Immediate Side Effects of Chemo Treatment

Chemo treatments are meant to kill cancer cells, but along with that benefit, there may also be some side effects that show up right away. All chemotherapy drugs may cause side effects, but they may not all be the same for each medication, or each person. Immediate side effects will usually end when the chemotherapy ends.

Fatigue

• One of the most common immediate side effects of chemo treatments is being more tired than usual, with the same activity level. Feeling sleepy, not having the necessary energy to complete your normal activities, and feeling weak may make it necessary to slow down a bit and pace yourself according to your energy level while taking chemo treatments, in order to cope with the fatigue you may experience.

Depression

• Feeling down, blue and possibly depressed, are possible when undergoing chemotherapy. It may help to have someone you can talk to about what you are going through and how it is affecting you.

Digestive

• Nausea, diarrhea, having excess gas, being constipated, abdominal cramps, and vomiting are common for people to experience during and immediately following chemo treatments.

Appetite

• No desire for food, feeling full when only a little food has been eaten, not being hungry at all, and food tasting metallic, are all common complaints among chemo patients.

Bleeding

• Some people experience bleeding in the mouth, gums, and nose may be immediate side effects for some people. If bleeding occurs for more than 10 minutes, or is difficult to stop, your doctor may need to intervene with treatment and possible dosing changes.

Skin Irritation

• Some people experience skin side effects with chemo. Flushing, dry skin, being more sensitive to sunlight, and even hives, have been experienced by some people. Any side effects, no matter how mild they may seem, should be reported to your doctor, especially side effects that may possibly be due to an allergy- such as hives, swelling, rapid heart beat, and headaches.