The chemotherapy and cancer treatment given to patients depends on many factors like the type of cancer, stage of cancer, age and health of the patient and so on. Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for curing cancer patients. It has proved quite effective in shrinking the size of a tumor and restraining the cells to divide any further. Chemotherapy or chemo drugs inhibit the growth in all active cells which includes normal cells of the hair, skin and blood in addition to the cancer cells. This disrupts the usual functions of body cells and causes hair fall, darkening of skin, anemia, excessive bleeding at small cuts and frequent infections. However, usually these side effects are not persistent and subside once the therapy is over.

The doctors usually decide the treatment regimen for the patients; they take into consideration many things before starting the treatment. For example, before administering a regimen like R-ESHAP chemotherapy, the doctors decide the number of cycles, dosage of the drugs, and their frequency. They also conduct a blood test before starting the chemotherapy treatment and usually closely monitor the blood count during the treatment.

Some chemotherapy drugs can be consumed orally and some are administered intravenously. These drugs can be administered as single agents or in combination with other drugs. These days, many new treatments like heated chemotherapy, targeted therapy, induction chemotherapy, hormonal therapy have also been found to be quite effective in providing disease free survival to patients.

Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy

1. Anemia: Anemia is a condition in which the number of RBC in blood decreases. An anemic person usually looks very pale, experiences difficulty while breathing and has dizziness, gets tired very frequently, looks pale and loses weight.
2. Changed Appetite: Irregular functioning of intestinal cells upsets the appetite. Owing to this reason, patients usually complain of nausea and vomiting. They also might experience loss of appetite taste for food.
3. Bleeding Problems: As the blood platelets become very less in number, they are unable to bring bleeding under control quickly. This can cause excessive bleeding even when patients have a minor cut.
4. Diarrhea and Constipation: Diarrhea and constipation are common during chemotherapy as the drugs used for the treatment have an adverse effect on the cells that comprise the lining of the intestines.
5. Hair Loss: Hair loss or alopecia occurs in more than 90% of cancer patients. Hair follicle divides and grows regularly which gets affected during chemotherapy.

Some other common side effects include peripheral neuropathy, changes in skin and nails, mouth ulcers, pain in the joints, rashes on skin, fluid retention, infertility, changes in the organs of the body and so on. In case the patients experience any other unusual side effects, they should immediately consult their health care provider. Your doctors or nurses will guide you as to what side effects should be reported to them urgently. Most of these side effects are predictable and manageable. There are some self-care tips that can be practiced by the cancer patients before and during chemotherapy and cancer treatment. These are as follows:

• Do not get immunized or vaccinated during the treatment without your doctor’s consent.
• In case you are having any dietary supplements or medicines, check with your doctor if you can continue with them during the treatment.
• Use effective birth control measures during the treatment as most of the drugs can harm the baby.
• Have a nutritious and balanced diet. Eat small meals frequently and have plenty of fluids.
• Use an effective sun block when you go out. Apply a god moisturizer in case your skin becomes very dry.
• Take your medications as directed your doctor. In case you miss your dose or cannot visit, ask your doctor when to do.
• Avoid going to crowded places as you become prone to infection during the treatment. Also, stay away from those who have an infection.
• Use a soft tooth brush and an electronic razor and also avoid any physical activity that might lead you to injury.

After the chemotherapy and cancer treatment is over, the doctors usually call patients for a regular check up to see if patients have achieved complete remission. You should not miss your appointment and follow the advice of your health care advisor. In case you have any doubts before or after the treatment, do not hesitate to ask your health care provider. You can also join counseling sessions provided by many hospitals or even join a cancer support group, where you can join share your concerns.