What are the side effects of chemo?
Everyone reacts differently to chemo. Some people experience more severe side effects, while others find it pretty manageable. Your experience with chemo can be affected by other factors such as your level of fitness and any other health conditions you may have.
Here are some things you might experience:
hair thinning or loss
- or extreme tiredness
more bleeding and bruising than normal
(due to low blood counts)changes in your nails
watery eyes or a runny nose
loss of appetite
bowel issues
(usually looser bowel movements)changes in taste
numbness or tingling
in your hands and feetfluid build-up in your body
(fluid retention)
If any of these side effects become a problem for you, please talk to your doctor, nurse or care team to get the help you need.
Most people do not get nausea or vomiting with this chemotherapy. Your health care team will provide you with medications to help prevent and control this.
New developments are making chemo side effects more manageable, allowing you to maintain a good quality of life while being treated.
What can you do?
Getting good rest, eating well, and having an exercise program are key. Your health care team may be able to refer you to a cancer support exercise program or an exercise physiologist to create or look over your exercise plan. They can also recommend a dietitian to make sure you’re eating the right foods.
Watch for infections
Because your body is going through chemo, it may not be able to fight infections off very well. Watch for a temperature, sore throat, chills, or sweating, as these are all signs of an infection. If you notice these signs, it’s very important to contact your hospital or your doctor right away.
