Breast cancer
Managing side effects of breast cancer
Breast cancer and its treatment can bring a range of physical and emotional changes. Your healthcare team can help you manage any side effects as well as impacts on body image, intimacy, and fertility.
Last updated: 12 March 2026
Sources and references 
Managing side effects of breast cancer
It will take time to recover from the physical and emotional changes caused by your treatment. Side effects can vary. Some people will experience just a few side effects, while others will have more.
Lymphoedema
Lymphoedema is the swelling (oedema) that develops when lymph fluid builds up in the tissues of part of the body, such as an arm or breast. When lymph nodes have been damaged or removed, lymph fluid may not be able to drain properly and builds up in the tissues.
Some breast cancer treatments may cause lymphoedema (e.g. surgery to remove lymph nodes and radiation therapy to the armpit). Many people who are at risk, however, never develop lymphoedema.
Lymphoedema can affect people at any time – during active treatment or months or even years afterwards. Regular screening check-ups may be recommended for some people, so ask your treatment team if this might be an option for you. Signs to look for include the swelling of part of your arm or your whole arm; a feeling of tightness, heaviness or fullness in the fingers, wrist or the arm; and aching in the affected area. These signs may begin gradually or come and go.
Some people experience pain, redness or fever, which can be caused by an infection called cellulitis in the area with lymphoedema. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. Lymphoedema is easier to manage when diagnosed and treated early.
Cording
Cording (axillary web syndrome) can develop weeks or months after any type of breast surgery. Caused by hardened lymph vessels, cording feels like a tight cord running from your armpit down the inside of the arm, sometimes to the palm of your hand. You may see and feel raised cord-like structures across your arm, chest or breast, which may limit how you move. Gentle stretching exercises in the first weeks after surgery can help improve movement. Massage, physiotherapy, or low-level laser treatment by a lymphoedema practitioner may also help reduce pain and tightness. Cording usually improves over a few months.
Nerve pain
Mastectomy, SLNB and ALND can cause nerve pain in the arm or armpit, and mastectomy can cause nerve pain in the chest wall. This may feel like pins and needles, tingling, or stabbing pain. It usually settles within a few weeks. If nerve pain is ongoing, ask your doctor about ways to manage it.
Some chemotherapy drugs can damage nerves in the hands and feet. This is called peripheral neuropathy or chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). It can cause weakness, numbness, pins and needles and, occasionally, burning or shooting pain. These symptoms usually improve over a matter of months, but they can be permanent.
If you have any of these symptoms, tell your health care team. Your doctor will help you manage pain from any permanent nerve damage. A physiotherapist and occupational therapist can help you improve or manage symptoms, and a psychologist or counsellor can teach you coping strategies to manage any ongoing pain.
Hair loss
If you lose your hair during chemotherapy, you may choose to wear a wig, scarf, turban or hat while your hair is growing back. Or you might feel comfortable leaving your head bare. You could try out a few options over time and see what feels like the right thing for you.
Generally, hair starts to grow back after your treatment ends.
Some treatment centres offer cold caps (also called scalp cooling), which may prevent total head hair loss, but this depends on the chemotherapy drugs used. Ask your treatment team if cold caps might be an option for you.
Thinking and memory changes
Some people with breast cancer notice changes in how they think and remember information. This is called cancer-related cognitive impairment or may be referred to as “chemo brain”, “cancer fog” or “brain fog”. The exact cause is unknown, but studies suggest these changes may be caused by the cancer, emotions such as anxiety and depression, cancer treatment, anaesthetic given for surgery, and side effects such as fatigue, insomnia, pain and hormone changes.
For most people, thinking and memory problems get better within the first year of finishing treatment. Others may have long-term effects. If you have severe or lasting changes to your thinking and memory skills, you can see a clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist for cognitive rehabilitation.
Speak to your health care team about the services available at your hospital or from a psychologist.
Breast prostheses
A breast prosthesis is a synthetic breast or part of a breast that is worn in a bra or attached to the body with adhesive. It helps give the appearance of a breast shape and can be used after breast surgery.
Temporary prosthesis
In the first month or two after surgery, you may choose to wear a temporary light breast prosthesis called a soft form. This will be more comfortable next to the scar. A free bra and soft form are available through Breast Cancer Network Australia as part of the My Care Kit. To order a kit, speak to your breast care nurse.
Permanent prosthesis
When you have recovered from treatment, you can be fitted for a permanent breast prosthesis. A permanent breast prosthesis is mostly made from silicone gel and has the shape, feel and weight of a natural breast. It is recommended that you see a trained fitter who can help you choose the right prosthesis. To find a fitter near you, call Cancer Council 13 11 20 or ask your breast care nurse for recommendations.
Changes to body image and sexuality
Breast cancer can affect how you feel about yourself (self-esteem) and make you feel self-conscious. You may feel less confident about who you are and what you can do. These feelings are common; give yourself time to adapt. If you are finding it hard to adjust to changes, ask for support. Most cancer centres have psychologists who may be able to help.
Breast and chest appearance
You may find that having a breast reconstruction or wearing a breast prosthesis improves your self-confidence. Or you may prefer to not have a reconstruction and “go flat”. You may be able to have an areola and nipple tattooed onto the breast after a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Or you may choose a decorative tattoo to cover scars. For some people, this is a way to take control of their body and express themselves.
Low libido
Breast cancer and its treatment (particularly hormone treatment) can also reduce your desire for sex (libido). You may miss the pleasure you felt from the breast or nipple being stroked or kissed during sex. This may be the case even if you have a reconstruction. If breast stimulation was important for arousal before surgery, you may need to explore other ways of becoming aroused. Some cancer treatment centres have sexual health clinics and other resources that may be able to help.
Vaginal dryness
Some treatments for breast cancer (particularly hormone therapy) can cause vaginal dryness, which can make penetrative sex painful. For most people, sex is more than arousal, intercourse and orgasms. It involves feelings of intimacy and acceptance, as well as being able to give and receive love. Even if some sexual activities may not always be possible, there are many ways to express closeness.
Menopause and infertility
Chemotherapy can cause your periods to stop for a short time, or it may cause them to stop permanently (early menopause). Symptoms of menopause include hot flushes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive (libido), tiredness, dry skin, mood swings, weight gain and osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor or breast care nurse about how to relieve symptoms. If vaginal dryness does not respond to simple measures, talk to your doctor about vaginal oestradiol. Several non-hormonal medicines work well for hot flushes.
If chemotherapy causes menopause, you will not be able to have children naturally. Talk to your doctor before treatment starts, as there may be ways to reduce the risk of early menopause or preserve your fertility.
If you find out you might not be able to get pregnant and have a child, you may feel a great sense of loss. Talking to a counsellor or someone in a similar situation may help. For information about counselling services and support groups in your area, call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
Sources and references
This information has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils and Cancer Council Australia as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative. We thank the reviewers of this content: Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, NSW; Prof Bruce Mann, Specialist Breast Surgeon and Director, Breast Cancer Services, The Royal Melbourne and The Royal Women’s Hospitals, VIC; Dr Shagun Aggarwal, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Prince of Wales, Sydney Children’s and Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Andrea Concannon, consumer; Jenny Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Monica Graham, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Natasha Keir, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, GenesisCare, QLD; Dr Bronwyn Kennedy, Breast Physician, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Lisa Montgomery, consumer; A/Prof Sanjay Warrier, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
Photographs have been reproduced with permission from A/Prof James French, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Prof Elisabeth Elder, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and The University of Sydney, NSW; and Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com © Boycare Publishing, 2010.
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