Table of Contents What Is Leukemia? Normal/Leukemia Cells Types of Leukemia Leukemia Symptoms Diagnosis of Leukemia Leukemia Treatment Getting a Second Opinion Methods of Leukemia Treatment Leukemia Clinical Trials Supportive Care Side Effects of Leukemia Treatment Leukemia Treatment with Chemotherapy Leukemia Treatment with Radiation Therapy Leukemia Treatment with Bone Marrow Transplants Nutrition for Leukemia Cancer Patients Followup Care Support for Leukemia Patients What the Future Holds Possible Causes of Leukemia Keeping on Top of Your Condition

Side Effects of Leukemia Treatment

It is hard to limit the effects of therapy so that only leukemia cells are destroyed. Because treatment also damages healthy cells and tissues, it causes side effects.

The side effects of cancer treatment vary. They depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. Also, each person reacts differently. Side effects may even be different from one treatment to the next. Doctors try to plan the patient's therapy to keep side effects to a minimum.

Doctors and nurses can explain the side effects of treatment and can suggest medicine, diet changes, or other ways to deal with them.