Late Effects of Cancer

A Conversation with Gerald Green

Member, EA Cancer Research Advocates Committee

Gerald Green (pictured) was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 1995 when he was in his mid-forties. Physicians did not expect him to live beyond 50. Today, nearly 25 years later, he has survived two additional cancer diagnoses (neck cancer in 1997 and prostate cancer in 2008) and serves as an active member of ECOG-ACRIN's Cancer Research Advocates Committee.

Stories like Gerald's are becoming more common - a fact worth celebrating. Yet, as people begin living longer after cancer treatment, they are experiencing side effects they did not anticipate; symptoms and conditions that do not appear until months or years after treatment ends. These long-term side effects, or late effects, can greatly affect a person's quality of life. Managing them successfully is an essential component of survivorship care.

"We need to stop talking about 5-year and 10-year survival," Gerald explained. "People are now living 15, 20, even 25 years past their diagnosis, which is great, but they're not the same people they were when they were first treated."

Over the years, Gerald encountered a variety of late effects. He noticed changes to the sound of his voice, likely caused by radiation to his vocal cords. Radiation also affected his teeth, resulting in the loss of several of them, and the inability to receive implants. His throat is constricted, so he has to eat small portions - though fortunately, he does not have trouble swallowing like many head and neck cancer survivors. Additionally, Gerald has neuropathy in his mouth and lips, which causes burning and tingling sensations. Medication helps with his neuropathy, but it is unlikely the condition will improve.

"I knew there would be side effects from the radiation," Gerald said, "but every year, as life progressed for me, things changed."