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Colorectal Cancer: Post Treatment 6 Months +: Medical Care Stages II,III,IV

If You Had Chemotherapy

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Tests

Tests and imaging studies such as a CT scan, an MRI test or a PET scan are usually repeated periodically.

Side Effects

After chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer, the following are common side effects and complications to be aware of. Keep in mind that there is no way to predict what side effects any particular person will experience.

  • Abdominal pain and cramping.
  • Blood counts may remain low for years.
    • Medications are available to raise red and white blood cell levels.
    • If white blood cell count is low, do what you reasonably can to avoid infection. To learn how, click here.
  • Bowel cramping and intestinal blockages can continue for a long period of time. For some people, it is permanent. 
  • “Chemo brain” 
    • Chemo brain is a general fuzziness in thinking and recall.
    • Chemo brain may continue from during treatment, or it may show up. Chemo brain will likely go away, although for some people it is permanent. 
    • For information about how to reduce the effect of chemo brain, click here.
  • Diarrhea. If you had the entire colon removed, there is no cure for diarrhea. Changes in diet may lessen the frequency or looseness of your stool. For everyone else, click here to learn how to cope with diarrhea. 
  • Fatigue may continue for years after treatment. Fatigue generally at least continues for at least as long as the time between diagnosis and end of treatment. To learn tips for coping with fatigue, click here.
  • Fertility: may improve over years following treatment, or it may never recover. For information about fertility, for men, click here. For women, click here.
  • Neuropathy 
    • Neuropathy is pain, burning, weakness or numbness in the hands or feet
    • If you had platinum based therapy (for example, oxaliplatin), neuropathy may continue for years. For information, click here.
  • Psychological issues such as the following. For information and tips about what to do about each issue, click on the link.

Contact your cancer doctor if:

  • You experience any of the above conditions and the tips provided in related documents don’t help.
  • If any of the conditions are so severe that they interfere with your daily living.
  • Unexpected symptoms appear. Also let your primary care doctor know about these symptoms in case they do not relate to colorectal cancer.
  • You experience any of the symptoms listed in the section:   “If These Symptoms Appear, Contact Your Doctor

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