Side Effects of Chemotherapy Shots

Chemo can be administered like a flu shot, depending on your doctor's recommended treatment. The chemo shot may contain a combination of two or four chemotherapy drugs to prevent and control the spread of cancer cells. A chemo shot regimen is determined by the attending physician and involves a number of chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), trastuzumab (Herceptin), and fluorouracil. They may be given in one shot or sequentially before radiotherapy or hormonal therapy.

Fatigue and Pain

• Chemotherapy is very draining on the body's resources. It can leave a person feeling extremely fatigued with a sore and painful throat, mouth or gums, and problems with nerves, muscles, kidney, bladder and intestines.

Low Blood Count

• Chemo drugs affect bone marrow functions, resulting in reduced production of red and white blood cells (anemia and neutropenia). A patient is usually given two to three weeks to recover before another shot is scheduled.

Bleeding and Bruising

• Chemotherapy drugs lower blood platelet counts, resulting in a greater risk of bleeding and bruising.

Loss and Sometimes Gain

• Almost all chemo drug combinations result in hair loss. Weight can also become a problem going from massive weight loss to extreme weight gain.

Memory

• Chemo drugs affect cognitive functions. Considered a secondary problem of chemotherapy, it may result in foggy and fuzzy thoughts, short-term memory loss and trouble naming things, a condition called "chemo-brain."

Menopause Symptoms

• Female chemo patients are likely to experience symptoms similar to menopause, such as hot flushes and insomnia. Due to reduced hormone production, there is a possibility that they might experience temporary to permanent menopause.