Why do I have pain after chemotherapy?
However, possible contributing factors include:
- Your cancer. Your cancer can cause changes to your body that can lead to fatigue. ...
- Cancer treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy may all cause fatigue. ...
- Anemia. ...
- Pain. ...
- Emotions. ...
- Lack of sleep. ...
- Poor nutrition. ...
- Medications. ...
- Lack of exercise. ...
- Hormonal changes. ...
What causes a sudden, sharp pain in the chest?
What causes a sharp stabbing pain in the chest that comes and goes?
- Heart attack. Image credit: Catherine McQueen / Getty Images. ...
- Heartburn. Heartburn is chest pain that occurs when stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and back up into the esophagus (food pipe).
- Pericarditis. ...
- Angina. ...
- Precordial catch syndrome. ...
- Panic attacks. ...
- Strains and fractures. ...
- Pleuritis. ...
- Prevention. ...
- When to see a doctor. ...
What causes chest pain after open heart surgery?
Surgery-related chest pain signs include:
- Increasing pain with movement of the chest
- Greatly increasing pain with sneezing or coughing
- Increasing pain with deep breaths
- Steadily decreasing pain as recovery continues
- Improvement in pain with over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen
- No difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- An increase in pain when lifting arms above the head
Which Chemo is worse a C or Taxol?
- Eye irritation: You may find you can’t wear contacts during chemo or that your eyes are sore and watery. ...
- Heart damage: In rare cases, “A” may temporarily damage your heart muscles, which interferes with its pumping action. ...
- Bladder irritation: “C” will possibly cause some bladder irritation that may feel like a mild bladder infection. ...
Are chest pains normal after chemo?
The most common side effects with this chemotherapy are fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and lab abnormalities. It also can cause heart side effects including chest pain, spasm of the heart arteries or irregular heart rhythms, which can be felt as palpitations.
How do you know if chemo has damaged your heart?
Feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness. Racing or pounding heart. Swelling of the legs and/or feet. Signs of a heart attack.
Does chemo cause physical pain?
Why it happens: Chemotherapy may cause painful side effects like burning, numbness and tingling or shooting pains in your hands and feet, as well as mouth sores, headaches, muscle and stomach pain. Pain can be caused by the cancer itself or by the chemo.
What is the most common complication of chemotherapy that patients experience?
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.
Can chemo weaken your heart?
Some types of chemotherapy (primarily in a class of drugs called anthracyclines) weaken the heart muscle from a buildup of calcium and other chemical reactions in the body that release harmful free radicals. Thus, chemotherapy side effects include cardiomyopathy (an enlargement) or congestive heart failure.
Does chemo destroy the heart?
Traditional and novel chemotherapy agents can damage the heart or peripheral blood vessels, or cause problems with clotting or blood lipids. Some serious cardiovascular effects occur while the chemotherapy is being given; others appear long after cancer has become a distant memory.
How long does it take for chemo to leave your body?
It generally takes about 48 to 72 hours for your body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs. But it's important to know that each chemo drug is excreted or passed through the body a bit differently.
How long does muscle pain last after chemo?
Myalgia is muscle pain. Both can be a possible side effect of some chemotherapies, some hormonal therapy agents, growth factors, or a very high white blood cell count. Chemotherapy related pain commonly occurs within two to three days of treatment and resolves within four to seven days.
How long after chemo does your body get back to normal?
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.
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 is the most serious complication of chemotherapy?
Cardiovascular effects can be among the most serious adverse events resulting from chemotherapy, and can occur early or late during the treatment. Cardiotoxicity can be mild, consisting of blood pressure changes, to more severe, such as myocardial infarction and heart failure.
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 the cause of paresthesia in chemo?
Commonly used chemotherapy drugs, such as Vincristine Sulfate, Paclitaxel or Cisplatin, may cause what is known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy or paresthesia. To help your healthcare provider diagnose and manage your pain, it is important to follow all the instructions that you have been given.
What causes pain in the legs and lungs?
Injury - from a trauma (such as from falling down, a car accident) Tumor invasion - A cancerous tumor may have invaded nerves, an internal organ (such as the liver or lung), or your bones, and caused pain. Blood clots - in your legs, or in your lungs may have damaged nerve or tissue.
What is breakthrough cancer pain?
While you are at rest - known as chronic, persistent pain. While you are moving , when you have coughed, or have performed a certain activity - called breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP). BTCP is known as a "flare" of pain, and can be severe. Whenever nerve endings are irritated.
How long does pain last?
Your pain may be acute or chronic. Acute pain is pain that usually lasts for less than 6 months. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than 6 months. The longer that you have pain, the more at risk for depression and extreme tiredness (fatigue) you will be.
Can radiation cause nerve pain?
Whenever nerve endings are irritated. Chemotherapy or radiation induced pain - is most often a form of nerve pain. It can cause peripheral neuropathy (painful numbness of the extremities), or paresthesia (numbness and tingling of hands, feet or any extremity of the body).
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.
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.
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.
Why do you need platelets for chemo?
They help prevent illnesses and fight infections. Symptoms aren’t always obvious, but you might find yourself getting sick more often than you used to. Be sure to take precautions to avoid exposure to viruses, bacteria, and other germs if you’re taking chemo. Cells called platelets help blood clot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do chemo drugs harm hair follicles?
As they work, chemo drugs target fast-reproducing cells (like those of a tumor), so they’re most likely to harm the normal, healthy cells in your hair follicles, mouth, digestive tract, reproductive system, and blood-forming cells in your bone marrow , according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
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.
What are the side effects of chemo?
One of the common side effects is that the patient may suffer from stomach troubles such as abdominal pain, abdominal cramps and flatulence. These problems can cause serious discomfort to the patient unless they are treated properly. A number of remedies for stomach problems after chemotherapy can be used to provide relief from the symptoms. Most of the remedies are basic home treatments and many of these have proven effectiveness.
What should a patient discuss with a doctor about pain?
The patient should discuss with the physician regarding the exact problem of pain or cramps, so that he may prescribe the correct treatment. The physician may ask certain basic questions relating to the pain, which the patient should try to answer accurately.
Can you drink fluids with cramps?
It is also a good idea to drink plenty of fluids, unless the doctor has advised against it. Aspirin and NSAIDs should be avoided unless prescribed by the physician . Smoking and drinking should be avoided as both may be potential irritants for the cramps.
Can you get stomach pain after chemo?
These problems can cause serious discomfort to the patient unless they are treated properly. A number of remedies for stomach problems after chemotherapy can be used to provide relief from the symptoms. Most of the remedies are basic home treatments and many of these have proven effectiveness.
What are the side effects of chemo?
2. Nausea and vomiting. This is the second most common side effect and, for many, the most uncomfortable. Today's treatments include the latest anti-nausea/pre-chemo meds with added anti-anxiety meds for extra comfort. These anti-anxiety meds really did make a difference for me.
Why do I have bone pain after cancer treatment?
Bone pain comes from low or loss of bone density (calcium and vit D), nerve damage, and white cell boosters. Bone pain can also be from original cancer metastasis or a secondary cancer from the treatment. Some patients even end up with osteoporosis as a result of the bone damage.
Can neutropenic gums cause mouth sores?
Treatments can damage the the entire mouth from the teeth to their roots and gums to mouth sores. Mouth sores are not only painful, but can also cause infection, which is serious when the patient is neutropenic. Even with extra proper oral care can these issues arise and be an ongoing problem.
Can you take pre-chemo meds every week?
Yes, this is true. Patients that are getting weekly or even bi-monthly treatments are given pre-chemo meds more often than others with different time treatments. Some patients that need anxiety meds to help their sickness at bay within their journey are possible to have some dependency as well. This becomes a vicious cycle even without the patient knowing!#N#Tip:
Does chemotherapy cause hair loss?
The most commonly known ones are hair loss and nausea with vomiting. But are these all of the side effects of chemotherapy? Not at all! Anyone that has personally gone through it, along with the caregivers, know first-hand the nastiness and depth of chemo side effects.
Can hair grow back after chemo?
Yes! Hair follicles are sensitive to any touch, even the pillowcase, causing pain until the root has reached past a certain length. Keep in mind that hair can also grow back a different color, texture and type such as curly or straight, opposite of what you naturally had, all from the chemo.
Can chemo cause nausea?
Being relaxed while receiving chemo is important and can make a big difference in nausea and vomiting. This is one of the reasons why anti-anxiety meds are added. These meds should be taken around the clock after an infusion for full benefits possible.