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The known side effects of chemotherapy
are caused by the cell killing effect of anti-cancer
drugs. Chemotherapy drugs act on normal cells as well
as cancer cells. Cancer cells typically grow and divide
more rapidly than normal cells. The fast-growing normal
cells most likely to be affected by chemotherapy are
blood cells forming in the bone marrow, and cells in
the digestive tract, reproductive system, and
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hair follicles. Common side effects of chemotherapy include
fatigue, nausea, diarrhea,
mouth sores, hair loss, and anemia.
Bone marrow produces several types of blood cells essential
to health. Because these cells are constantly dividing, they
are vulnerable to the effects of chemotherapy. Blood cell
precursors produces three important blood components: red
blood cells (which carry oxygen throughout the body); white
blood cells (which fight infection); and platelets (which
help blood clot and stop bleeding). A drop in the levels of
any of these blood cell counts results in specific side effects.
Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy.
It may be the result of anemia (a decrease in oxygen-carrying
red blood cells ) which causes a feeling of lethargy, dizziness,
weakness, and shortness of breath. Fatigue may also be a result
of a lot of energy being used by the body to recover from
the effects of the drugs, disposing of dead cells and building
new cells. Other factors such as pain, poor appetite, lack
of rest, and emotional stress may also contribute to a patient's
fatigue.
Some common signs of infection such as fever, sore throat,
and wounds that do not heal or become inflamed, may be experienced
by cancer patients because the body's capability to fight
infection is greatly compromised due to the lowered number
of white blood cells.
Platelets
are important for wound healing and blood clotting. With a
low platelet count caused by chemotherapy, the cancer patient
is at risk of bruising and bleeding easily. Such side effects
as nose bleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stool,
and unusually heavy menstrual flow, may be experienced by
the patient receiving chemotherapy.
Nausea and vomiting occur when certain drugs stimulate an
area of the brain called the chemoreceptor trigger zone. Overeating,
motion sickness, or anxiety can also activate this zone. The
effects of some drugs on the fast growing cells in the lining
of the stomach may also cause nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhea may be caused from direct damage of the lining of
the intestines by some anti-cancer drugs. Anti-nausea drugs
may also cause diarrhea.
Hair loss can be extremely devastating to the patient. When
some anti-cancer drugs kill cancer cells, they also kill fast-growing
normal cells such as those in hair follicles, causing alopecia
(hair loss).
As with other cancer therapies, changes in mood and emotions
occur to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Feelings
of loss of control, missing normal daily activities, and fear
of the unknown, coupled with the side effects brought about
by chemotherapy, can take a toll on the patient's mental well-being.
Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy may feel angry, depressed,
anxious, afraid, confused, forgetful, and agitated.
Factors such as the type of drug, the amount of drug, and
the condition of the cancer patient receiving chemotherapy
may determine the kind and the degree of side effects that
a cancer patient experiences. Each patient reacts to chemotherapy
in a unique way. Some people have very few side effects, while
others may experience more. For example, while some patients
may experience very unpleasant nausea and vomiting, other
patients may not have any treatment-related nausea and vomiting.
Similarly, some patients may feel mild lethargy resulting
from chemotherapy, but some patients may feel completely worn
out.
To cope with all of the possible side-effects brought about
by chemotherapy, the cancer patient needs to be well informed:
knowing what to expect helps the patient to be prepared to
handle any side-effects that may show up. The doctor,s advice
on how the patient may alter their lifestyle or eating habits
to make some side effects more tolerable. Medication may also
be prescribed to overcome certain side effects. Since normal
cells usually recover when the chemotherapy is over, most
side effects should gradually go away once the chemotherapy
has ended.
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