This is usually an uncomfortable but self limited toxicity that can be alleviated with special mouth rinses. Diarrhea that sometimes occurs can also be treated with widely available and effective symptomatic agents. Hair loss is common with many anticancer drugs and usually begins two weeks after treatment. This is specific to certain agents and does not occur in all patients. Some patients' hair may begin to regrow despite continue treatment with the offending agent.
Full recovery occurs after cessation of treatment.
Production of sperm in men and of eggs in women is susceptible to toxic effects of many anticancer agents. Patients contemplating having children should discuss their chemotherapeutic regimen and its effect on fertility with their physicians. Many anticancer agents are carcinogens. Patients who are long term survivors of chemotherapy may be at increased risk for developing a second malignancy. This effect became apparent when prolonged survival began to be obtained in malignant disease.