Pain:
Chemotherapy can cause pain for some people, including headaches, muscle pain,
stomach pain, and pain from nerve damage, such as burning, numbness, or
shooting pains (most often in the fingers, toes and legs; the nurse said these
would be like shin splints). Pain usually diminishes over time, but some people
may have symptoms for months or years after chemotherapy has finished due to
permanent damage to the nerves. Doctors can manage pain by treating the source
of the pain.
Diarrhea:
Certain chemotherapy causes loose or watery bowel movements. Preventing
diarrhea or treating it early helps a person avoid becoming dehydrated.
Constipation: Chemotherapy—as well
as some drugs to treat nausea and vomiting, pain, depression, diarrhea, and
high blood pressure—may cause constipation. Patients may also increase their
risk of constipation by not drinking enough fluids, not eating balanced meals,
or not getting enough exercise. I’m noticing
this one, this week it has been worse.
Blood
disorders: Chemotherapy affects the production of new blood cells in
the bone marrow, (the spongy, inner mass of the bone). Symptoms and
complications arising from low blood counts are among the most common side
effects of chemotherapy.
A
test called a complete
blood count (CBC) will indicate the levels of red blood
cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. An abnormally low level
of RBCs results in anemia. This condition decreases the body’s ability to carry
oxygen throughout the body, resulting in fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of
breath. A lower than normal number of WBCs (called leukopenia) increases the
body’s risk of infection. Infections that occur when WBCs are low can quickly
become serious and require prompt treatment with antibiotics.
A
second type of test, called a platelet
count, measures the number of platelets (blood cells that stop bleeding
by plugging damaged blood vessels and helping the blood to clot) in your blood.
People with thrombocytopenia (a shortage of platelets) bleed and bruise more
easily.
These
conditions can be treated with medications that stimulate the bone marrow to
make more blood-forming cells that develop into RBCs, WBCs, and platelets.
Every week after they put in the IV
they draw some blood before they start and test it to see where it’s at. If
they have to adjust the amount of chemo I get, they will, after knowing the
test results.
Nervous
system effects: Some drugs cause nerve damage, resulting in one or more of
the following nerve- or muscle-related symptoms:
- Tingling
- Burning
- Weakness or numbness in the hands and/or feet
- Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles
- Loss of balance- I’m not sure if this is because of my foot being in a boot cast or not…
- Shaking or trembling
- Stiff neck
- Headache: sometimes it’s a normal headache other times it’s like; when you have an IV and they put the medicine in, and within seconds you feel like a surge of the medicine going in your body. That’s what my headaches feel like, a wave or fog that goes across my head. Lasting from maybe 5-10 minutes. It comes at all different times.
- Visual problems: wondering about this one…
- Walking problems
- Difficulty hearing
- Clumsiness
These
symptoms usually improve when the chemotherapy dose is lowered or treatment is
stopped; however, in some cases, the damage is permanent.
Changes
in thinking and memory: Some patients experience difficulty
thinking clearly and concentrating after chemotherapy. Cancer survivors often
refer to this side effect as "chemo brain”. I
sometimes have issues coming up with the right word I want to use. I hope it
doesn’t get worse! Maybe it’s just senior moments early….
Sexual
and reproductive issues: Chemotherapy can affect sexual
function and fertility. In addition, chemotherapy is capable of harming a fetus
(unborn baby) during pregnancy, particularly if given during the first
trimester of pregnancy. We’re done
having kids so I don’t have to worry about this one.
Appetite
loss: People receiving chemotherapy may eat
less than usual, not feel hungry at all, or feel
full after eating only a small amount. For me it’s more how things taste,
like; metal or perfume…ughh…
Long-term
side effects: Most side effects of chemotherapy disappear at the end of
treatment. However, some side effects may continue, come back, or develop
later. Cancer survivors also have a higher risk of developing second cancers
later in life. We’ll have to wait and see on this
one.
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