Most people expect that cancer treatments will be accompanied by a variety of unpleasant side effects, including pain, fatigue, weight loss, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, and incontinence. These physical side effects may result from both the cancer and its treatments. While you are in treatment, your doctors can give you medications and strategies to minimize or eliminate the worst of them. You also may benefit from yoga, acupuncture, and massage, among other complementary approaches.

• Video: Exercise your mind and body to fend of Alzheimer's

• National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
• Office of Cancer Survivorship
• Congenital Heart Information Network: C.H.I.N. is an international organization that provides reliable information, support services, and resources to families affected my congenital heart disease
• National Cancer Institute
• A National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship: Advancing Public Health Strategies, 2004, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Lance Armstrong Foundation
• Translating Research into Cancer Care: Delivering on the Promise, The President's Cancer Panel: Annual Report for 2004-2005
• From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, 2005, from the Institute of Medicine

While some of the side effects disappear when treatments are finished, others may linger for years or not become apparent until years later. Side effects that appear months or years after treatment has ended are called late effects. These include physical conditions, such as heart failure or osteoporosis, psychological problems, and second cancers. Side effects that may begin during treatment and persist beyond the end of treatment, such as infertility or memory loss, are known as long-term effects.

For cancer survivors, staying well means maintaining a healthy lifestyle with proper exercise and nutrition. The American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association recommend moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. This can include a brisk walk, swimming, gardening, housework, or dancing. They also recommend eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, including whole grains and legumes, such as lentils, brown rice, and beans. It also is important to stay at a healthy weight, avoid smoking, and to drink moderately, if you drink at all. Talk to your doctor to determine the best practices for you to follow.

Another aspect of staying well is adhering to follow-up guidelines. Depending on the type of cancer you have had and the types of treatments you received, your cancer physician may make special recommendations. It is important to follow these conscientiously.

This section has more on:

• Major late and long-term side effects
• Physical impacts of treatment for different types of cancer