WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY ?
Cancer constitutes of very small cells, developing and spreading through the entire area. Chemotherapy is considered to be one of the most effective way to deal with cancer, as it is kills those cells and stop them from dividing and thus spreading.
Chemotherapy is made up of a wide range of different drugs, aimed to the specific concerns in the body and their desired reaction. It mainly affects all those parts of the body, where normal cells rapidly divide and grow, these include the following parts of the body:
- intestinal problems
- appetite and weight changes
- sore mouth, gums, and throat
- nerve and muscle problems
- dry and/or discolored skin
- kidney and bladder irritation
- sexuality and fertility issues due to effects on reproductive organs
These side effects are only temporary, and not experienced between treatments and usually disappear shortly after the treatment stops. However, some may be permanent. The most common side effects of chemotherapy include:
- nausea and vomiting
- hair loss
- fatigue
- increased chance of bruising and bleeding
- anemia
- infection
Some aspects regarding the side effects:
- Not all get every side effect, and some people get few, if any.
- Severity of the side effect varies from person to person.
- Doctor may prescribe some medications to prevent some side effects before they appear.
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