what is the side effects of chemotherapy treatment

What is the most serious side effect of chemotherapy?

Low blood cell counts is the most common and most serious side effect of chemotherapy. When it happens, the dose of chemotherapy is adjusted right away or chemotherapy may have to be stopped temporarily. A low white blood cell count (neutropenia or leukopenia) increases the risk for infection.

What does chemo do to your body?

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells.

What is the most common side effect of chemotherapy treatment?

Tiredness (fatigue) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Many people having treatment feel tired a lot of the time or get tired very easily doing everyday tasks.

How many days after chemo do you feel better?

You may experience nausea (feeling like you might throw up) and vomiting (throwing up) after your last chemotherapy treatment. It should go away in 2 to 3 weeks. Your appetite may continue to be affected due to taste changes you may have experienced during your treatment.Feb 7, 2022

What are the signs that chemo is working?

How Can We Tell if Chemotherapy is Working?A lump or tumor involving some lymph nodes can be felt and measured externally by physical examination.Some internal cancer tumors will show up on an x-ray or CT scan and can be measured with a ruler.Blood tests, including those that measure organ function can be performed.More items...

Does chemo shorten your life?

During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased (from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999), and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years).Mar 1, 2020

Is chemo painful?

Chemotherapy is a drug-based treatment for cancer. It's commonly administered intravenously, although some chemotherapy drugs are injected or taken orally. While this treatment may cause discomfort, it isn't typically painful. Pain caused by nerve damage is a potential short-term effect of chemotherapy.Apr 14, 2021

What is the next treatment after chemotherapy?

Maintenance therapy is the treatment of cancer with medication, typically following an initial round of treatment. Maintenance treatment may include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or targeted therapy.

What should you not do after chemo?

9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•May 5, 2021

What is the hardest chemo?

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unfortunately, the drug can also damage heart cells, so a patient can't take it indefinitely.

How many rounds of chemotherapy can a person have?

During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.

What is the price of chemotherapy?

The average cost of Chemotherapy in India is INR Rs. 18,000. The maximum charge for Chemotherapy in India is up to INR Rs. 50,000.

How does chemo work?

Chemotherapy works on active cells. Active cells are cells that are growing and dividing into more of the same type of cell. Cancer cells are active, but so are some healthy cells. These include cells in your blood, mouth, digestive system, and hair follicles.

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.

Can cancer patients be treated with palliative care?

Yes. Your health care team can help you prevent or treat many side effects. Today, many more medications are available for side effects than in the past. Preventing and treating side effects is called palliative care or supportive care. It is an important part of cancer treatment.

Can chemotherapy cause nausea?

Whether you have these side effects, and how much, depends on the specific drugs and dose. The right medications given before and after each dose of chemotherapy can usually prevent nausea and vomiting.

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.

Can chemo cause low 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.

Can cancer affect sex?

Being tired or feeling sick from cancer or treatment can also affect your ability to enjoy sex. Talk with your doctor about these possible side effects before treatment starts. Learn more about managing sexual and reproductive side effects. Women might need a Pap test before starting chemotherapy.

Low blood cell counts

Low blood cell counts happen because of chemotherapy’s effect on blood cells made in the bone marrow. Blood cell counts often reach their lowest level about 7 to 14 days after chemotherapy. Low blood cell counts is the most common and most serious side effect of chemotherapy.

Fatigue

Fatigue makes a person feel more tired than usual and can interfere with daily activities and sleep. Fatigue may be caused by anemia, specific chemotherapy drugs, poor appetite or depression. It may also be related to toxic substances that are made in the body when cancer cells break down and die.

Nausea and vomiting

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).

Loss of appetite

Nausea and vomiting, fatigue or a buildup of waste products as cancer cells die can cause a loss of appetite. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause temporary changes in taste and smell, which can make food less appetizing. Some people may not feel like eating at all, even though they know they need to. This can lead to weight loss and malnutrition.

Hair loss

Hair loss (alopecia) is a common side effect of many, but not all, chemotherapy drugs. Hair follicles are damaged by chemotherapy because the drugs affect cells that are growing quickly. It’s hard to predict how much hair you will lose and how long hair loss will last because it depends on the type and dose of drugs used as well as your body.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the frequent passing of loose, watery stools. It happens because chemotherapy drugs often affect the cells that line the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Many factors increase the risk of diarrhea, including the type and dose of chemotherapy. Diarrhea is often worse when combinations of chemotherapy drugs are given.

Constipation

Constipation is when stools become hard, dry and difficult to pass. Constipation can happen for a number of reasons including the type of chemotherapy drug used, medicines given with chemotherapy to relieve nausea and vomiting, and drinking less fluids. Constipation tends to happen within a few days after chemotherapy starts.

How to lose appetite after chemotherapy?

Loss of appetite. You may lose your appetite while you're having chemotherapy, but you should try to drink plenty of fluids and eat what you can. It may help to: eat smaller meals more often instead of 3 larger meals each day. eat healthy snacks regularly. eat light meals on the day of your treatment.

How do you know if you have anaemia?

Symptoms of anaemia include: tiredness and lack of energy – this tends to be more severe than the general fatigue associated with chemotherapy. shortness of breath. noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations) a pale complexion. Contact your care team as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms.

Can chemotherapy make you tired?

Tiredness (fatigue) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Many people having treatment feel tired a lot of the time or get tired very easily doing everyday tasks. If you're working, you may want to ask your employer for time off or arrange to work part-time until your treatment has finished.

Does chemotherapy cause hair loss?

Hair loss. Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, although it does not happen to everyone. Ask your care team if it's likely to be a side effect of the medicines you're taking. If you do lose hair, it usually starts within a few weeks of your first treatment session.

Can men have frozen sperm?

Men may be able to have a sample of their sperm frozen so it can be used for artificial insemination at a later date. You should avoid becoming pregnant or fathering a child during your treatment, as chemotherapy medicines could harm the baby. Use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom.

Is chemotherapy stressful?

Having chemotherapy can be a frustrating, stressful and traumatic experience. It's natural to feel anxious and to wonder if your treatment will be successful. Stress and anxiety can also increase your risk of getting depression. Speak to your care team if you're struggling to cope emotionally.

What foods can help with anemia?

Preventing anaemia. Including a high amount of iron in your diet can help reduce your risk of anaemia, as iron helps the body make red blood cells. Foods high in iron include: meat, such as beef, pork and lamb. beans and nuts. dried fruit, such as dried apricots. wholegrains, such as brown rice.

How is chemo administered?

Types of Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be administered via pills, capsules or medicated liquid. It can also be infused into the bloodstream via an IV or injected directly into the body. You and your doctor will discuss which chemotherapy drugs and administration process is most likely to successfully attack your cancer.

What to do before starting chemo?

Before Starting Chemotherapy. If possible, ask your healthcare provider for a tour of your infusion center. Some cancer treatment centers have private rooms for chemotherapy; at others, patients are in a common area. Seeing the space in advance will help you prepare mentally—and decide what to bring along during chemo sessions.

Where is the catheter implanted?

Some have a thin catheter implanted in their chest or forearm. Others have a port implanted under the skin of the chest; this port connects directly to a large vein and can be easily accessed with a needle. When needed, healthcare providers can draw blood samples from ports and implanted catheters.

Can chemo cause hair loss?

Nearly everyone knows chemo can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss and other unpleasant side effects. But your doctors and treatment team will guide you through the process and help you manage these symptoms. Learning more about chemotherapy drugs, how they’re administered, and chemo side effects may help put your mind at ease as you prepare ...

What are the side effects of chemo?

Its side effects depend on the type of chemo drug involved, but infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and hair loss are some of the more common ones. Other common side effects of chemotherapy include: nausea and vomiting. fatigue. neuropathy, or pain caused by nerve damage. constipation.

What causes numbness in the hands and feet?

Neuropathy . Neuropathy is nerve pain caused by damaged nerves. It often affects the hands and feet, causing tingling, numbness, and unusual burning sensations. Some people also experience weakness and pain. Neuropathy is often worse in people who take certain chemotherapy drugs, according to a 2014 review.

Does chemotherapy cause hair to fall out?

Chemotherapy can damage hair follicles, causing the hair to weaken, become brittle, and fall out. Any hair that regrows may be of a different texture or color. This usually continues until the treatment ends, after which hair almost always regrows.

Can chemo cause rashes?

Chemotherapy can alter the immune system in ways that cause rashes and other skin changes. The drugs can also trigger skin changes directly. Severe rashes can cause painful, intense itching. If a person scratches until their skin bleeds, there is a risk of infection.

Is chemotherapy good for cancer?

Chemotherapy can be an effective treatment for cancer, but it can also have adverse effects. Before starting the treatment, speak with the doctor about which side effects are most likely, how long they might last, and how severe they might be. If side effects occur, the cancer care team may be able to help manage them.

Does chemotherapy kill cancer cells?

Chemotherapy kills regular cells , as well as cancer cells, and this is why side effects occur. Many people experience these adverse effects, but some people have few or none. Below, we explore 10 of the more common side effects of chemotherapy. 1.

Why is chemotherapy used?

To prepare you for other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink a tumor so that other treatments, such as radiation and surgery, are possible. Doctors call this neoadjuvant therapy. To ease signs and symptoms. Chemotherapy may help relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells.

How is chemotherapy given?

Chemotherapy is most often given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously). The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in your chest.

What is the treatment for cancer?

Overview. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available.

What is the purpose of chemo?

Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in people with cancer. There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with cancer: To cure the cancer without other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer. After other treatments, to kill hidden cancer cells.

Can chemotherapy drugs cause side effects?

Side effects of chemotherapy drugs can be significant. Each drug has different side effects, and not every drug causes every side effect. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the particular drugs you'll receive.

What is bone marrow transplant?

Diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood cells may be treated with a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant. Chemotherapy is often used to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. Immune system disorders.

Can chemo cause hair loss?

For instance, if your chemotherapy treatment will cause infertility, you may wish to consider your options for preserving your sperm or eggs for future use. If your chemotherapy will cause hair loss, consider planning for a head covering. Make arrangements for help at home and at work.