Tiredness, nosebleed or mouth ulcers
Despite the many – good – developments, chemotherapy still has side effects. But here too the following applies: knowledge is power. When you know what you can deal with, you can protect yourself against it. We list common and less common side effects.
Chemotherapy is one of the better weapons against cancer. But chemo can also have side effects. Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cancer cells, but also some of the healthy cells.
Chemo, for example, can damage the stem cells needed to maintain tissues such as bone marrow and skin. As a result, chemotherapy can have limited to very serious side effects, which depend, among other things, on the chemotherapy used and the amount of medication. We list any side effects. Please note: not all side effects occur in everyone. One has many complications with chemo; the other has almost nothing to worry about.
Common side effects:
• Fatigue and anemia (anaemia)
• Fever and infections and neutropenia, (lack of white blood cells)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea and constipation,
• Hair loss
• Dry skin and nail problems
• Lack of appetite
• Problems with sexuality
Less common side effects:
• Hand and foot problems
• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Complaints in mouth and pharynx
• Reduced fertility
• menopausal symptoms
• Change of perception through the senses and bleeding.
• Amnesia and concentration problems
• Anxiety and depression.
What to do?
If you suffer from side effects, it is best to discuss your complaints with the doctor or oncology nurse. Perhaps there is a way or means to counteract the annoying side effects. Sometimes the amount of chemotherapy is adjusted or the administration is postponed for one or two weeks.
When do you call for help immediately?
Symptoms for which you should immediately inform the doctor or oncology nurse:
• Fever (temperature above 38.5°C) with or without chills
• Spontaneous bruising, without falling or bumping
• Persistent bleeding from a wound (longer than half an hour), for example a persistent nosebleed
• Complaints when moving arms or legs.
Does everyone suffer?
It is impossible to predict how you will respond to chemotherapy. Some people experience a lot of side effects, others notice less. The severity of the side effects is not directly related to the outcome of the treatment. In other words: having a lot of hindrance from side effects does not mean that the chemotherapy has a good effect. Or vice versa: if you don’t notice it much, that does not mean that the medicines have no influence on your disease. If you can go through the chemotherapy as it has been put together for you, the drugs have the greatest chance of being effective.
Is it about?
Some side effects disappear after chemotherapy, others last for a shorter or longer period of time. There are people who indicate that they have never completely recovered from cancer treatment, for example because they get tired much faster than before. But side effects can also disappear completely.
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