Possible Side Effects
It will take some adjusting to life during chemotherapy. Everyone responds differently to chemotherapy treatment, and each chemotherapy drug can cause different side effects. Some side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Taste changes
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Loss in appetite
- Decreased desire for sexual activity
With some treatments, you may also experience:
- Muscle pain
- Skin rash
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in your hands or feet
Be sure to report all side effects to your healthcare team. During treatment, not all patients will experience the same side effects. Should any of these happen to you, here are some tips to help manage your symptoms during treatments:
- Get plenty of rest
- Light exercise can help, but don’t overdo it
- Drink eight 10-ounce glasses of non-caffeinated fluid everyday
- Eat five to six small meals a day (instead of three large meals)
Your healthcare team will give you some advice and a list of some possible foods to eat, and some foods to avoid. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your care team.