The research articles cited here are those that provide overviews rather than detailed material on specific late effects. I still wonder if I'm going to relapse. Even though I had over 400 shots, lots of L.P.'s, bone marrow tests, took all sorts of awful tasting medison, lost half my hair, stayed in the hospital, missed lots of school, and got rather chuby, I'm really glad that there were so many people that helped me. They kept their hopes alive for me to get better. A late effect is one that appears some time after treatment is complete.
Late effects can occur in almost any tissue or organ of the body.
The late effects of radiation therapy usually occur in or near the area of the body that received radiation therapy, while chemotherapy can cause late effects anywhere in the body. Many late effects can be treated or managed and leave no obvious long-term impairment. The central nervous system is very susceptible to radiation therapy. One possible late effect of radiation therapy to the brain is the development of learning difficulties. Children treated as preschoolers or with higher doses are more susceptible than others.