When you hear about chemotherapy, you’re likely picturing its side effects, especially hair loss and wearing a wig. Surely, all medications have side effects. Even natural medications have side effects. However, chemotherapy side effects typically cause fear and apprehension.
These side effects may occur within days after beginning chemotherapy treatment. Sometimes weeks or months later. However, your medical team will be with you always, and if your side effects are serious, they will lower your dose and do anything that helps you feel better. Most side effects are temporary, and should go away after the treatment is complete. Others are permanent, but there are many ways to treat and prevent them.
Here’s a list with the most important side effects of chemotherapy:
Soreness and dryness in the mouth
Medications for cancer can cause sore mouth ulcers. In case your symptoms are severe or get ulcers in your mouth, do not hesitate to report the problem to your healthcare team immediately for treatment advice. During your care, be sure to keep the gums, teeth, and mouth clean to avoid infections.
For your teeth and gums, you can use a soft toothbrush instead of the average stiff brush. Don´t use rough or vigorous brushing movements. Keep using daily mouthwash. You can mix one teaspoon of baking soda and one of salt in one liter of water to create your own mouthwash. Use this after meals, ideally 4 times every day, or as much as you like.
Pick soft foods instead of hard foods, and drink plenty of liquids. Avoid foods and drinks high in acids such as oranges and grapefruit, as well as alcohol and spicy foods. If you have a dry mouth or throat, and difficulty swallowing, try this:
- Drink as much liquids as you can, and suck ice
- Moisten your foods. A great idea will be sauces or butter
- Instead of eating dry biscuits, dunk them in tea
- Consider with your dentist whether it is appropriate to use artificial saliva
- Blend foods to eat them in smoothies or soups
- Avoid vaping and smoking
Appetite changes
Cancer treatment can cause alterations to your appetite. During treatment, the texture and taste of the food can change. You may feel that everything tastes the same, has no taste or a disgusting metallic flavor.
Trying to eat as much as possible is important to maintain appropriate energy levels. It will also help you prevent unwanted weight changes. Also, eat small snacks if you don’t want to eat a complete meal. Keep snacks that are convenient for you, such as dried fruits or almonds.
Infections, fever, and general malaise
A high fever may be caused by an ongoing infection in your body. You can also experience other symptoms, including chills and shivering. You may also have an infection and still have a normal temperature. In these cases, you may only feel unwell.
The white blood cells count can be reduced during your cancer treatment. It means that the body cannot fight infection as usual. In these cases, you can easily get infected, and the main sign is an elevated temperature or feeling unwell.
Signs of low platelets
The number of platelets in your blood (important cells for blood clotting to prevent bleeding) may be reduced during your cancer treatment. Low levels of platelets will increase the risk of bleeding, and you could easily bruise. You can note brushing in your teeth or having nosebleeds. In other words, you bleed easily.
Any signs of irregular bleeding should be reported immediately to your cancer care team. They will take daily blood tests to monitor your blood platelet levels. If these are too weak, and you develop symptoms, a platelet transfusion may be appropriate.
Read also: How to increase a low platelet count?
Bowel problems
Chemotherapy can cause bowel problems, either diarrhea or constipation. Some medications can be recommended to regulate these problems. Be sure that you are taking all medications as prescribed. Drink plenty of fluid to replace what you lose with diarrhea, and try to avoid alcohol, caffeine, milk products, high-fat foods, and high-fiber foods. When you have diarrhea, they may make you unwell.
Let the cancer care team seek immediate medical attention and advice. Consider eating whole foods (cereals, raw vegetables, and fruits) and consuming plenty of liquid if you are constipated. Smooth exercise, such as short walks, may help improve constipation.
Hair loss
Several people experience hair loss after cancer treatment. Others report their hair is becoming dry and very thin. Some would lose all of their hair, others do not experience this side effect at all.
This variation depends on the drug that is administered, the dose, and other aspects. Your healthcare team should tell you if this side effect is likely or not. After the first injection, the hair may fall out for some weeks, or it takes more time. Before it starts falling out, you might feel heat or itchiness in your scalp.
Anemia
Your red blood cell count may be affected during your cancer treatment. This is known as anemia. It makes you feel more tired than usual, with very low in energy, dizziness, breathlessness, or light-headedness. These are signs of anemia. Your cancer care team will periodically take blood samples to monitor red blood cell levels in the body. In case you do have anemia, and it is extremely severe, they may suggest getting a transfusion.
Feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting
During a diagnosis, not everyone feels sick or vomits. Medication is also prescribed to avoid sickness. Preventing sickness is better than treating it after it has begun. Otherwise, it will start several hours after each treatment.
Anti-nausea medication options have increased considerably in recent years. You must take your nausea medicine as prescribed. If you have diarrhea or vomiting for more than 24 hours or are unable to keep any fluids in your body, contact the cancer care team. Other recommendations include:
- Before your treatment starts, avoid eating too much.
- Instead of a large meal, eat small amounts but more often.
- When you feel your best, seize the moment and eat your main meal.
- Use crackers and dry toast as a snack.
- Sip on cool drinks and avoid caffeine, alcohol, milk, and high-fat foods and drinks.
If the food or food smells make you feel sick, you may need to ask someone to cook, or prepare and freeze meals between treatments. Many people will consider relaxation or meditation, which will make them feel better.
Fatigue
Fatigue is the sensation of being extremely tired, even if you already had enough rest. It is a very common medication side-effect, which can be challenging for doctors and patients. As the recovery progresses, fatigue may get worse, making it difficult to handle at the end the treatment, and after recovery. When your treatment is over, your exhaustion will start to ease gradually. But you may need several months before your levels of energy go back to normal.
Some quick tips to Fatigue Management include:
- Try to stay active. It won’t make you feel more tired. Quite the opposite
- If you can, go for a short walk or do some light exercise.
- Do not force yourself
- Rest enough time and try to maintain a normal day routine and night’s sleep.
- Drink sufficient fluids and eat properly.
Tingling sensation in the skin
Some drugs can make you feel a sensation similar to needles, pins, or tingling. Others report loss of sensation in the fingers, sometimes in the toes. You may also experience muscle weakness or changes in your hearing function, such as a ringing sound in your ears. Doctors call these symptoms peripheral neuropathy. The most likely cause for this condition is chemotherapy treatment.
Some daily activities may suddenly become challenging for you. If that’s the case, communicate your concern to your healthcare team. You may need a minor modification in your therapy. This usually improves when treatment is over. In few cases, it may be permanent.
Itchy skin and other skin problems
The skin can peel, become reddish or dry. In these cases, it is usually itchy. Also, your fingers around the nails may appear drying and cracking. The nails may get discolored, ridged or brittle. You may even get acne in your face and body. Report any skin issues to the cancer care team.
Most over-the-counter medications are safe for use in these cases. Ask for suggestions to know what might be helpful in your case. While undergoing chemotherapy, it is particularly important to keep your skin covered and use an SPF30+ sunscreen when you’re on the outdoors.
Effects on kidney function
Some cancer therapies affect the normal function of your kidneys. Kidney function can be tested with blood tests before each treatment to ensure that they are working as they should. Drinking sufficient water and other fluids is beneficial during your treatment because it helps your kidneys perform their normal function.
Effects on breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during cancer treatment. It is because the chemotherapy agent could pass through the breast milk to your baby. Before your treatment starts, you can be able to convey extra milk and freeze it for later use.
Aftercare, you will be able to continue breastfeeding, but that will depend on the other medications you’re getting. Some of them may also interfere with breastfeeding. In the future, having treatment won’t affect your ability to breastfeed.
References
Kayl, A. E., & Meyers, C. A. (2006). Side-effects of chemotherapy and quality of life in ovarian and breast cancer patients. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 18(1), 24-28.
Aslam, M. S., Naveed, S., Ahmed, A., Abbas, Z., Gull, I., & Athar, M. A. (2014). Side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients and evaluation of patients opinion about starvation based differential chemotherapy. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 2014.
Love, R. R., Leventhal, H., Easterling, D. V., & Nerenz, D. R. (1989). Side effects and emotional distress during cancer chemotherapy. Cancer, 63(3), 604-612.