Cancer Chemotherapy Side Effects

Chemotherapy is a type of treatment used to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. Though an effective treatment, it is also one that destroys rapidly dividing healthy cells in the process. The most common cells affected are white and red blood cells, cells located in the digestive tract and the cells responsible for hair growth. The side effects each cancer patient experiences depends on the individual, the type of chemotherapy drug being used and its dose, and the route through which the treatment is given.

Neutropenia

• This is a condition that develops due to a decrease in white blood cells. These cells are needed by the body to fight infection and can result in you not only being vulnerable for infection, but also too weak to receive your scheduled chemotherapy treatment. There are symptoms which may indicate a decrease in white blood cells. They include burning during urination, nasal congestion, fever and chills.

Anemia

• This side effect occurs when the chemotherapy drugs have decreased your red blood cell count. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the organs and muscles of the body. Symptoms that your red blood cell count may have been affected by your treatments include dizziness, irritability, fatigue, feeling run down and a low blood pressure.

Thromboycytopenia

• This is a condition that results in a low platelet count, resulting in bruising easily and excessive bleeding. This side effect generally occurs 6 to 10 days after the treatment has been administered, and can take several days before the patient's platelet count increases. Symptoms of this side effect include an inability for blood to clot properly, bleeding gums and/or nosebleeds, blood that is visible in either the patient's stool or urine and headaches.

Hair Loss

• This is one of the most frequent side effects experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Hair loss can take place 2 to 3 weeks after their first treatment, and can affect the entire body from the head to the legs. The severity of hair loss depends on the chemo drug being used, and though the hair grows back once the treatments are finished, the hair may look different than the hair you had before.

Nausea and Vomiting

• This is also a common side effect of chemotherapy and used to be the most debilitating. However, the creation of newer anti-vomiting drugs has helped to reduce this effect significantly. The nausea and vomiting may appear suddenly (acute), or may be delayed (anticipatory). It is a side effect that happens more frequently when more than one chemotherapy drug is used to treat the cancer.

Mouth Sores

• These occur when the chemotherapy drugs damage the cells in the lining of the mouth, GI tract and throat. It is known as a condition called mucositis. Patients usually develop the sores within 10 days after beginning their treatments. These sores can make the patient more prone to developing viral or bacterial infections in the mouth, make speaking difficult, and can also result in malnutrition and weight loss due to an inability to chew and swallow food.

Taste Changes

• This side effect can occur due to a combination of the treatments and the cancer itself. This may also cause weight changes and poor nutrition because of the change in the taste of food. Some may develop an increased or decreased like for sweets, a distaste for tomatoes or tomato products and cause a constant metallic taste in the mouth, which may make all food taste this way.