Info
Tumor lysis syndrome
Side effects
What it means
A complication that can occur at the start of treatment, when a large number of cancer cells are destroyed rapidly and release their contents into the blood. It can affect the kidneys and heart rhythm and requires close monitoring, especially in lymphomas and leukemias.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Lymphoma
- A cancer of the lymphatic system, which mainly affects the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. There are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and the treatment depends on the subtype and on the extent of the disease.
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- A common side effect of chemotherapy, which also affects the hair on your scalp. Hair loss is usually temporary, and your hair grows back after treatment, sometimes with a slightly different texture or color.
- Anaemia
- A fall in the number of red blood cells or in haemoglobin, which leads to tiredness, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. In cancer care, it can be caused by the disease itself or by treatments.
Other terms in “Side effects”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.