketch. Constipation

Constipation side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • No bowel movement in the last 24 hours (consider though what is ‘normal‘ for you first)

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • No bowel movements in the last 48 hours, despite taking any medication prescribed for your constipation

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • No bowel movements in 72 hours
  • New abdominal pain
  • Swollen abdomen and / or not passing wind

Advice

diarrhoea Created with Sketch. Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Only 1 extra episode (above your ‘normal’) in the last 24 hours

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Between 2-6 extra episodes in the last 24 hours.
  • If you are on immunotherapy and having diarrhoea follow the advice under severe symptoms

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Increase to 7 or more episodes in a day
  • Incontinence with or without abdominal pain
  • Bloody diarrhoea

Advice

fatigue Created with Sketch. Fatigue

Fatigue side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Some tiredness but not interfering with activities for daily living

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Spending some time in bed during the day but not more than 50%
  • Reduction in ability to perform some activities of daily living

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Spending more than 50% of time in bed and not able to perform activities of daily living

Advice

sick Created with Sketch. Feeling sick or being sick

Feeling sick or being sick side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Able to eat and drink normal intake
  • Only 1 episode of sickness in 24 hours
  • Passing normal amounts of urine

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Can eat and drink but less than normal
  • 2-5 episodes of sickness in 24 hours
  • Less urine than normal

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Not really able to eat or drink
  • 6-10 episodes of being sick in 24 hours
  • Much less urine than normal

Advice

infection Created with Sketch. Infection while on treatment

Infection while on treatment side effects

Medium

Symptoms

  • Generally well, but suspicious about the possibility of infection

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Generally unwell with some signs of infection with or without a temperature
  • Temperature below 36c or above 37.5c
  • Shaking or shivering
  • Burning when passing urine
  • Productive cough
  • Perfuse diarrhoea with or without a temperature

Advice

pain Created with Sketch. Pain

Pain side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Mild Pain not interfering with activities of daily living

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Moderate Pain
  • Pain or Painkillers interfering with function but not activities of daily living

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Severe Pain
  • Pain or Painkillers interfering with activities of daily living

Advice

numbness Created with Sketch. Pins and needles, numbness or limb weakness

Pins and needles, numbness or limb weakness side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Mild numbness, pins and needles occasionally
  • No loss of function
  • No weakness

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Mild or moderate pins and needles often or for long periods
  • Mild weakness with no loss of function

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Severe numbness or weakness that interferes with normal movement or function

Advice

breath Created with Sketch. Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath side effects

Medium

Symptoms

  • New onset shortness of breath on exertion (for example climbing the stairs)
  • A new cough

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Shortness of breath at normal level of activity (walking) OR at rest

Advice

rash Created with Sketch. Skin rash

Skin rash side effects

Medium

Symptoms

  • New or worsening rash
  • With or without itching or pain

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Severe discomfort, pain or itching
  • Affecting normal lifestyle

Advice

hands Created with Sketch. Sore or tingling hands and feet

Sore or tingling hands and feet side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Numbness, tingling
  • Slight redness but no pain

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Painful hands or feet with or without redness
  • Swelling/numbness or tingling

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Skin peeling, ulceration, blistering with or without severe pain

Advice

mouth Created with Sketch. Sore mouth

Sore mouth side effects

Mild

Symptoms

  • Painless ulcers or cold sores
  • Mild soreness but able to eat and drink

Advice

Medium

Symptoms

  • Painful redness, swelling or ulcers
  • Can still eat and drink but intake reduced

Advice

Severe

Symptoms

  • Painful redness, swelling or ulcers and difficulty eating and drinking

Advice