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Moderate physical activity and a healthy diet can help maintain energy levels. You may experience side effects within a few hours of treatment — as is the case with certain chemotherapy treatments — that gradually begin to improve. Or you may not experience side effects until you’ve completed several treatment sessions, as is sometimes the case with radiation.
The specificity of these side-effects will vary depending on the exact nature of medications that will be used for chemotherapy. Some common side-effects include loss of hair, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting tendency, sores in the mouth, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, and infection. Destruction of healthy cells creates several harmful side-effects inside the body.
How to encourage and support someone with cancer: a shareable guide
Dealing with chemotherapy side effects is one of the many challenges you may face, but symptoms can usually be managed to help improve your quality of life. Radiation side effects are often site-specific, which means you’re most likely to experience side effects in the parts of your body exposed to X-rays. For example, you’re more likely to notice hair loss or skin changes on the body part receiving the radiation. Fatigue is common regardless of the body parts receiving treatment.
Headaches, muscle pain, stomach pain, and other discomfort are another common side effect of chemotherapy. This pain can add to what is already a stressful time. Consider wearing wigs, scarves, turbans, or hats to mask your hair loss. You might even want to shave your head before you start treatment. Some people feel just a little low in energy, while others feel wiped out. Homeopathy is the best and safest mode of treatment for cancer and any other health disorder.
Natural Approaches to Chemotherapy Side Effects
It is a good idea to carry a current list of your medical conditions, medications and allergies at all times. You are an important member of your own healthcare team. The steps you take before chemotherapy can improve your comfort and outcome. Peripheral infusions slowly drip chemotherapy medication through an intravenous line.
Pain can have a potentially huge impact on a person’s ability to live their day-to-day life. If you are experiencing body or leg pain during chemo, it is firstly important to discuss this with your oncology team. They may wish to adjust your chemotherapy dose or take some tests to rule out other causes for your symptoms. In this article, an expert answers questions about skipping chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment. Some people find that home remedies can help relieve their side effects and improve their overall quality of life during and after treatment.
Women
Hi Betty - Thanks for sharing this encouraging testimony! I want to make sure I am using the right amount and applying it correctly. Do you pour shampoo into your hand and then pour the 1 1/2 Tbl of zinc into the shampoo?
Try anti-diarrheal medicines or use laxatives and stool softeners for constipation. You can get them over the counter or by prescription. Eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Chemotherapy drugs can cause side effects, but they don’t have to take over your life. You may be more sensitive to sunlight in the months following treatment.
I don't have a nevus cap and was just going to try the zinc & shampoo only to see if it will work. It is important to note that melatonin has shown benefit in multiple studies against various forms of cancer, not just breast cancer. I actually gained six pounds during chemo, which the nurses thought was great.
Excessive use of honey may promote cavity, and you need to follow good oral hygiene to ensure that your teeth are healthy. Zinc may help prevent taste changes, a side effect of radiation, chemotherapy, and some pain medicines. One suggestion offered by the Cancer Cure Foundation is to take ginger to help fight nausea. Ginger contains specific compounds that help calm and soothe your stomach so that you do not feel nauseous. If you have trouble with nausea during treatments, try holding a slice of fresh ginger in your mouth during treatment and chew on it whenever you become nauseous.
Men may have difficulty having or keeping an erection or having an orgasm. They may also be too tired, stressed, or not as interested in sex. Use a condom during sexual intercourse for the first 48 hours after each dose of chemotherapy because some of the chemotherapy may end up in the sperm. If you lose your hair it will be important to protect your scalp, not only from the sun, but also from heat and cold. It is important to use sunscreen on your scalp if you choose not to wear a hat or scarf.
One physical impact which people can experience is aching legs, often setting in around two to three days after treatment. We spoke to Perci Professional and physiotherapist Hannah Leach about how physiotherapy and simple coping strategies can help with discomfort in your legs. Women may have symptoms of menopause, when their monthly cycles may stop due to treatment. These symptoms could be hot flashes, vaginal dryness, or feeling irritable. Other common side effects of chemotherapy are bladder or vaginal infections, discharge, itching, or being too tired, stress or not being interested in sex.
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