Chemotherapy Reactions Side Effects

Chemotherapy can prolong a person s life and potentially rid them of cancer.

Chemotherapy reactions side effects.

Pain weakness numbness tingling in the hands and feet peripheral neuropathy. Here are some of the more common side effects caused by chemotherapy. There are a variety of different drugs used for chemotherapy. All drugs may induce skin reactions although if they do occur they are usually mild however some skin reactions are serious and potentially life threatening.

If you re a woman chemotherapy can damage your eggs. Side effects are unpredictable and depend on the type of chemo drug a person is using. Fatigue hair loss easy bruising and bleeding infection anemia low red blood cell counts nausea and vomiting appetite changes constipation diarrhea mouth tongue and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing. Damage to your stomach and intestinal lining can also cause nausea and vomiting.

An allergic reaction also referred to as a hypersensitivity reaction is an overactive or misdirected immune response that results in local tissue injury or changes throughout the body in response to a foreign substance. These reactions can be caused by many factors including chemo treatments. Chemotherapy can make food taste bitter or metallic which won t exactly make you want to sit down to a hearty meal. Dry skin flushing hyperpigmentation nail changes photosensitivity radiation recall rash.

Illness easy bruising or. If chemo kills the immature stem cells in your testicles that become new sperm you may become infertile which means you can t have children. Skin reactions to drug therapy are extremely common. The chemotherapy process is physically demanding and many patients notice side effects after a single treatment 1.

Pain from nerve damage such as burning numbness or shooting pains usually in the fingers and toes. Some chemo drugs can also cause.