What could cause me to have the shakes after chemo?
For me, it was most likely a combination of the chemo, dehydration, and low-ish blood pressure. Does your mom tend to have low blood pressure? That can also contribute to the shakes, especially when also dehydrated. I hope your mom feels better and has no more of those scary episodes. Had a 'lite' version......
What could cause me to have the shakes?
That can also contribute to the shakes, especially when also dehydrated. I hope your mom feels better and has no more of those scary episodes. Had a 'lite' version...... I had a 'lite' version of what your mom experienced. For me, it was most likely a combination of the chemo, dehydration, and low-ish blood pressure.
Why am I so tired after chemo treatment?
There are plenty of reasons why people on chemo feel tired, but stress, lack of sleep, and other side effects like nausea and vomiting can all factor in, Chirino says. Chemo also may kill blood-forming cells in bone marrow, which can lead to anemia, another cause of fatigue, Saria says.
What kind of Chemotherapy causes muscle tremors?
Treatments that cause muscle tremors. The American Cancer Society lists the following classes of chemotherapy drugs as the ones most likely to cause nerve damage: the platinum drugs, Thalidomide, Tacanes, Epothilones, Alkoids and Bortexomib.
Does cancer cause shakiness?
Yes, brain tumors can cause hand tremors, among other symptoms. Tremors are a type of involuntary movement that may affect the hands, head, arms, torso, and the body's equilibrium. Tremors are typically caused by issues in certain parts of the brain that control movement, like the cerebellum, for instance.
Do the side effects of chemo get worse with each treatment?
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
In what three places in the body do side effects commonly occur because of chemotherapy treatment?
The fast-growing normal cells most likely to be affected by chemotherapy are blood cells forming in the bone marrow, and cells in the digestive tract, reproductive system, and hair follicles. Common side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, hair loss, and anemia.
What cancers cause tremors?
A rare tumor known as pheochromocytoma can cause tremors, as can chemical exposures, such as to bromides, mercury, lead and arsenic.
Can chemo give you the shakes?
Chemotherapy can damage your nervous system. You may notice tingling or a lack of feeling in your hands or feet, or shaking or trembling. These problems usually get better after treatment.
What is the most life threatening side effect of chemotherapy?
Intense chills. Pain or soreness at the chemo injection site or catheter site. Unusual pain, including intense headaches. Shortness of breath or trouble breathing (If you're having trouble breathing call 911 first.)
What are the signs that chemo is not working?
Here are some signs that chemotherapy may not be working as well as expected: tumors aren't shrinking. new tumors keep forming. cancer is spreading to new areas.
What is aggressive chemotherapy?
Aggressive care includes chemotherapy after multiple earlier rounds of treatment have stopped working and being admitted to an intensive care unit. Such interventions at the end of life “are widely recognized to be harmful,” Chen said.
What are the signs that chemo is working?
Complete response - all of the cancer or tumor disappears; there is no evidence of disease. A tumor marker (if applicable) may fall within the normal range. Partial response - the cancer has shrunk by a percentage but disease remains. A tumor marker (if applicable) may have fallen but evidence of disease remains.
How does chemo affect the nervous system?
The symptoms you experience depend on the part of the nervous system affected. Cognitive or thought-process changes including decreased memory, problem solving, and calculation. Problems with balance, dizziness, nausea, and vertigo, which is feeling like the room is spinning. Problems with coordination.
When do chemo side effects start?
Nausea and vomiting can start within the first few hours after chemotherapy drugs are given and usually last about 24 hours. However, nausea and vomiting may start more than 24 hours after treatment and last several days (called delayed nausea and vomiting).
Can toxins cause tremors?
Lead, mercury, solvents, and pesticide exposures are common in certain occupations and may cause nervous system dysfunction. Tremors may be the herald manifestation among a constellation of acute toxicity signs and symptoms.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
By its very nature it is toxic and has many side effects, the most well-known being nausea and hair loss. There are many other side effects, one of which is called "chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy" or CIPN. A peripheral neuropathy is a disease of the nerves in the arms and legs. It can take many forms; numbness, pain, a burning sensation and, less often, muscle tremors. This is a distressing side effect, but it helps to identify and manage it. The more you know about muscle tremors after cancer treatments, the better you will be able to deal with this complication.
How to treat muscle tremors from cancer?
If being on your feet a lot makes foot tremors worse, sit down whenever you can, and take good care of your feet. If you're a diabetic, make sure you control your blood sugar. Make sure to talk to your doctor and nurse about this condition and be exact about the frequency and severity of your muscle tremors. You may be directed to physical therapy or occupational therapy for help in accomplishing daily tasks.
How to treat nerve damage after cancer treatment?
The problem of muscle and nerve damage after cancer treatment needs more study, but there has been research. Vitamin E, calcium and magnesium have all been studied for protection of nerves from damage caused by the platinum drugs. Medicines normally given to prevent seizures are also being studied. Some patients see improvement when given certain amino acids and proteins before and after treatment. Another strategy is to adjust the treatment into more frequent smaller doses, or as a very slow infusion. Oncologists can also delay the treatment when nerve damage is apparent and space it out over a longer period of time.
How to stop tremors on feet?
Avoid alcohol, since it also can cause nerve damage. If being on your feet a lot makes foot tremors worse, sit down whenever you can, and take good care of your feet. If you're a diabetic, make sure you control your blood sugar.
What to do if you have muscle tremors?
If you have severe muscle tremors, you and your physician need to work with your treatments to find the best possible cancer drug and time frame, and weigh the pros and cons of each.
Which chemotherapy drugs cause nerve damage?
The American Cancer Society lists the following classes of chemotherapy drugs as the ones most likely to cause nerve damage: the platinum drugs, Thalidomide, Tacanes, Epothilones, Alkoids and Bortexomib. These are all generic classes of treatments that have many brand names.
Does chemo cause nerve damage?
Why it happens. As the chemo goes into your system, it cannot always differentiate between the cancer cells and healthy tissues. As it attacks the tumor, it may also attack nerve function. Tremors most often begin in the feet, followed by the hands. Legs and arms may also be affected.
What body systems are most affected by chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy drugs can affect any body system, but the following are most susceptible: digestive tract . hair follicles. bone marrow. mouth. reproductive system. It’s worth understanding how these cancer drugs can affect your major body systems.
How long does it take for hair to grow after chemo?
Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, from eyebrows and eyelashes to your legs. Hair loss is temporary. New hair growth usually begins several weeks after the final treatment.
How does the kidney work during chemotherapy?
The kidneys work to excrete the powerful chemotherapy drugs as they move through your body. In the process, some kidney and bladder cells can become irritated or damaged.
Why is blood count important for chemo?
Routine blood count monitoring is a crucial part of chemotherapy. That’s because the drugs can harm cells in the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues, you may experience anemia.
Does chemotherapy cause hot flashes?
Sexual and reproductive system. Chemotherapy drugs are known to alter hormones in both men and women. In women, hormonal changes can bring on hot flashes, irregular periods, or sudden onset of menopause. You may experience dryness of vaginal tissues that can make intercourse uncomfortable or painful.
Does chemo cause bone loss?
Most people lose some bone mass as they age, but with chemo, some drugs increase this loss by causing calcium levels to drop. Cancer-related osteoporosis tends to affect women more than men, especially post-menopausal women and those whose menopause was brought on suddenly due to chemotherapy.
Does chemotherapy affect digestion?
Some of the most common side effects of chemotherapy affect digestion. Dry mouth and mouth sores that form on the tongue, lips, gums, or in the throat can make it difficult to chew and swallow. Mouth sores also make you more susceptible to bleeding and infection.
Why do I bleed so easily after chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy can increase your risk of bruising and bleeding, and there’s a very specific reason why: The drugs involved can lower your number of platelets, which are cells that help your blood clot, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) says. When your platelet count is low , you might bruise or bleed far too easily, which can be a really inconvenient or even scary side effect. You may even develop thrombocytopenia, which is a condition that causes tiny purple or red spots to form on your skin, the NCI says.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Here are some common chemotherapy side effects to keep in mind, plus what you can do to make the chemo experience a little less awful. 1. Nausea and vomiting.
How many people have nausea after chemotherapy?
The ACS estimates that about one in three people will have anticipatory nausea, while one in 10 will have anticipatory vomiting. Discuss the potential of nausea and vomiting when talking about chemotherapy with your doctor.
Why is my stool harder after chemo?
Pain medication, changes in your eating habits, and being less active than usual during chemo can all make your bowels move less often and cause your stool to be harder than you’re used to, the ACS says.
How to stay active during chemo?
“Less activity begets more fatigue,” Dr. Jacoub says. “It’s a vicious cycle.” The ACS specifically recommends aerobic and strength-building exercises (with your doctor’s OK, of course), as they can improve the way your body functions, help you sleep, and just help you feel better all around. Before adding new activity into your routine, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s safe. They may have other specific recommendations to combat fatigue, too.
Does chemotherapy cause nausea?
Although doctors are still determining exactly how chemo-induced nausea and vomiting happen, it seems as though chemotherapy can trigger the brain along with certain areas of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine in a way that prompts that sick-to-your-stomach feeling or actual throwing up.
Is chemotherapy scary?
Getting a cancer diagnosis has the potential to completely upend your world. Although starting treatment like chemotherapy can be reassuring, it can also be confusing and scary. Chemo is intended to destroy fast-growing cancer cells, but it can also have some harsh and unpleasant side effects.
How long does it take for a person to have trouble with memory after chemotherapy?
And some people have trouble with thinking, concentrating, and memory for months or years after treatment. Nervous system changes can develop after treatment. Children who had chemotherapy may develop side effects that happen months or years after treatment. These are called late effects.
Why is chemotherapy important?
It is an important part of cancer treatment. Doctors and scientists work constantly to develop drugs, drug combinations, and ways of giving treatment with fewer side effects. Many types of chemotherapy are easier to tolerate than they were a few years ago.
How long does it take for nerve damage to go away from chemo?
However, nerve damage often gets worse with each dose. Sometimes the drug causing the nerve damage has to be stopped. It can take months or years for nerve damage from chemotherapy to improve or go away. In some people, it never completely goes away. Treatment of pain often differs based on what is causing it.
What is it called when you have to follow up after a long term treatment?
Your health care team can help you treat long-term side effects and watch for late effects. This is called follow-up care . Your follow-up care might include regular physical examinations, medical tests, or both.
Can chemo cause constipation?
Chemotherapy can cause constipation. This means not having a bowel movement often enough or having difficult bowel movements. Other medicines, such as pain medication, can also cause constipation. You can lower your risk of constipation by drinking enough fluids, eating balanced meals, and getting enough exercise.
Does chemotherapy make blood cells?
It makes new blood cells. Chemotherapy affects this process, so you might have side effects from having too few blood cells. Usually the number of blood cells return to normal after chemotherapy is complete. But during treatment, low numbers of blood cells can cause problems and must be watched closely.
Does chemo pain go away?
In some people, it never completely goes away. Treatment of pain often differs based on what is causing it. It is important to talk with your health care team about pain while you are taking chemotherapy. There can be other reasons for pain besides the chemotherapy, such as the cancer itself.
What is the side effect of chemotherapy?
Constipation is a common side effect of chemotherapy or other medications prescribed during cancer treatment. Constipation is defined as having hard or infrequent stools or difficulty in having a bowel movement. Tom Merton / Getty Images.
How long does it take for bowel movement to go away after chemo?
These can include abdominal cramping, a sense of fullness in the abdomen, rectal pain, and of course, you may notice that you haven't had a bowel movement for 2 or 3 days if you are usually regular. 1 The symptoms, however, are not always obvious to those going through chemotherapy ...
Can you get constipated during chemotherapy?
Most of the time the diagnosis of constipation during chemotherapy can be determined based on symptoms alone in combination with medications that raise the risk.
Uncontrollable shaking
This evening my husband suddenly started shaking. His hands and feet felt cold. He didn't have a raised temperature. He could hardly stand even though he had been for a walk a couple of hours earlier. He took some morphine and paracetamol and after about fifteen minutes the shaking stopped and he went to bed.
Uncontrollable shaking
I am sorry to hear about what happened to your husband. It must have been frightening for you to watch.
Uncontrollable shaking
I never experienced this in treatment but six months after radiotherapy it started shaking and also cold hands and feet
Uncontrollable shaking
The hospice nurse thought it could be down to low sugar level as he was not able to eat.
Uncontrollable shaking
My husband has IPF, he was diagnosed thie year after two years of breathing problems.
What is chemocare.com?
Chemocare.com is designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends. For information about the 4th Angel Mentoring Program visit www.4thangel.org
What causes swelling in the mouth and lips?
The fluid retention causes swelling generally in the tongue, lips, or eyelids. Swelling of the airways can result in difficulty breathing, closing off of the airway and death. If swelling is happening along with signs of breathing difficulty seek help immediately.
Why is it so hard to eat after cancer treatment?
When you have cancer, your body may need more nutrients than usual. But it can be hard to take in enough nutrients if treatment side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, make it difficult to eat.
How to maintain energy during a syringe?
Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, riding a bike and swimming, throughout the week may help you preserve your energy level. Exercise regularly as you start treatment. You'll get in the routine of exercising, and it may even help you prevent fatigue during treatment.
What does fatigue mean in cancer?
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Fatigue, usually described as feeling tired, weak or exhausted, affects most people during cancer treatment. Cancer fatigue can result from the side effects of treatment or the cancer itself.
How long does cancer fatigue last?
Your cancer fatigue may occur episodically and last just a short while, or it may last for several months after you complete treatment.
What causes fatigue in the body?
Cancer treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy may all cause fatigue.
How to keep your energy up?
Maintain your energy. Drinking lots of fluids and eating well can help keep your energy reserves up . If nausea and vomiting make it hard to eat, talk to your doctor about these side effects.
Can bone marrow cancer cause fatigue?
You can also develop anemia if the cancer has spread to your bone marrow and interferes with blood cell production or causes you to lose blood. Pain. If you experience chronic pain, you may be less active, eat less, sleep less and become depressed, all of which may add to your fatigue. Emotions.