Late effects of cancer treatment: what nurses need to know

People are surviving cancer for longer, but there may be long-term effects nurses should be aware of to inform and support patients and improve quality of life

• Long-term or late effects may include lymphoedema, effects on the heart, lungs, bones, head and neck, bowel and bladder and fertility
• An estimated one in four people with cancer in the UK are living with long-term consequences of treatments
• Many people experience emotional and psychological late effects during or after treatment

In the UK today, the