Common side effects

The surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and medications used to treat lung cancer can have a variety of side effects both during and after treatment. These include:

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• Shortness of breath: This may result from chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Your doctor may recommend oxygen or an inhaler. It's less likely to occur after surgery in patients with otherwise healthy lungs, but people who smoke or have other lung diseases like emphysema may experience shortness of breath for a prolonged period.
• Nausea and vomiting: These are common side effects of chemotherapy, along with hair loss and fatigue. Radiation treatments can also lead to nausea and fatigue. Ask your doctor about ways to counteract these side effects. A number of effective treatments have recently been developed for nausea.
• Cognitive or other brain problems: Radiation to the brain can cause memory loss, fuzzy thinking, and other cognitive deficits even years after treatment. Ask your doctor if there is anything that can be done about symptoms.