Chemotherapy Side Effects

Chemotherapy is very effective in treating cancer; however it does cause side effects. The side effects may occur because the medication used for chemotherapy between fast growing cancer cells and other types of fast growing cells ie blood cells, cells on the skin.

It is not easy to predict the side effects that patient will experience while having chemotherapy as different people react to treatment in different ways. Some people may experience very few or even no side effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy are as listed below:

• Rapid falls in white blood cells
  

  If you experience a rapid falls of white blood cells, it can be vulnerable to serious infections. These are symptoms that may suggest you have serious side effects:

  • High temperature fever above than 38°C
  • Shivering
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Flu-like symptoms, like muscle aches and pain
  • Bleeding gums or nose and other parts of body that does not stop even after applying pressure for 10 minutes
  • Mouth ulcer
  • Continuing vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  
  

  If you are having these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

  You may be given a course of antibiotics to reduce risk of infection and very important to take extra precautions to protect yourself against infection.

  • Avoid contact with people who has serious infections ie. chicken pox and influenza. Practice good personal hygiene by wash hand regularly with soap especially after going to toilet and before prepare foods, take bath daily, and make sure clothes, tower and bed linen are wash regularly.
  • Do not cut or graze your skin. If you do, just clean the area by thoroughly with warm water and clean it with dry, clean and sterile dressing.
  
  

  Any patients, who develop infection, may need to be admitted to the ward and to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.

• Low Platelets Count
  

  Most of chemotherapy medications not seriously affect the number of platelets, but some people may experience that. Symptoms of low platelet counts are:

  • Easily get bruised skin
  • Bleeding gums
  • Nose bleed
  
  

  If any of the symptoms appear, report to the doctor because you may need blood transfusion to raise the platelet count.

• Fatigue
  

  One of the common side effects in chemotherapy is fatigue or tiredness. It is very important to get plenty of rest and not to do unnecessary activities. Light exercise may boost up energy level but not to push too hard. If there is significantly tire more than usual, please contact your medical care team because extreme tire may be a sign of anemia.

• Nausea and Vomiting
  

  Most of the patients will be given a medication to control the symptoms as nausea and vomiting is also known as common side effects of chemotherapy. Medication need to be taken continuously to help symptoms from returning.

• Hair Loss
  

  Not all chemotherapy may cause hair loss. Sometimes the hair may become thin and brittle. Hair loss effect usually begins a few weeks after starting chemotherapy treatment. Hair loss may happen at any part of the body including head, arms, legs, face, armpit and pubic region. However, just remember that hair loss is temporary and the hair will grow back soon after chemotherapy has finished.

• Oral mucositis
  

  You may experience ulcers on the lining of your mouth, in some cases on your tongue and around lips. The tissue inside your mouth also will begin feel sore as if you are eating very hot food. Doctor will prescribe medications to relieve the symptoms. However the symptoms of oral mucositis should clear up a few weeks after chemotherapy has finish.

• Loss appetite
  

  Chemotherapy treatment may lose your appetite and do not feel like eating or drinking. It is very important for patient to make an effort to eat healthily and drink plenty of water.

• Dry skin
  

  Some chemotherapy may cause skin to become dry and sore. Nails may become brittle and flakier than usual and white lines develop across the nails. During chemotherapy and even after chemotherapy has finished, skin may become more sensitive to sunlight. It is very important to take extra precautions to protect skin from the sun.

• Diarrhoea and Constipation
  

  Usually after begins the chemotherapy, you may feel diarrhea or constipation. Get advice and medication from your doctor.

• Sexuality and fertility
  

  During the chemotherapy course, some patients may experience their interest in sex diminishes. This symptom usually is temporary and it will gradually return once you have finished your treatment.

  There is also some chemotherapy medications may stop women being able to conceive and prevent men from producing healthy sperm. Loss of fertility is temporary effects although some cases reported a person can permanently infertile. Doctor will discuss the side effects of possibility become permanent infertile before treatment begins.

You might also be interested in the following pages.

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	Others Radioiodine Ablation, Targeted Therapy, and Hormone Therapy.