Lung cancer like any other cancer is a result of abnormalities in the body’s cell. Generally, the body maintains a systematic check and balances new cell growth so that the body produces new cells only when required. If there is any disruption in the system, to check and balance the cell growth, it results into uncontrolled division of cells, which eventually forms a huge mass known as a tumor. Chemotherapy is one of the treatments that help to kill the cells that divide at an alarming rate. But in the human body some normal and healthy cells also divide quickly and so even those cells are affected by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy thus has a few side effects. Lung cancer chemotherapy side effects are almost similar to the side effects of any other cancer when treated via chemotherapy.

The side effects from lung cancer chemotherapy differ from person to person and they are often short term. The doctors usually make the patients aware of the possible side effects they might experience during the course of the chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer. In extreme cases, the treatment might also be rescheduled if there are a lot of side effects that cannot be controlled.

Chemotherapy side effects for lung cancer depends upon the type of drugs used and the dosage of the drugs prescribed. The chemotherapy treatment affects cancerous cells as well as the normal cells. The common side effects from chemotherapy include:

• Nausea and Vomiting:Nausea and Vomiting is quite common during chemotherapy but doctors prescribe a few medicines to lessen nausea and vomiting caused due to lung cancer chemotherapy drugs. The new drugs that are introduced for chemotherapy have also lessened the causes of chemotherapy nausea and vomiting in patients. They have become less common and even if they occur, they are not very severe. To avoid vomiting and nausea, one can also drink fluids and eat small meals throughout the day.
• Hair Loss:Hair loss is also one of the common problems patients face during chemotherapy for lung cancer. Patients, who lose most of their hair, wear turbans, scarves, caps and even wigs or hair pieces.
• Mouth sore:Some chemotherapy drugs given during the treatment for lung cancer might also cause mouth ulcers or soreness in the mouth. It is important to keep your mouth clean to prevent chemotherapy mouth sores. One needs to also use a very soft toothbrush so that no further damage is caused to the lining of the mouth. Doctors also prescribe certain mouthwashes to prevent the infection. If sourness still persists and turns worse, then painkillers are prescribed by your doctor, which have to be taken until it is healed.
• Fatigue:Feeling tired and lack of energy is the most common symptoms experienced by lung cancer patients. The exact cause of fatigue is not known. Fatigue could be because of the disease, radiation, low blood counts, lack of sleep, stress, pain, poor appetite, surgery, or many other factors. Maintaining proper diet, indulging in activities such as yoga, medications or short walks along with rest proves helpful but it might also differ from person to person.
• Changes in taste:Lung cancer chemotherapy drugs might also affect the taste sense. Foods might taste salty, bitter, and spicy or might not taste anything at all. These changes go off once the treatment is over.
• Feeling sick:Sickness is a very common lung cancer chemotherapy side effect. Some medicines might make a patient feel sick mildly whereas other might make the patient vomit and feel very sick. Doctors usually prescribe some anti sickness drugs, which might relieve the patient.

These were a few side effects observed in patients undergoing lung cancer chemotherapy. These lung cancer chemotherapy side effects are minor and generally go off once the treatment is over. It is advised to visit your doctor immediately if any of the above or any other side effect persists for a longer time, after your chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer.