Chemotherapy and side effects chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Damage to healthy cells can cause uncomfortable side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is. If you are applying for financial assistance, all correspondence must be done electronically through email or fax. Between 1 and 10 in every 100 110% people have one or more of these effects. I had no idea that i would still be feeling tired five months after finishing treatment. Our easy read booklets use simple language and pictures to tell you about cancer. Chemotherapy and you is your main resource for information about chemotherapy, managing its side effects and understanding how to prevent them. Here are some of the more common side effects caused by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy medication has a wide spectrum of potential side effects. An easy read booklet about the possible side effects of chemotherapy and ways of coping with each one. Heres a list of many of the common side effects, but its unlikely youll have all of these.
Step 1 questions related to antineoplastic agents are most likely going to ask you about mechanism of action, cell cycle specificity, or side effects. More specifically, this therapy is administered to destruct cancer cells. The most common side effect is fatigue lack of energy. Managing chemotherapy side effects cancer council nsw. An overview of the most common side effects will be given to you by your doctor and chemotherapeutic nurses, and. Palliative care can help a person feel more comfortable at any stage of illness. Chemotherapy medication has a wide spectrum of potential sideeffects. For more information on depression, visit beyondblue and talk to your cancer care team. Managing fatigue chemotherapy side effects cancer council nsw.
But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Managing side effects of chemotherapy resource guide there is always the possibility that chemotherapy may cause some side effects. Preventing and controlling side effects is a major focus of your health care team, so talk with them about any side effects you experience. If youre having chemotherapy, you should be told what side effects to report as well as who to contact, day or night, if you have any concerns or are unwell.
Managing side effects, also called palliative care, remains an important part of cancer care. Anemia low red blood cell counts nausea and vomiting. Side effects of chemotherapy include illness and infection, bleeding easily, hair loss, and nausea or vomiting. Understanding and managing chemotherapy side effects.
Empowering individuals to selfmanage chemotherapy side effects. Chemotherapy drug interactions and side effects when looking at how best to combine chemo drugs, doctors must look at interactions between chemo drugs and other medicines the person is taking, including overthecounter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Chemotherapy can cause nausea feeling sick to your stomach and vomiting throwing up. Empowering individuals to selfmanage chemotherapy side. Some of the most common side effects of chemotherapy affect digestion. Patients can still be in the midst of treatment or have completed treatment many years ago. Understanding and managing chemotherapy side effects cancercare. This includes cancer cells and normal cells, such as the new blood cells in the bone marrow or the cells in the mouth, stomach, skin, hair and reproductive organs. It is very important to use this booklet as a resource during your entire chemotherapy treatment course. They tend to gradually improve once treatment stops and the normal, healthy cells recover. For some people chemotherapy can cause long term changes in the body months or years after treatment. The purpose of this guide is to help you find information and support on chemotherapy.
Sometimes, chemotherapy causes longterm side effects that dont go away. Chemotherapy information guide rogel cancer center. Step 1 questions related to antineoplastic agents are most likely going to ask you about mechanism of action, cell cycle specificity, or. Not all mouth problems can be avoided but the fewer side effects you have, the more likely you will stay on your cancer treatment schedule. These side effects can usually be managed and those described here will not affect everyone. A few of the drugs can be given by mouth, but most are.
Let your doctor know about any new, continuing, or worsening medical problems you have. Chemotherapy works by killing cancer cells, but healthy cells get attacked too. Everyone reacts differently to drugs and some people have more side effects than others. The specific sideeffects you may experience will depend on the specific medication you receive. Chemotherapy destroys rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. An overview of the most common sideeffects will be given to you by your doctor and chemotherapeutic nurses, and. Understanding side effects of drug therapy i page 3 introduction more than one million people in the united states are living with or are in remission from blood cancer leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Below, your nurse will check off the side effects you are most likely to have. Managing chemotherapy side effects national cancer institute. Issues arise from surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Its difficult to predict what side effects youll get. Whether you have these side effects, and how much, depends on the specific drugs and dose. Other normal cells in your body are also rapidly dividing such as those in your mouth, blood, intestinal tract, hair and nails.
Nutrition during chemotherapy managing the side effects. Changes to your lungs, eye disorders, and blood pressure changes. Dry mouth and mouth sores that form on the tongue, lips, gums, or in the throat can make it difficult to chew and swallow. Chemotherapy often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes ctx or ctx is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anticancer drugs chemotherapeutic agents as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Most people worry about whether theyll have side effects from chemo, and, if so, what theyll be like. However, certain side effects are associated with the various types of. Pdf and ebook downloads downloadable pdf files side effects from chemotherapy. Most side effects of chemotherapy subside when treatment is over. There are many different chemotherapy regimes, some having specific side effects. Side effects of cancer treatment national cancer institute. Ask what birth control methods you or your partner should use. Mar 25, 2020 most chemotherapy side effects go away shortly after youve finished chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment for cancer. Having a dpd deficiency could make the side effects of the chemotherapy drugs fluorouracil and capecitabine worse. Use this action deck to get information on common chemotherapy side effects and learn how to manage them. Common side effects of ec chemot herapy like any treatment, ec chemotherapy can cause side effects. Side effects often happen because a persons mouth is not healthy before chemotherapy starts. Not all cancer patients have to undergo chemotherapy, but many who do often see a certain irony in this particular type of treatment.
Other side effects may include lower blood counts that raise the risk of infection and bleeding, throat and mouth sores, diarrhea, nausea and. National chemotherapy board good practice guideline. However, it may also include some antibiotics along with other medications for treating severe infection or illness. Chemotherapy side effects the information below describes side effects that might be caused by traditional or standard chemotherapy. While fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy, it can also be a symptom of depression.
Immunotherapy may be more likely to cause side effects if you take more than 1 type of immunotherapy or take other medicines, including chemotherapy, at the same time. Copies of this booklet and other educational materials can be found at the. It also varies due to individual differences between patients. Managing chemotherapy side effects sexual and fertility changes in women chemotherapy can harm an unborn baby fetus.
Chemotherapy and your mouth national institute of dental. Its important to tell us about any symptoms so we can treat them right away. Side effects of chemotherapy cancer council victoria. Most chemotherapy side effects are temporary and disappear once your treatment is over. Your doctor may prescribe such a medication to be taken before, during or after your chemotherapy treatment. It may be used as maintenance therapy following combination chemotherapy, and in some circumstances it is used as a single agent to treat cancer. These may include damage to your heart, lungs, nerve endings, kidneys, or reproductive organs.
We will help you manage your side effects to make your treatment as easy as possible. Side effects of chemotherapy not everybody who receives chemotherapy will experience side effects. Promoting early identification of systemic anticancer therapies side effects. Still, some side effects may take several months or longer to go away completely. Nutrition during chemotherapy managing the side effects by. Quantitative and qualitative data suggested the dvd and oncology nurse facilitated group discussion provided consistent information, exibility, and expert knowledge in empowering patients and families to selfmanage chemotherapy side effects. Chemotherapy may be given with a curative intent which almost always involves combinations of drugs, or it may aim to prolong life or to reduce.
When you and your doctor are deciding on a chemotherapy regimen, weighing the benefits versus the side effects is part of the process. There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways, including targeted therapy1, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy2. Many people feel concerned about the side effects of chemotherapy, but most side effects are temporary and they can often be controlled or reduced. Th ere are other helpful ideas that can help keep these side e. Understanding chemotherapy cancer council australia. Chemotherapy side effects video transcript narrator. Questions you should ask your doctor about chemotherapy treatment and its side effects. Most chemotherapy side effects go away shortly after youve finished chemotherapy. Chemotherapy has greatly improved in recent years, and most side effects can be treated. It can stop the growth of a tumor in the breast and kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly.
A guide to oral anticancer treatment university of michigan. Jan 08, 2017 questions you should ask your doctor about chemotherapy treatment and its side effects. The specific side effects you may experience will depend on the specific medication you receive. Your chemotherapy team and breast care nurse can help with any questions you have. Chemotherapy may be given with a curative intent which almost always involves combinations of drugs, or it may aim to prolong life. Chemotherapy side effects include vomiting, nausea, hair loss, nerve damage, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation and more. Many people worry about the side effects they might get. Oakley c, chambers p, board r, gallagher c, young e, purcell s, mansi j. This guide provides links and references to reliable and current. Theres the risk of longlasting effects that may develop even years after the treatment, depending on the type of chemotherapy.
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