Managing the Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Patients receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer may experience side effects. While the chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, they may also damage normal, healthy cells. This damage may cause side effects, which can be both inconvenient and unpleasant for patients.

Different chemotherapy drugs cause different side effects, and different people react differently to the same drug. Some people experience no side effects, while others may suffer several symptoms, and there is no way to predict how patients will react to treatment. Fortunately, today, there are many ways to help manage the severity of these side effects. Nausea and vomiting, for example, can often be controlled by anti-nausea drugs. Proper nutrition and getting plenty of water can be vital in helping ward off fatigue, and proper oral care can relieve sore mouth and gums.

Patients should openly and regularly speak with their physicians about symptoms they may be experiencing. There are also many good resources available to learn more about commons side effects and how to manage them, including:

Managing Side Effects of Chemortherapy, American Cancer Society
Coping with Cancer, National Cancer Institute
Emotional and Physical Matters, People Living with Cancer