Side Effects of Chemotherapy

1. Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Stay Informed

2. Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment for cancer. More specifically, this therapy is administered to destruct cancer cells. However, it may also include some antibiotics along with other medications for treating severe infection or illness. Chemotherapy is, now, practically the only treatment that offers hope against cancer. In fact, there has been remarkable improvement in the reports with respect to chemotherapy from different cancer treatment centers located at various corners of the world. However, the distressing side effects of chemotherapy leaves patients impaired and often in a debilitating state of physical and emotional health.

3. Most people would normally link chemotherapy and its medications with some of the most uncomfortable after effects. However, it is important to note that there are ways to manage the side effects, which have proved to be considerably helpful poker the past two decades. Many of the inevitable side effects of the past are either preventable or controlled today.

4. However, there is no such reliable method of predicting how patients would react to the therapy. While some patients may experience mild to moderate side effects, others may have none, while even others could report multiple symptoms. Cancer treatment centers help patients to learn more about their symptoms and the ways to cope better.

5. Vomiting And Nausea More than half of all chemotherapy patients will experience sudden bouts of nausea followed by vomiting. Doctors normally give anti-emetics to prevent this symptom. These medications are to be taken even when there are no symptoms; it helps in preventing the symptoms from recurring. If anti-emetics fail to work effectively on patients, one should contact the doctor immediately.

6. Alopecia or Hair Loss The most dreaded of all chemotherapy side effects is alopecia, or hair loss, or baldness. Hair will start falling off after a couple of weeks of treatment. On certain occasions, hair may just become more brittle and thinner. A patient can lose hair from any or any body part. Although there are no consequences of hair loss with respect to the physical health, it causes embarrassment and mental distress. The psychological effect in greater among females than males.

7. Hearing Impairment, Ototoxicity, Deafness Deafness can be another impairing effect of chemotherapy reported in the recent times. Hearing damage or ototoxicity and hearing loss is becoming a cause of concern for patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

8. Neutropenia Or Low White Blood Cell Count When a patient is receiving chemotherapy, it is obvious that the immune system is weakened because of low count of white blood cells. White blood cells are an important part of the immune system and they help in fighting infection. As a result, patients become susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.

9. Thrombocytopenia Or Low Blood Platelet Count Chemotherapy lowers the blood platelet count of patients. A platelet is a typical blood cell that aids coagulation or blood clotting. Coagulation is an essential part of human life that stops bleeding. Lower platelet count and chemotherapy is risky. Affected patients will bruise easily and may experience symptoms like bleeding gums and nose bleeds.

10. Therefore, patients undergoing chemotherapy should take proper care of their symptoms and report it to the team of doctors.