Editing Cervical cancer (section)

===Adverse Effects===
Chemotherapy works by attacking cells that rapidly divide. This kills cancer cells, but can also impact normal cells leading to adverse side effects. Common chemotherapy side effects include; hair loss, mouth sores, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, premature menopause, infertility, and damage to the blood-forming cells within bone marrow. Most acute side effects are temporary, dissipating when treatment ceases, but some can be long-lasting or permanent. Long-term chemotherapy side effects include changes in the menstrual cycle, neuropathy, and [[nephrotoxicity]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer |url=https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/treating/chemotherapy.html |website=www.cancer.org |publisher=American Cancer Society |access-date=24 October 2024 |date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>

Radiation therapy (RT) adverse effects; for a complete side effect list see {{Main|Radiation therapy#Side effects}}

Curative cervical radiation therapy may affect unintended tissues located within the delivery pathway(s) or adjacent to the target lesion, each tissue with a [[Radiosensitivity|unique sensitivity and response to radiation injury]]. Common acute RT effects involve the gastrointestinal system, e.g., diarrhea and constipation; urinary tract, e.g., frequent urination; and may cause [[cervicitis]]. Common late RT complications include: infertility or [[Primary ovarian insufficiency|premature ovarian failure]]; [[vaginal stenosis#Causes|vaginal stenosis]]; lower motor neuron syndrome; [[telangiectasias]], and subsequent hemorrhage; and [[myelopathy|progressive myelopathy]], which may result in irreversible neurologic deficits ranging from minor sensory symptoms to complete [[paraplegia]].<ref name="Majeed2023">{{cite book |last1=Majeed |first1=Hafsa |last2=Gupta |first2=Vikas |title=Adverse Effects of Radiation Therapy |date=August 14, 2023 |publisher=StatPearls Publishing LLC. |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563259/ |pmid=33085406 |id=NBK563259 |access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref> Radiotherapy late effects (with occurrence rates) include [[osteonecrosis]] (8-20%), [[Interstitial cystitis|bladder ulceration]] (<3%), [[vaginal stenosis]] (>2.5%)<ref name="LateEffects2023">{{cite journal |last1=Schmitt |first1=Luiza G. |last2=Amarnath |first2=Sudha R. |title=Late Effects of Pelvic Radiation Therapy in the Female Patient: A Comprehensive Review |journal=Applied Radiation Oncology |date=September 1, 2023 |volume=2023 |issue=3 |pages=13–24 |doi=10.37549/ARO-D-23-00016 |url=https://www.appliedradiationoncology.com/articles/late-effects-of-pelvic-radiation-therapy-in-the-female-patient-a-comprehensive-review |access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> and chronic [[Radiation enteropathy|pelvic radiation disease]] (1-10%), e.g., [[Radiation-induced lumbar plexopathy|irreversible lumbosacral plexopathy]].<ref name="CCR-19-2744">{{cite journal |last1=Huh |first1=Jung Wook |last2=Tanksley |first2=Jarred |last3=Chino |first3=Junzo |last4=Willett |first4=Christopher G. |last5=Dewhirst |first5=Mark W. |title=Long-term Consequences of Pelvic Irradiation: Toxicities, Challenges, and Therapeutic Opportunities with Pharmacologic Mitigators |journal=Clinical Cancer Research |date=July 1, 2020 |volume=26 |issue=13 |pages=3079–3090 |doi=10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-2744 |pmid=32098770 |url=https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article/26/13/3079/82622/Long-term-Consequences-of-Pelvic-Irradiation |access-date=24 October 2024 |issn=1078-0432}}</ref>

Pelvic radiation also induces secondary malignancies such as [[leukemia]], [[lymphoma]], [[bladder cancer]], pelvic malignancy, [[colorectal cancer]], bone, and [[soft-tissue sarcoma]] with occurrence rates between 0.2 and 1.0% per year for each.<ref name="Majeed2023" />