In some cases, you can have chemotherapy treatment at home. Pdf side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients and. Guswiler the purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate patients responses to chemotherapy teaching on drug side effects and side effect management. Neuropathy is a side effect of chemotherapy that may lessen gradually or could persist depending on the type of chemo, dosage and length of treatment.
Chemotherapy and your mouth national institute of dental. Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects, although many can be treated or prevented, and most will pass once your treatment stops. Side effects depend on which peripheral nerves sensory, motor, or autonomic are affected. While chemotherapy can be quite effective in treating certain cancers, chemotherapy drugs reach all parts of the body, not just the cancer cells. The side effects vary depending on the drugs used, and they also vary from one individual to another. After a chemotherapy session, call your doctor or nurse if you notice any of these side effects of chemotherapy. With this drug, a possible longterm side effect is weakening of the heart muscle, resulting in a decreased ability to pump blood through the body heart failure. What are the short and long term side effects of chemotherapy. Its difficult to predict what side effects youll get. Not all chemotherapy drugs have the same side effects and the severity of those side effects is different with each person, drug and dose.
Learn the side effects you might face and how you can handle them. Many people feel concerned about the side effects of chemotherapy, but most side effects are temporary and they can often be controlled or reduced. Not everyone having chemotherapy will suffer unpleasant side effects. We have listed other helpful information from macmillan on. Potential longterm side effects of exposure to chemo free download as powerpoint presentation. This includes cancer cells and normal cells, such as the new blood cells in the bone marrow or the cells in the mouth, stomach, skin, hair and reproductive organs. Common side effects chemotherapy can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, bowel issues such as constipation or diarrhoea, hair loss, mouth sores, skin and nail problems. Chemotherapy is associated with numerous severe side effects, which include immediate signs of toxicity and late signs of chronic toxicity 4,5. F sore mouth or gums pain or swelling in the gums swollen, inflamed or pusfilled skin sores sinus or ear infections cough and shortness of breath with fever irritation. Cancer patients response to chemotherapy teaching on side.
The sideeffects and longterm sequelae of anticancer chemotherapy remain a major source of concern for both patients and clinicians despite. The information below describes side effects that might be caused by traditional or standard chemotherapy. The side effects caused by chemotherapy depends on the type of chemotherapy medicine prescribed and how many cycles you receive. Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment for cancer. Chemotherapy can help fight cancer, but it also has side effects. Concepts of selfcare from orems theory of selfcare deficits provided the conceptual framework. Different chemotherapy drugs have different short term and long term side effects and certainly not all chemotherapy drugs cause every side effect. Fec is a chemotherapy treatment used to treat breast cancer. Fec is a combination treatment used to treat breast cancer.
Jul 11, 2018 side effects from chemotherapy are usually shortterm and go away after youre done with treatment. Whether you have these side effects, and how much, depends on the specific drugs and dose. More specifically, this therapy is administered to destruct cancer cells. The purpose of this guide is to help you find information and support on chemotherapy. Not everyone experience chemotherapy side effects the same way.
Cancer patients response to chemotherapy teaching on side effect management by kelly a. Chemotherapy information guide rogel cancer center. Side effects are caused when the chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing healthy cells. Chemotherapy can be an effective way of treating cancer.
Even though side effects are different for every person, common ones include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. However, a few people may develop serious lasting side effects such as a weakened heart or secondary cancers, such as leukemia, after chemotherapy. As well as destroying cancer cells, they also cause damage to normal cells. However, the drugs used for chemotherapy are powerful, and they can still cause damage to healthy cells. There are many different chemotherapy regimes, some having specific side effects. We cannot give advice about the best treatment for you, but. Possible chemotherapy side effects your nurse will go over this information with you and tell you which side effects you may have. Chemotherapy side effects vomiting, hair loss, nerve. Fec is named after the initials of the drugs used for this treatment. Chemotherapy affects all cells that grow and divide quickly in the body. Long term side effects of chemotherapy verywell health. Since cancer cells have lost many of the regulatory functions present in normal cells, they will continue to attempt to divide when other cells do not. To assess patient perceptions of cse, their impact on qol and doctorpatient communication regarding these aspects, a survey was conducted among italian cancer patients. Shortterm effects typically occur during the course of treatment and generally resolve within months of the completion of therapy.
But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. In general, chemotherapy damages cells that are dividing, so the parts of the body where normal cells divide frequently are likely to be affected by chemotherapy. This is exemplified by cisplatin, a widely used anticancer drug that may induce serious toxicity in normal tissues. Side effects of chemotherapy memorial sloan kettering cancer center. When you and your doctor are deciding on a chemotherapy regimen, weighing the benefits versus the side effects.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Reactive marrow therapy effects chemotherapy regenerative changes published date. Coping with the side effects of chemotherapy oxford university. Pdf on mar 3, 2014, kavitha mani and others published side effects of chemotherapy among patients receiving chemotherapy find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. It is best to read this information with our general information about chemotherapy and breast cancer. Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing. Understanding and managing chemotherapy side effects cancercare. Low blood cell counts happen because of chemotherapys effect on blood cells made in the bone marrow. The side effects you may get will depend on the type and dose of chemotherapy you get. Still, some side effects may take several months or longer to go away completely.
Feb 04, 20 the unexpected side effects of chemotherapy undergoing chemotherapy is an unpleasant and often disruptive experience that can radically transform a cancer patients life. Unfortunately, this means that chemo can unintentionally harm the development of normal cells such as your hair, nails, mouth and digestive tract. What are the possible side effects of chemotherapy. Some of the most common side effects of chemotherapy affect digestion. Side effects of cancer treatment side effects of cancer treatment this fact sheet is about some of the main side effects of cancer treatment. What are side effects from chemotherapy to treat lung cancer. I have breast cancer and am on an 8 cycle course of chemo ac for the first 4 cycles and then t for the final 4 it is now the day after my first dose and apart from feeling tired and a bit nauseous i dont feel so bad. Help is available if you are coping with side effects of chemotherapy, which may include hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and cognitive changes. Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over. Chemotherapy is usually given during the day as an outpatient in a hospital or treatment centre. Damage to sensory nerves nerves that help you feel pain, heat, cold, and pressure. Healthy cells can also be affected by chemotherapy treatments.
Chemotherapy can produce side effects in some but not. Sometimes a short stay in hospital is necessary if it is a longer or more complex chemotherapy treatment. Advice for managing the side effects of chemotherapy cancer. Most chemotherapy side effects go away shortly after youve finished chemotherapy. It is this damage to normal cells that may cause side effects. Unfortunately chemotherapy drugs do not differentiate between killing tumor cells and normal cells. Chemotherapy side effects the information below describes side effects that might be caused by traditional or standard chemotherapy. One notable example is heart damage following treatment with adriamycin doxorubicin.
This leaflet contains a range of the most common side effects that can occur. Researchers detail chemotherapys damage to the brain. What are the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. The type of chemo drugs you use can affect your experience try these tips to help manage some common. Managing the side effects of chemotherapy university health. Consider preparing a list of questions about side effects to ask your health care team so that you. Many side effects occur because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, both normal and abnormal. The cancercare connect booklet series offers uptodate, easytoread information on the latest treatments, managing side effects and coping with cancer. Impact on patients physical wellbeing impact on patients quality of life qol potentiallyyp impact on cancer survival be expensive to manage. Understanding chemotherapy cancer council australia. Read and download community member tips for chemotherapy treatment pdf. Anemia low red blood cell counts nausea and vomiting. Headaches muscle pain stomach pain pain from nerve damage, such as b. However, it may also include some antibiotics along with other medications for treating severe infection or illness.
While chemotherapy fights your cancer, the drugs you take can affect how you feel. The high prevalence of chemotherapy related side effects among local patients is a major concern and. There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways, including targeted therapy1, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy2. Chemotherapy side effects background aims data methods aim 1 aim 2 aim 3 conclusions chemotherapy side effects can. The effects of the drugs on healthy cells can cause side effects like tiredness or feeling sick. Cancer cells tend to grow fast, and chemo drugs kill fastgrowing cells. Jan 19, 2016 this is especially true for chemotherapy.
However fatigue, nausea and pain are common, and they could be a barrier to exercise 17, 18. Fatigue is feeling tired or exhausted almost all the time. Side effects from chemotherapy can be divided into shortterm effects and longterm effects. Thus, the general side effects of chemotherapy include bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal problems nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and alopecia. Some cancer treatments cause peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the peripheral nerves.
Department of clinical haematology coping with the side. Chemotherapy can cause nausea feeling sick to your stomach and vomiting throwing up. The goal of chemotherapy is to eliminate the cancer cells, while minimizing the negative effect on normal, healthy. Anticancer chemotherapy in teenagers and young adults. Managing your chemotherapy side effects this information will help you manage the side effects from your chemotherapy. But chemo also damages healthy cells that divide quickly. However, most people have some symptoms because of the treatment. Simply put, chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells. Cancer treatment side effects cancer institute nsw. Side effects of chemotherapy cancer council victoria.
Side effects of cancer treatment macmillan cancer support. To the best of our knowledge, how one single exercise session during chemotherapy affects energy, stress, nausea and pain has not been studied in patients with breast cancer. Many different kinds of medicines are used to cure or control the growth and spread of. Side effects often happen because a persons mouth is not healthy before chemotherapy starts. Some side effects of oxaliplatin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Managing side effects of chemotherapy moffitt cancer center.
Not all chemotherapy drugs have the same side effects and the severity of those. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. When chemotherapy damages normal cells, this causes side effects. Get ready for possible side effects of chemotherapy mayo. Chemotherapy or chemo is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy usually affects all fastgrowing cells. If you are applying for financial assistance, all correspondence must be done electronically through email or fax. Longer term side effects of chemotherapy with more sophisticated anticancer drugs and treatment approaches, lingering side effects are much rarer today than they were in the past. Before you start chemotherapy, a doctor, a nurse or pharmacist will tell you about the medicines you will get and the side effects you may have. Chemotherapy can cause cardiac effects early in treatment, but in some cases, the effects may not show up until much later. If you have any more questions, ask your doctor or nurse. Because of this, there may be many side effects during treatment. It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. You may experience some, all, or none of these side effects.
Critical side effects associated with chemotherapy used in cancer. This guide provides links and references to reliable and current. The efficacy of chemotherapy is often limited by side effects in normal tissues. Side effects of chemotherapy canadian cancer society. Their intensity can be mild grade 1, moderate grade 2, severe grade 3, or lifethreatening or disabling grade 4, according to the who classification.
Learn how doctors may use topical chemotherapy for a short period and then stop for a period of time to let the skin heal with information from a doctor in this free video on chemotherapy. The right medications given before and after each dose of chemotherapy can usually prevent nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. These nerves carry information from the brain to other parts of the body. Tell your doctor if you have any bruising or bleeding that you cant explain. Feeling tired or having little energy is a common side effect of many types of chemotherapy. These drugs usually work by killing dividing cells. In this study, we defined acute side effects of chemotherapy as reversible adverse events that occurs secondary to administration of chemotherapy. Common side effects from chemotherapy and nursing interventions. Pdf side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Many patients continue with their life activities while coping with these side effects.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Side effects of chemotherapy and combined chemohormonal. When you and your doctor are deciding on a chemotherapy regimen, weighing the benefits versus the side effects is part of the process. Start studying common side effects from chemotherapy and nursing interventions. That is the conclusion of a study published today in the journal of biology. Dry mouth and mouth sores that form on the tongue, lips, gums, or in the throat can make it difficult to chew and swallow.
Moreover these side effects are not only caused by cancer itself but also from the chemotherapy treatment which is used for it and the most critical. Side effects of cancer treatment bruising and bleeding chemotherapy, targeted therapies and sometimes surgery can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. Not all mouth problems can be avoided but the fewer side effects you have, the more likely you will stay on your cancer treatment schedule. Table 1 lists shortterm and longterm effects of adjuvant chemotherapy. The frequency and severity of side effects vary considerably. Certain chemotherapy drugs may be given in a specific order depending on the type of cancer it is being used to treat. These healthy cells can include cells in the bone marrow that make blood, cells in the lining of the gut and mouth, and hair cells.