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Navigating life after treatment for acute myeloid leukemia
Managing the long-term effects on your
What are long-term effects of treatment?
Let’s discover what long-term effects of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia are, how likely you are to experience them, and find out the truth behind some common misconceptions.
What are long-term effects of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia?
Long-term effects of acute myeloid leukemia treatment are health issues that can develop weeks, months, or years after the treatment is finished.
You may feel happy and relieved when your treatment ends, and it is natural to hope you will quickly feel “normal” again.
However, this feeling may not last, and it is important to take things gently and not rush yourself. It may take some time to heal physically and emotionally after treatment.
Long-term effects of treatment on your body
Now that we understand what long-term effects of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia are, let’s look at how some of these can affect your body.
Long-term effects of treatment on your mind
It is just as important to be aware of changes to your mind as well as your body, so now let’s look at symptoms you might experience that could affect your mental health and your cognitive skills.
What long-term cognitive changes might I experience?
After completing your treatment, you may notice changes in your memory, way of thinking, and ability to concentrate. These changes are called mild cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction, often known as “chemo brain” or “chemo fog”. Common symptoms include:
Forgetting things you would usually remember
Struggling to find the right word or name for something
Having trouble following conversations
Difficulty focusing or concentrating on one task
Finding it hard to multitask
Having trouble with tasks that used to be easy, such as doing simple sums in your head
Feeling confused or disoriented
Experiencing mental cloudiness
Ways to cope and further resources
Now that you understand more about the impact treatments can have on your body and mind in the long term, let’s explore different ways to help cope with these effects.
Coping with long-term effects of treatment
Talk to your healthcare team and discuss the challenges you are facing. They may recommend:
Cognitive training
Physical activity
Talking therapies
Mind–body training
Medications
Nutrition advice