Chemotherapy has many common side effects. Most occur during treatment and begin to go away shortly after treatment ends. Others can last for months or even years. Side effects from chemotherapy depend on the chemotherapy drugs given.

Some of the most common short-term side effects of chemotherapy are hair loss, nausea and vomiting. If hair loss occurs, it affects the entire body. However, it’s not permanent. Hair will begin to grow back 1 to 2 months after the last treatment. New hair may grow back a different color or texture. Your hair texture will return to normal over many months.

Scalp cooling may slightly reduce hair loss. With scalp cooling, you wear a special cap filled with a very cold substance before, during and after each chemotherapy session.

Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause nausea than others. To help prevent and control nausea and vomiting, your health care provider will prescribe anti- nausea medications and give you instructions on how to use them.

Chemotherapy can cause a drop in your white blood cell count, which can make you susceptible to infection, and this might cause a delay in your next chemotherapy session. Some chemotherapy plans include white blood cell growth factor medications.

Chemotherapy can also cause a drop in your red blood cell count (called anemia). Anemia can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. It can also make you look pale.

Sometimes, anemia can be treated by increasing iron or folate in your diet. Severe anemia can be treated with a blood transfusion.

Other side effects can include fatigue and sleep problems, mouth and throat sores, diarrhea, fingernail and toenail changes, nerve pain, muscle pain, weight gain, cognitive problems, temporary loss of periods and early menopause.

Heart damage and leukemia are rare long term side effects of some types of chemotherapy. For most people with breast cancer, the benefits of chemotherapy far outweigh the risk of side effects.

More information about treatment options for breast cancer is available in the Treatment section of the Komen website.