What are some of the side effects of chemotherapy?… by joeynka
Can anything be done to mitigate the side effects?
Best Answer:
The information below should be helpful, but I suggest looking at multiple resources such as:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=176
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_1x_Managing_Side_Effects_of_Chemotherapy.asp?sitearea=MBC
http://www.insidedisease.com/cancer-therapies/chemotherapy.html
Side-effects
The treatment can be physically exhausting for the patient. Current chemotherapeutic techniques have a range of side effects mainly affecting the fast-dividing cells of the body. Important common side-effects include (dependent on the agent):
* Hair loss
* Nausea and vomiting
* Diarrhea or constipation
* Anemia
* Malnutrition
* Depression of the immune system hence (potentially lethal) infections and sepsis
* Hemorrhage
* Secondary neoplasms
* Cardiotoxicity
* Hepatotoxicity
* Nephrotoxicity
* Ototoxicity
* Death
Immunosuppression and myelosuppression
Virtually all chemotherapeutic regimens can cause depression of the immune system, often by paralysing the bone marrow and leading to a decrease of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The latter two, when they occur, are improved with blood transfusion. Neutropenia (a decrease of the neutrophil granulocyte count below 0.5 x 109/litre) can be improved with synthetic G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, e.g. filgrastim, lenograstim, Neupogen
Comments
Leave a Reply