Chemotherapy side effects
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.