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Most Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. Although chemotherapy agents target and kill fast growing cancer cells, they also damage normal healthy cells along the way, producing unwanted side effects. The parts of the body most likely to be damaged are those that have fast-dividing cells including hair follicles, the digestive system and blood cells.

  1. Digestive Problems

    • One of the most commonly known side effects of chemotherapy is nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy induces these symptoms because it irritates the lining of the stomach and small intestine. However, new medications are available that can help prevent these symptoms. Constipation is also a common side effect. For cancer patients, there are many factors that can lead to constipation, including lack of physical activity, pain medications, decreased intake of food and dehydration. Keep your doctor informed of your bowel patterns so that this symptom can be treated before it worsens. In addition, chemotherapy damages the cells of the digestive tract which leads to diarrhea in three out of four patients.

    Hair Loss

    • The most feared side effect for many patients is hair loss. The cells of hair follicles are rapidly dividing cells, making them vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs. The loss of hair is dependent on the drugs given, the length of treatment and the person. Some may experience complete hair loss while others only have thinning. Although hair loss is not a life-threatening side effect, it does have an emotional impact, often causing depression and grief reactions.

    Sores in the Mouth or Throat

    • Sores in the mouth, also called stomatitis, are caused by the chemotherapy drugs destroying the new cells of the lining of the mouth. With no new cells to replace the ones lost during normal cell loss, the gums and lining of the mouth become red and inflamed. The same symptoms can appear in the throat, called pharyngitis, and in the esophagus, called esophagitis. These sores usually appear between five and 14 days after a chemotherapy treatment and will heal once therapy has ended.

    Fatigue

    • Most patients receiving chemotherapy will experience fatigue, which is extreme tiredness that is not resolved by rest. Chemotherapy affects several functions that contribute to fatigue, including low red blood cell count, dehydration and loss of appetite.

    Infections

    • Chemotherapy treatments decrease the white blood cells, specifically the neutrophils, which are the cells responsible for fighting infections in the body. Chemotherapy patients need to be aware of signs of an infection, like fever, as an infection can quickly become life-threatening without the defenses to fight it off.

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