Leukaemia treatment and side effects

Fatigue is when you’re totally drained in body or mind. It can also cause brain fog. Things that help include balancing rest with activity, and learning what’s doable for you by keeping track of your symptoms.

Anaemia means having a low level of red blood cells. It can cause tiredness and breathlessness. You may be offered a blood transfusion to treat this.

Blood cancer and treatments like chemotherapy can weaken your immune system and make you more likely to get infections. It’s good to know the signs of an infection so you can get treatment like antibiotics quickly. There are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting infections. We have more information on signs of infection and reducing your risk.

You might have a sore mouth or soreness in the lining of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes your food pipe, stomach and gut. This is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It can be painful, but it is treatable with medicines and gets better with time. Read more about mucositis.

Hair loss can be caused by chemotherapy and other treatments. There are lots of things that can help you deal with hair loss, and your hair will grow back once your treatment has finished.

You may have diarrhoea (frequent, loose or watery poo) or be constipated (find it hard to poo). There are medicines for this, and changes to your diet may help. Ask your healthcare team to refer you to a dietitian.

Feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) can be side effects of the treatment. Anti-sickness drugs (also called anti-emetics) can help. If you’re feeling sick, eat small, light meals or snacks. Peppermint tea, a fizzy drink or foods containing ginger can reduce nausea. Read more about managing sickness and vomiting.

Chemotherapy treatment can affect whether you are able to have children (your fertility). It’s important to talk to your healthcare team about this if it worries you, as there are ways to preserve fertility.

While you’re having chemotherapy, it’s essential to avoid getting pregnant, because the drugs may harm the baby.

Some treatments for leukaemia can cause other long-term health problems, such as problems with your thyroid, heart or lung. This will depend on the type and strength of treatments you’ve had.  Ask your healthcare team for more information about the risks and benefits of treatment.