Coping with Side Effects from Chemo and Other Cancer Treatments

When you have cancer, it means there's a problem in one part of your body. But treatments like chemotherapy and radiation – along with the cancer -- can cause stress throughout your  body while they fight the cancer.

That means there is a good chance you will deal with side effects during your treatment. But not every patient, even with the same type of cancer, will respond similarly to the same treatment.

Treatment Side Effects

There is no one single treatment for cancer tumors. Chemotherapy, for example, could include a mix of various powerful anti-cancer drugs. Your care team will pick a combination with the best chances of treating your cancer. But with so many potential variables, that means the potential side effects will also be varied. Among the most common:

• Nausea and vomiting: This can vary based on the specific treatment you receive. Often it can be countered by other medications given before and after your treatment.
• Fatigue: This symptom may increase throughout therapy and might last for several months after the treatment ends.
• Hair loss: There is no guarantee you will lose your hair. But when it does occur, your hair may come out slowly or in clumps. It usually starts several weeks into your treatment and gets worse over time.
• Diarrhea or constipation: Some treatments can interfere with your bowel movements.
• Susceptibility to infection: Your immune system may be weakened, hurting its ability to fight off other illnesses.
• Mouth and throat sores: Damage to the cells in your mouth and throat can cause painful sores and make it difficult to eat comfortably.
• Nerve damage: Some chemotherapy drugs can cause nerve damage, resulting in tingling, numbness, burning and weakness in the hands or feet.
• Bleeding and bruising: A drop in platelets – tiny blood cells that help with clotting – can make you bruise easier and have trouble with bleeding.
• Foggy mental state: This is often referred to as “chemo brain” and causes problems with memory and staying focused.

Managing Side Effects

One of the hard parts about being a cancer patient is that so much is out of your hands. Once you’ve decided to undergo treatment, the best thing you can do is maintain a good diet and physical activity. Among the strategies:

• Exercise: While it may sound counterintuitive, this is actually a good way to avoid fatigue. You don’t need marathon gym sessions. Even a walk around the neighborhood can be good for your body and mind.
• Eat well: Even if your appetite is lacking, focus on healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and lean meats, while avoiding fast food and sugary treats.
• Make time for hobbies: Spending time with your favorite hobbies (reading, music, gardening, etc.) can help maintain a positive outlook.
• Stay hydrated: Aim for drinking 1 to 2 liters of water each day.
• Stay organized: A daily list of tasks – kept on your phone, for example – can keep you on track with important events. This can reduce the frustration you might experience with “chemo brain.”
• Practice good sleep hygiene: Try to go to sleep and wake up each day at the same time, to give your body a routine.
• Mediation: Yoga, breathing exercises and other forms of meditation can give your mind a break.

Communication Is Key

No two cancer journeys are the same. That has enormous implications for how your care team approaches your treatment. The simple reality is that they don’t know for certain how your body will react.

It is your responsibility to let them know how you are feeling and what symptoms you are experiencing. Without this information, there’s not much your team can do to make you more comfortable.

Sometimes, patients who are dealing with unpleasant side effects find themselves feeling helpless. Or they think their symptoms are simply an unavoidable part of treatment. But if you are honest with your team, they may be able to help by tweaking your treatment. Don’t suffer any more than you need to.

This content is not AI generated.