By Lynne Eldridge MD, About.com Guide
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
Everyone experiences chemotherapy differently depending on the medications used and other factors, such as age, sex, and general health. You may have several of the below symptoms, or you may not experience any symptoms at all.
Be sure to let your cancer team know about any symptoms you are experiencing during chemotherapy, so they can work with you to make the journey as comfortable as possible. Management of chemotherapy side effects has come a long way over the last few decades, and many of these can be controlled with medications and other therapies.
Bone Marrow Suppression
Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are continuously produced in the bone marrow and often affected by chemotherapy. Your oncologist will monitor these cells with blood counts during your therapy.
- Coping With Anemia (Low Red Blood Cell Count)
- Coping With Neutropenia (Low White Blood Cell Count)
- Coping With Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count)
Nausea is one of the most dreaded side effects of chemotherapy, but ways of managing this symptom have come a long way in recent years. Your doctor may prescribe anti-nausea medications at the time of your treatment in an effort to prevent nausea from occuring altogether. Diarrhea can be a dangerous symptom, often prompting a change in the dose of chemotherapy or discontinuing treatment. Dehydration is also a concern if diarrhea is present. Loss of appetite may occur as a side effect of chemo, but may also be due to the cancer itself. Hair Loss
Hair loss is usually more of a nuisance than a symptom, but it can be distressing nonetheless. According to research, hair loss is one the most feared side effects of chemotherapy. Some medications are more likely to cause hair loss than others, and hair loss can range from a little thinning to total baldness. It helps to be aware (and frequently comes as a surprise) that all hair can be affected, and it is not uncommon to lose eyebrow hair, facial hair, and even pubic hair. Hair loss usually begins a week or so after the start of chemotherapy and begins to grow back 6 to 8 weeks after completing therapy. Talking about options such as wigs and other head coverings before you loss your hair can ease some of the anxiety at this time. Fatigue
Of all the chemotherapy side effects, fatigue is one of the most distressing. Unlike ordinary tiredness, chemotherapy-related fatigue is frequently described as tiredness that does not resolve with rest, “whole body” tiredness or a feeling in which even the most mundane activities require effort. Fatigue may begin shortly into treatment and can persist for up to a year following completion. The first step toward coping with cancer-related fatigue is to understand that it is normal and common. Oral Symptoms
Both mouth sores and taste changes can make eating difficult for some people during chemotherapy. Mouth sores often develop a week or so after beginning chemotherapy and resolve soon after treatment is finished. Peripheral Neuropathy
Some chemotherapy medications can cause symptoms of numbness, tingling or burning in the hands and feet. With lung cancer, this is most commonly seen with Platinol (cisplatin),Navelbine (vinorelbine), Taxotere (docetaxel) , and Taxol (paclitaxel). These symptoms may occur early on in treatment and go away, or they may occur weeks to months after treatment, and in some cases may be permanent. Clinical trials are in progress to find ways of preventing peripheral neuropathy related to chemotherapy. Sources:
National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy and You: Support for People with Cancer. 06/29/07.http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you
National Cancer Institute. NCI Bulletin. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. 02/23/10.http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/022310/page6
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