This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. Summary tables offer an informative look at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations. However, they should be viewed with some caution. In order to read and interpret research tables successfully, it is important to understand some key concepts. Learn how to read a research table.
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Introduction: The table below shows the frequency and severity (mild, moderate or severe) of some of the short-term side effects of chemotherapy.
Different drug combinations have different rates of side effects. For example, combinations that contain an anthracycline (doxorubicin or epirubicin) are more likely to cause total hair loss than those that don’t have an anthracycline. Short-term side effects most often go away after chemotherapy ends.
There are some common long-term side effects of chemotherapy, including early menopause or loss of periods (amenorrhea) and weight gain. Rare long-term side effects include heart problems and leukemia.
Learn more about the side effects of chemotherapy.
Study selection criteria: Review article by Partridge et al., 2001 [1].
Table note: Almost never = fewer than 1%; rare = 1-5%; uncommon = 6-20%; common = 21-50%; frequent = 50-95%; almost always = more than 95%.
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Chemotherapy Combinations
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CMF
(with oral cyclophosphamide)
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AC
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AC->T
(side effects for paclitaxel only)
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CEF/FAC
(with oral cyclophosphamide)
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CAF/FAC/FEC-100
(all intravenous)
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Nausea
|
Frequency
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Frequent
|
Frequent
|
Rare
|
Frequent
|
Common
|
Severity
|
Mild/moderate
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Mild/moderate
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Mild
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Moderate/severe
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Moderate/severe
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Vomiting
|
Frequency
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Common
|
Common
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Rare
|
Frequent
|
Common
|
Severity
|
Mild
|
Mild/moderate
|
Mild
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Mild/moderate
|
Mild/moderate
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Diarrhea
|
Frequency
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Common
|
Uncommon
|
Rare
|
Common
|
Common
|
Severity
|
Mild
|
Mild
|
Mild
|
Mild/moderate
|
Mild/moderate
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Mouth sores (stomatitis)
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Frequency
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Common
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Common
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Rare
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Frequent
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Frequent
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Severity
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Mild
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Mild/moderate
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Mild
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Mild/moderate
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Mild/moderate
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Hair loss (alopecia)
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Frequency
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Very common
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Almost always
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Almost always
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Almost always
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Almost always
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Severity
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Some/total loss
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Total loss
|
Total loss
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Total loss
|
Total loss
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Low white blood cell count (neutropenia)
|
Frequency
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Frequent
|
Frequent
|
Common
|
Almost always
|
Frequent
|
Severity
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Moderate/severe
|
Severe
|
Mild
|
Severe
|
Severe
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Infection
|
Frequency
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Rare
|
Rare
|
Rare
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Common
|
Common
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Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
|
Frequency
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Frequent
|
Uncommon
|
Almost never
|
Frequent
|
Frequent
|
Severity
|
Mild
|
Mild
|
|
Mild/moderate
|
Mild/moderate
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Nerve pain (neuropathy)
|
Frequency
|
Almost never
|
Almost never
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Uncommon
|
Uncommon
|
Uncommon
|
Severity
|
|
|
Mild/moderate
|
Mild
|
Mild
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Muscle pain (myalgia)
|
Frequency
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Almost never
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Almost never
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Common
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Uncommon
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Uncommon
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Severity
|
|
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Mild/moderate
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Mild
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Mild
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CMF = Combination of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), methotrexate (Matrex) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU).
AC = Combination of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).
AC->T = Combination of doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and paclitaxel (Taxol).
CEF/FEC = Combination of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), epirubicin (Ellence) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU).
CAF/FAC/FEC = Combination of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), doxorubicin (Adriamycin) or epirubicin (Ellence), and 5-fluorouracil (5FU).
References
1. Partridge AH, Burstein HJ, Winer EP. Side effects of chemotherapy and combined chemohormonal therapy in women with early-stage breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 30:135-42, 2001.
Updated 01/13/12
