Chemotherapy Side Effects and How to Manage Them
Updated 4:40 pm, Friday, December 7, 2012
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer, but it can also cause side effects. Following are some of the most common chemotherapy side effects, with tips for managing them:
• Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. Your doctor may use an "anti-emetic" (anti-nausea) medication before treatment. Medications that block the signal from the brain that triggers nausea may be recommended in the days or weeks following chemotherapy.
Other ways to manage this side effect include:
• Eating and drinking slowly
• Avoiding sweet, fried, or fatty foods, and foods with strong smells
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Fatigue: Chemotherapy may leave you tired. If you are fatigued, your doctor can check for anemia, which is treatable with medications.
Other ways to reduce fatigue include:
• Taking short naps and breaks throughout the day
• Short walks and light exercise
• Asking for help from family and friends with routine chores and tiring tasks
• Reducing your energy expenditure wherever possible, saving your strength for your recuperation
• Mouth sores (mucositis): Radiation and chemotherapy may cause sores in the mouth, throat, or upper digestive tract. To preventing infection and pain:
• Visit your dentist before treatment
• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush
• Gargle with water, salt and baking soda
• Drink extra fluids
• Use ice chips, ibuprofen, over-the-counter anesthetics, or prescription products to relieve pain
• Nerve damage: Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, called peripheral neuropathy, can be a temporary but problematic side effect. Tell your doctor if you are experiencing neuropathy so that your medication dose can be adjusted if necessary.
• Infections: You may experience infections as a side effect of your cancer treatment. To reduce this risk:
• Call your doctor or nurse immediately if your temperature reaches 100.5'F.
• Wash your hands with soap often
• Clean cuts and scrapes with an antiseptic and cover wounds
• Diarrhea: Chemotherapy sometimes causes diarrhea. Some basic ways to manage this side effect include:
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Drinking beverages that provide electrolytes, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte
• Avoid fatty and fried foods
• Taking anti-diarrhea medication, but only after consulting with your doctor
• Constipation: Defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week, constipation can be managed as follows:
• Eat plenty of dietary fiber
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Exercise lightly every day
• Discuss laxative use with your doctor before trying any medication
• Hair loss: If you experience hair loss during cancer treatment, talk with your doctor or nurse about ways to manage this temporary change, including wigs and scarves.