Side Effects

Cancer therapy for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) can sometimes produce side effects. For most patients, treatment side effects are temporary and go away once therapy ends. For other patients, side effects can be more severe, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Some patients never have any side effects.

Before you undergo treatment, talk with your doctor about potential side effects. Drugs and other therapies can prevent or manage many side effects.

Common CMML Side Effects

Chemotherapy drugs are the main culprits when it comes to causing unwanted side effects. These drugs can kill cancer cells, but they often damage normal cells, too. The lining of the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines are particularly vulnerable to damage.

The side effects you may experience depend on:

  • The intensity of chemotherapy
  • The drugs used during therapy
  • Your overall health and whether you have any chronic health conditions like diabetes or kidney disease

The following side effects are common to CMML treatment. Click here to read more about these side effects.

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Infections
  • Hair loss
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Mouth sores
  • Low blood pressure
  • Low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood
  • Anemia (caused by a low red blood cell count)

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