Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy often cause significant side effects, including: tiredness, sore skin around the anus, sore skin around the penis and scrotum in men or vulva in women, hair loss – limited hair loss from the head, but total loss from the pubic area, feeling sick and diarrhea. These side effects are usually temporary, but there’s also a risk of longer-term problems, such as infertility. Other possible long-term side effects can include: bowel control problems, long-term chronic diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, vaginal pain when having sex, dry and itchy skin around the groin and anus and bleeding from the anus, rectum, vagina or bladder.