Chemotherapy – cancer treatment and side effects

Archive for the ‘Managing Side Effects’ Category

“Chemo Brain” has become recognized as a possible direct result of cancer treatment. Studies are being conducted to try and learn how “Chemo Brain” is caused and what can be done about it. Scientist and doctors are trying to figure out which types of chemotherapy drugs and other treatments cause “Chemo Brain” and they are working on ways to prevent this reaction to the cancer treatments available. Factors such as the doses of chemotherapy and the genetic differences of the patients that lead to “Chemo Brain” are being closely looked in hopes of finding a way to help patients avoid the condition.

While it is still early, there are definite paths that researchers are taking to find ways to prevent “Chemo Brain” in the future. Some of the research has shown that there is some solid evidence that some types of chemotherapy may cause nerve damage. This discovery has lead to an increase of studies on how chemotherapy affects and, in some cases, damages the brain. The research is also trying to find out how to keep the same level of cognitive function and maintain the same quality of life the patient had before treatment.

Cancer treatment has taken on a more aggressive approach as of late and researchers are studying the effects of higher levels of chemo drugs during the treatment. In addition to this, the research has shown that some of the new drugs used for treatment might actually affect the pathways that are involved in nerve cell formation and stem cell function.  Researchers are eager to find out how this happens and which cells are actually affected so they can develop medicines to counter act it.

Research is being done now that is trying to find the drugs that only kill the cancer cells and leave all the other healthy cells alone. If they can do this, they may have found a way to prevent “Chemo Brain”.  But while there is still the problem of “Chemo Brain” researchers are trying the medicines that are used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and dementia to see if any of those work on the symptoms of “Chemo Brain”.

To try and find a cure, researchers are leaving no stone unturned. They are looking into the genetic make-up of people to see if genetics are the cause of “Chemo Brain”. They are focusing on one gene in particular called, APOE. Studies have proven that a form of this gene, E4, is present in people with Alzheimer’s. They are now focusing on those patients who have the E4 form of APOE to see if they have a higher risk of suffering from long term “Chemo Brain”
Researchers have done an incredible job in just finding out about “Chemo Brain” and then coming up with treatments that may help it. Now what they want to know is how does it affect a patient’s brain and what changed does it cause? Finding these answers would help tremendously in the fight to find a cure for “Chemo Brain”.

Managing chemotherapy side effect of “Chemo Brain”

There have been many studies regarding our ability to remember and retain information. These studies have been critical when it comes to the problem of “Chemo Brain”. “Chemo Brain” is a condition that many cancer patients get during their chemotherapy treatments. It includes memory loss, a foggy feeling in the brain, the inability to multitask and others.

If you are about to undergo chemotherapy there are things that you can do to help your brain stay sharp and combat some of these symptoms. Start by keeping and sticking to a daily planner. Make sure everything you use on a daily basis is in the same spot all the time. Use “to do” list and stick to them. Keep a book or file on important dates like birthdays and anniversaries.

Exercising your brain is important before, during and after your treatment. Read books, do cross word puzzles, learn a new language, or take a class in something you are interested in.

Making sure you get enough sleep and physical exercise is also very important. Exercise is great for your body, but it also helps keep your mind sharp and clear as well as decreasing fatigue. Diet is important as well. It has been proven that vegetables help keep your brain working properly and they are great for your body as well.

Choose a daily schedule and stick to it. If you lose things regularly, choose a place that all lost things are put and put them there all the time. Don’t try to do different tasks at the same time. Do one thing, then finish it and start another.
Write down when you forget things or lose something. Make a list of your medicines and when you need to take them. If you are going to get some of the symptoms of “Chemo Brain” these steps will help you feel more in control and help you get through your days.

Tell your friends and family as well as your doctor of your memory problems. You notice them more than they do so they all need to be aware of what you are going through. And don’t feel silly or stupid, you are having a reaction to your treatment and it will pass. Your friends and family will understand what you are going through better and will be able to help you with your issues.

Most hospitals and cancer treatment centers have all of the help you need including psychologists, neurologists, and psycho neurologists who are able to test brain function and help you with the symptoms.

“Chemo Brain” and its causes are still unknown. There is a correlation between high doses of chemotherapy and “Chemo Brain” but if you need high doses of chemotherapy then you need it. Most cases go away when the chemotherapy stops and there are medicines that may help in some of the effects of “Chemo Brain”.
You just need to stay positive and understand this is a part of the process to getting you better.

Chemotherapy and the Effect It Has On the Brain

For several years, those people who have been treated with chemotherapy to cure cancer have been worried about and been frustrated by the mental haze that seems to settle around their brain. This fog is sometime even noticed before treatment begins. But for the most part, it is during and after the chemo that people notice they are having problems remembering things or they just can’t seem to focus. These symptoms are called “Chemo Brain” and scientists are now looking into what causes it and how can it be cured or prevented.

Studies have been conducted that have proven that some cancer drugs do change parts of the brain. Images have been taken of patient’s brain before and after the chemo, and those images have shown that there is indeed some shrinkage of the entire brain or parts of it. The parts that are affected most are the parts that control memory, planning, putting thoughts into action, monitoring thought processes and behavior, and inhibition.

The name “Chemo Brain” may be a little misleading as some people who suffer from it are not receiving treatment for cancer. Some of these people are on hormonal treatments or have not yet begun their treatment for cancer.
The symptoms of “Chemo Brain” do dissipate over time, but the symptoms are real and can be very distressing to the patient as they suffer from the mental changes they are experiencing.

“Chemo Brain” is defined as a “mild cognitive impairment” and is defined as being unable to remember certain things, having trouble finishing tasks or learning new skills. “Chemo Brain” is the combination of one or more of the following symptoms. People who have suffered from “Chemo Brain” have complained of:
•    Memory lapses, forgetting everyday things and things they usually have no trouble remembering.
•    Finding it hard to focus or concentrate on one thing at a time.
•    Trouble remembering names, dates, and import events.
•    They find it hard to do more than one thing at a time; their ability to multi task is gone. Even the simplest task like cooking and answering the phone. They report that they forget about one of the tasks when they do the other.
•    Tasks take a lot longer to finish than they used to. Slower thinking process.
•    Trouble conversing because they can’t remember or find the proper words to use in a sentence.

The amount of time “Chemo Brain” affects a person varies greatly as well. Some people only have it for a short time while others can have it for a while. It is also common that a patient will hardly notice these symptoms but they will be aware of a change in their thinking and mental abilities.

A common problem that does occur is that patients do not tell their doctors about these changes. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to let your health care team know so they can try and solve the problems you may be having.

Loss of appetite due to chemotherapy

Patients who are involved in treatment that includes chemotherapy often find that they don’t feel like eating food like they used to and that they experience some sort of weight loss. Unfortunately, most of the medicines used for chemotherapy, react with the body in a way that causes loss of appetite and weight loss. This is due to many factors, one of which is the medicines and or the cancer itself may affect the body’s metabolism.

This could lead to a mild form of anorexia. Sometimes the cancer and treatment required to fight it are severe and the anorexia could lead to cachexia. Cachexia is malnutrition that causes muscle loss. A way to treat this is to eat properly so the body has all it needs to battle the cancer and help fight other side effects of the medicines needed in treatment.

It is not uncommon to have a decreased appetite and the appetite usually returns once the chemotherapy is finished. There may be some weeks before the appetite returns to normal, and this is very normal. The severity of the appetite and weight loss differs with different cancers and chemotherapy treatments.

It is important to talk with your doctor about this. There are different ways they can treat you and different medicines they can administer to help with the problems of weight loss and appetite problems.

Chemotherapy can cause vomiting, weight loss, and appetite problems. But there are people who have gained weight during their chemotherapy treatments with the use of medicines that include steroids, forced rest, electrolyte imbalances, and fluid retention.

During cancer treatment and chemotherapy your weight will be monitored many times. You will also be given access to a nutritionist and it a dietitian to help you stay strong and maintain your weight. There are also several steps you can take to help you maintain your weight. These include:
•    Make your meals regular. Set a time to eat and eat.
•    Eat in between meals even if you don’t feel like it.
•    Eat several meals. Instead of three, eat five or six smaller meals.
•    Experiment with new foods and eat with your family or friends whenever you can.
•    Use plastic forks if your food taste metallic and use glass pots for cooking.
•    Try to move and be active as much as you can to keep you muscles from going into atrophy.
•    If you like candy or sweets, eat them whenever you can. Although they don’t contain much in the way of nutrition, they do have calories and you will need all of them you can get to keep your weight up.
•    Keep your fluids up. Drink lots of water. Also, there are waters out there with protein in them to help you keep your protein levels up.
•    Milkshakes are a great way to get calories and protein.

You need to eat right in order to help your body fight and get better. Talk to your doctors regularly about the foods you need and you will be on your way.

Does chemo brain exist?

For many people who have survived cancer there is a condition that includes memory loss, a feeling of a foggy brain, or cognitive changes that are called cognitive dysfunction. These symptoms may last for several years after the cancer treatment has stopped in some cases, but for the most part they disappear after the treatments stop.

“Chemo Brain” is a misleading term in the fact that it is not proven that chemotherapy actually causes it. Cancer survivors may retain all of their brain functions, but some do not but yet they still score well on test that measure their cognitive responses. This has lead doctors to wonder if it is actually the chemotherapy that actually causes “Chemo Brain” or if it really exists.

While the possibility of “Chemo Brain” being a result of chemotherapy is still in question, it is clear that the symptoms of “Chemo Brain” are real and frustrating to the patients that experience it. Memory loss and the debilitating side effects that stem from it are real and there are studies being conducted to help understand this condition better.

The fact is that “Chemo Brain” happens in cancer patients but no one knows why or what triggers it. Studies are being conducted to see what may cause it and what can stop it, but to date, it still unknown. Research is ongoing as to the cause, treatment, and prevention of “Chemo Brain” and an answer will be found soon.

Research has proven that women treated by chemotherapy for breast cancer, compared to those who weren’t, had changes in their brain activity. Some of these changes continued for five to ten years after the patient stopped her chemotherapy treatment. “Chemo Brain” may be a result of several factors including:

•    The type and severity of the cancer.
•    The medicines used to treat the cancer.
•    Other supporting medicines required for treatment.
•    The age of the patient.
•    The stress level of the patient.
•    Blood count levels.
•    If the patient is depressed or not.
•    The fatigue levels of the patient.
•    Changes in hormone levels.

It is certain that “Chemo Brain” affects both genders and is a real factor in the cancer process. Chemotherapy is not the only cause of “Chemo Brain” due to the fact that only 20 to 30% of patients receiving chemotherapy get “Chemo Brain” as a side effect.

There are factors that may increase the chance of a patient getting “Chemo Brain” during his or her treatment and they include:
•    The type of cancer; specifically brain cancer.
•    If the chemotherapy is delivered straight into the central nervous system.
•    The combination of whole-brain radiation and chemotherapy.
•    The levels of chemotherapy and the type of cancer.
•    Cancer that requires radiation therapy to the brain.
•    And the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis and treatment of the cancer.
If you experience any of the symptoms of “Chemo Brain” you need to talk to your doctor to find ways of counteracting the condition.

Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

Of the many side effects of chemo, most common is the nausea and vomiting that some patients experience. These are also the most dreaded side effects that patients worry about. While there have been some new medicines introduced that have cut down the nausea and vomiting patients experience, there are still people affected by it.

Chemotherapy drugs can irritate the lining of your stomach and the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). This irritation stimulates nerves that activate the vomiting center (VC) and the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) in the brain which, in turn, causes the vomiting. Other side effects of chemo that cause nausea and vomiting are delayed gastric emptying, inflammation, or obstruction (intestinal blockage).

Nausea itself is the uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, feeling of wavelike sensations in your stomach and the back of your throat. It is not unusual for a person to also feel symptoms like, weakness, light headedness, dizziness, and sweating. Nausea can lead to retching, vomiting or both.

Retching involves the recurring movement of the diaphragm and muscles in the stomach which are controlled by the VC.Vomiting is controlled by the VC and is the process of having the contents of your stomach forcefully removed through your mouth. It is also known as “throwing up”. Vomiting is a side effect of chemotherapy and might happen days after the treatment, or hours after it. If a person suffers from vomiting directly after their treatment, that is known as “Acute Vomiting”. “Delayed Vomiting” or “Delayed emesis” is when a person vomits 24 hours or later after their treatment. This side effect can last for several days.

Some people have had unpleasant experiences in the past with vomiting and nausea sometimes get “Anticipatory Vomiting”. This can occur if a person is confronted by the same odors, sounds, or sights that had caused them to get sick before. This is a factor in the treatment of cancer because some people will get “Anticipatory Vomiting” before they go to chemo because they got sick at their last round of chemo.  This is common and there are treatments available to help stop it after it has started.

No one can know how bad or for how long a patient will have vomiting and nausea after their chemotherapy. Some people do not suffer from these side effects at all. But while we may not know what is going to happen, we know some of the chemotherapy drugs that are known to cause nausea and vomiting are: cisplatin, dacarbazine, mechlorethamine, melphalan, daunorubicin, cytarabine (high doses), streptozocin, carmustine, etoposide (high doses), cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, lomustine, and dactinomycin.

Other factors like fatigue, anxiety, or being a woman of menstrual age may also affect the degree and duration of vomiting and nausea.

In order to prevent vomiting and nausea, there are medicines that can be given to the patient before the chemo actually begins. Using these drugs in this manner is called “Anti-emetics” and some of them are: lorazepam (Ativan®), prochlorperazine (Compazine®), promethazine (Phenergan®), and metoclopramide (Reglan®).
Other non drug related cures can include: ginger, relaxing exercises, calming music, meditation. These tend to work best in conjunction with the anti-emetic drugs.

Notice: all the names of the above drugs are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

During cancer treatment involving chemotherapy, a condition can arise that is called “Chemo Brain”. This condition causes the patient to have certain symptoms that may affect his or her memory, ability to work, and or concentration problems.

These symptoms do not affect all chemo patients, and the symptoms vary from those patients it does affect.
Some patients may be able to return to work and do their jobs effectively, while other patients may be so affected that they will not be able to return to work. If you find you are suffering from any of these symptoms during your chemo treatment, tell your doctor as they may be able to rectify the problems or refer you to an occupational therapist that will be able to alter your current job description or refer you to a different role that suits your abilities.

There are cases, although rare, that patients have such sever memory and concentration issues that they are simply unable to work. In these cases, it is advisable for those patients to apply for disability benefits until the symptoms go away. You heath care team and oncology social worker or other health care professional will give you all of your options and walk you through the needed process.

It is not fully understood what causes “Chemo Brain” in cancer patients or exactly which treatments cause it. There are several treatments for cancer and they include: Chemotherapy, Hormone therapy, Immunotherapy, Radiation therapy, Surgery, and others.

As is well known, there are several side-effects to cancer treatment that a patient should be aware of.  These side effects include: Anemia, Fatigue, Infection, Menopause, Nutritional deficiencies, Sleep problems, such as insomnia, Emotional reactions to cancer diagnosis and treatment, Anxiety, Depression, and Other causes.

Some other complications of cancer treatment are inherited and can cause greater susceptibility to “Chemo Brain” and medications that either do not help the patient or affect the patient adversely.

If you are receiving treatment and feel that you are suffering from any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor for help. Some signs of “Chemo Brain” include:
Being unusually disorganized,
-    Confusion
-    Difficulty concentrating
-    Difficulty finding the right word
-    Difficulty learning new skills
-    Difficulty multitasking
-    Fatigue
-     Feeling of mental fogginess
-    Short attention span
-    Short-term memory problems
-    Taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks
-    Trouble with verbal memory, such as remembering a conversation
-    Trouble with visual memory, such as recalling an image or list of words

Signs and symptoms of cognitive or memory problems vary from person to person and are typically temporary, often subsiding within two years of completion of cancer treatment.

If you are receiving any treatment for cancer and think you may be suffering from any one of these symptoms it is very important to consult your doctor or health care professional. They will be able to help you with these symptoms and may, in some cases, be able to alleviate or cure them all together with different drug combinations or by varying your treatment.

When someone begins to lose their hair  for normal reasons like aging, they become highly emotional and experience levels of low self esteem and self consciousness. Chemotherapy hair loss is no different except this person also carries the associated worries and stress of having cancer.

Chemotherapy hair loss is a side effect of receiving chemotherapy, whether it be oral chemo, radiological, or injection. Levels of chemotherapy hair loss depends on the type of medication being used for treatment. Since the chemotherapy affects all the cells in the body the hair root cells get damaged too hence causing hair loss.

Chemotherapy hair loss usually starts about 2 to 3 weeks after starting chemotherapy treatment. For some patients, hair loss begins as losing clumps of hair at a time and others suffer chemotherapy hair loss as a little here and a little there until for both patients, the loss is noticeable to others. Hair loss due to chemotherapy can even continue for up to a month after treatment is over.

Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed treatment for chemotherapy hair loss. The best way to deal with this side effect is to become educated about it and be prepared for what you may look like. The use of popular hair loss remedies haven’t had much effect on chemotherapy hair loss and for those that really can’t handle the idea of losing their hair, purchasing a wig or other hairpiece may help.

Preparing for chemotherapy hair loss is just about taking extra care of your hair before treatment begins. The use of dyes, perms, and hair dryers can weaken your hair and cause hair loss to happen faster during treatment. Another good idea is to cut your hair short in preparation for hair loss due to chemotherapy  because the loss won’t be as noticeable as it would if hair style were longer.

Chemotherapy hair loss doesn’t have to add to the stress of having cancer if it’s taken in stride. Being prepared and having friends and family helping with emotional support will add to the lessening of self esteem due to chemotherapy hair loss.

During chemotherapy treatment, there are few things to do that might lessen the chemotherapy hair loss. Using a satin pillowcase while experiencing chemotherapy hair loss will lessen hair being snagged and pulled out by other fabrics such as cotton that are rougher in texture. Using a soft bristled hairbrush and a gentle baby shampoo will also help in lessening chemotherapy hair loss.

After cancer treatments are over, most patients will still have chemotherapy hair loss.  Some  hair loss may be permanent due to strength of radiation used. However, in most cases, chemotherapy hair loss is a temporary side effect. Depending on the type of treatment, hair lost to chemotherapy hair loss may grow back coarser and a different color than normal. Chemotherapy hair loss doesn’t have to be a major setback during a patient’s cancer treatment if they keep in mind that most times, hair will grow right back.

The choice of drugs given in a systemic treatment to treat cancer is known as chemotherapy. With chemotherapy there is always the risk of exposure to chemotherapy side effects when a body is subjected to high dosage of chemotherapy drugs. The first cells affected are those that divide fast like hair follicle cells, blood cells and marrow cells, reproductive tract and digestive lining cells. The effect of chemotherapy rests mainly on the potency and the method of drug administration.

White blood cells(WBCs), blood platelets and red blood cells (RBCs) are fast growing cells produced in the bone marrow. These are the first cells to be affected by chemotherapy side effects. The side effect is the count of these cells falls abnormally low. A complete blood count is taken regularly for testing the number of these cells while you are undergoing chemotherapy to check for the beginning of possible chemotherapy side effects.

This nasty side effect of falling blood cell count does not appear immediately at the beginning of the treatment. This is because the drug does not have chemotherapy side effects on the already present bone marrow cells, but upon the blood cells which are being produced in the body’s bone marrow, to replace normally wearing out blood cells.

The falling of white blood cell(WBC) count means you cannot ward of infection because your WBCs – the body’s defense force- can’t protect your body from infection. Your body system becomes vulnerable to consequences of  chemotherapy side effects  such as nasal congestion, shaking chills, sore throat, cough and fever. Fever is the first sign that an infection has taken hold of you. The moment your temperature reaches 100.5, call the doctor as soon as possible.

Chemotherapy is delayed if you have a low count of WBCs.  A low RBC is known as anaemia. This can cause dizziness, fatigue, skin pallor, low blood pressure, headaches and dizziness. Chemotherapy anaemia is temporary but if there is a blood loss, then it can worsen. Doctors advocate a blood transfusion in extreme cases, to get the RBC count up.

If you have a low platelet count –thrombocytopenia- you will bleed longer, even when the cut is small, have headaches, bruise easily, have reddish spots all over the skin, have gum bleeding easily and possible internal bleeding  This can also cause serious and unexpected blood loss and is one of the severe chemotherapy side effects.  A below 10.000 count means platelet transfusions are needed repeatedly, although sometimes an immune system reaction destroys the new platelets donated.

Nausea and vomiting are the most unpleasant chemotherapy side effects, even though we have drugs to counteract them.  Nausea is a result of irritated duodenal and stomach lining as a side effect of these powerful chemotherapy drugs .  Some other chemotherapy side effects are inflammation, constipation and intestinal blockage.  Other chemotherapy side effects are light-headedness, weakness and dizziness accompanying or leading to nausea.

Chemotherapy side effects like nausea can occur just after chemotherapy – acute vomiting- or sometimes after 24 hours extending up to days. (Delayed emesis) Some drugs are known to cause nausea. It’s important to note nausea can also be caused by external factors like anxiety while undergoing treatment, heavy alcohol intake and fatigue. There are anti-emetics to control nausea before it occurs. You might want to read up more on ginger which appears to be a popular remedy for nausea.

Chemotherapy side effects can also be hair loss, baldness. These have psychological effect on patients and their families.  Some patients may just see a minimal hair loss according to the doses of the drugs given and the duration of the treatment. Falling of hair might start as soon as treatment begins or in 2 to 3 weeks time from the chemotherapy treatment. But do not worry as it is temporary and your hair starts to grow back again, about the time when the treatment is nearly finished or completed. However sometimes there might be a change in hair color. Out of all the chemotherapy side effects, this can have impact on you socially and psychologically.

Changes in weight: Some patients  find themselves gaining weight during chemotherapy. Other common chemotherapy side effects related to your appetite are  loss of appetite, anorexia. The agressive form of anorexia may lead to malnutrition which can lead to muscle loss called cachexia. Good, regular,  proper and healthy nutrition can fight both infections and disease as well as ward off malnutrition while coping with chemotherapy side effects and chemotherapy treatment.

Some other chemotherapy side effects aggravated by appetite loss are diarrhoea and nausea. Some chemotherapy drugs show these chemotherapy side effects due to electrolyte imbalances, steroids and fluid retention. You need to monitor your weight with a nutritionist’s help while undergoing chemotherapy.

You might find some other chemotherapy side effects like changes in taste which can affect your appetite hence causing weight changes, anorexia and poor nutrition. These chemotherapy side effects may either make you hate or want to gorge on sweet food, eschew bitter tasting food, start disliking beef, tomato products and find your tongue having a perpetual metallic taste. That is because the tongue’s receptor cells for taste are affected by these drugs and so you might find your sense of smell and your taste buds gone awry during chemotherapy.

Some other chemotherapy side effects are throat and mouth sores. Due to the drugs causing these cells lining the mouth and throat, and the body not able to replace them so fast, you might find sores developing in this area. These chemotherapy side effects are called stomatitis-  temporary sores in  mouth, pharyngitis – temporary sores in throat- , esophagitis –sores in esophagus – and mucositis- the mucus membrane of the intestine getting inflamed. These chemotherapy side effects can lead to infection, bleeding and painful ulcers.

Another unpleasant chemotherapy side effect is constipation leading to decreased appetite, nausea, bloating, cramping, pain and gas. Constipation can also get aggravated due to factors like not doing exercise, having low food intake and less fibre intake, dehydration, depression.

Diarrhea is also one of the inconvenient chemotherapy side effects along with bloating, cramping and gas.  This can be due to the drug given, the dosage and treatment’s duration, intestinal viruses and bacteria, stomach tumors, having chemotherapy and radiation, anxiety etc. One needs to report this to the doctor to prevent malnutrition, dehydration and possible electrolyte imbalances.

Fatigue is the most weakening of chemotherapy side effects .This includes lack of energy, forgetfulness inertia, lowered capacity for mental and physical exertion and weakness. As this is unrelated to normal fatigue which goes away with proper rest, it will affect your health. Your doctor will tell you measures to cope with this side effect.

Heart damage is another chemotherapy side effect, caused by drugs, especially anthrax-cyclines. They cause build up of fluid and also congestive types of heart failure. This is seen by feet and hand oedema, erratic heartbeat, dizziness and breath shortness after exercising or just even by lying flat.  This can also be aggravated if you have had previous cardiac problems, blood pressure problems, or if you smoke.  Treatment on a drug which may cause heart problems should be stopped as soon as you notice weight gain, fluid retention, and breathing problems.

Chemotherapy side effects also include changes in your nervous system to produce symptoms like headache, lethargy, fever, blurred vision, stiff neck, numbness, pain in hands or feet and tingling, dry mouth, depression and seizures. This might occur years after chemotherapy has finished. There is also another chemotherapy side effect which affects the memory and the abilities to reason concentrate and comprehend.

One of the common chemotherapy side effects is lung damage caused by Bleomycin. This chance increases if you are receiving radiation and a smoker. Fever, dry cough and shortness of breath are symptoms which should stop once the drug treatment is over.

Another chemotherapy side effect is sterility-sometimes permanent- in men and the loss of sexual desire, during chemotherapy.