subject: Chemotherapy Side Effects - Not Dangerous, but Need Attentions [print this page] Chemotherapy Side Effects - Not Dangerous, but Need Attentions
Chemotherapy side effects are different due the chemotherapy drugs that patient's takes and different patients react to chemotherapy in different ways. Some patient may even not experience side effects at all.
Although side effects are not a serious threat to your life, but some of them may need urgent medical treatment. If these symptoms show, it's suggested you consult with your doctor:
a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
shivering
breathing difficulties
flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and pain
bleeding gums or nose
bleeding from other parts of the body that does not stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes
mouth ulcers that stop you eating or drinking
vomiting that continues despite taking anti-sickness medication
four or more bowel movements a day or diarrhea
The common chemotherapy side effects:
Fatigue.
It is the most common chemotherapy side effects, because the treatment can be physically exhausting for the patient, who might already be very tired from cancer-related fatigue. It may produce mild to severe anemia. To relieve this, patients need consume blood transfusions, iron supplements, and hormones to boost blood production (erythropoietin).
Light exercise such as walking and yoga also help relieving these chemotherapy side effects.
Hair loss.
Chemotherapy works by kill rapidly dividing cells, and this cause hair loss; other medications may cause hair to thin. But you don't need to worry; this side effect is usually only temporary. Hair usually starts growing back a few weeks after the last treatment; in some case your hair may become a little curly.
Nausea and vomiting.
About 60% of patient who have chemotherapy will feel queasy and 50% of them will experience vomiting, as you can see these are common side effects. If youhave nausea and vomiting, you will be given anti-emetic medication to control these.
Tendency to bleed easily.
Chemotherapy drugs can reduce platelets number in body, which can result in bruises and bleeding. Extremely low platelet counts may be temporarily boosted through platelet transfusions; only small number of patients experienced this side effect.
Vulnerable to infection.
Chemotherapy will reduce the amount of white blood cells; this will make your immune system weaker and vulnerable to infection. To reduce these chemotherapy side effects, you need to take extra care from infection and keep your personal hygiene.
Loss of appetite.
The side effects may different due to patient's health condition and type of chemotherapy drugs. To obtain better result from chemotherapy as treatment its often combined with surgery.
