Chemotherapy Dangers

Chemotherapy is often used to treat cancer patients. There are different types of chemotherapy drugs available. Discuss all of your options with your doctor. Different chemotherapy drugs may cause different side effects, and different degrees of effects. Be sure to make arrangements to get adequate rest during your chemotherapy treatment. You may feel unable to work, take care of your children or pets, and feel unable to maintain your household while dealing with the effects of chemotherapy.

Nausea

• Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause nausea and vomiting. Your doctor can prescribe an anti-nausea medication, which you can take either orally or intravenously.

Hair Loss

• Chemotherapy can often result in hair loss. You may lose hair all over your body, not just on your head. The degree of hair loss depends on the chemotherapy drug used.

Other Risks

• In addition to nausea and hair loss, you may experience some other side effects. These include fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, fever, mouth sores, pain and being easy to bruise.

Neuropathy

• There are also risks of long-term problems associated with chemotherapy. Peripheral neuropathy, or damage to the nerves, is one of them.

Long-Term Effects

• In addition to neuropathy, other possible long-term side effects from chemotherapy include heart and kidney problems, lung tissue damage, infertility and the risk of getting a second type of cancer.