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Unfortunately
treatment for cancer does cause damage to the healthy tissues.
Please ask the clinician about any possible side effects before any
form of treatment commences.
For a few days after surgery, the patient is neither able to eat or
drink and usually is fed intravenously. The patient may also have,
as an alternative in some institutes, a nasogastric
tube which is a small PVC tube inserted through the nose into
the stomach at the time of surgery. Feeding through the nasogastric
tube continues until there is sufficient evidence of healing of the
surgical area, in which case the nasogastric tube is removed and the
patient can feed in the normal manner.
After the surgery, the lungs and the windpipe, which have been subjected
to a great deal of irritation, produce a tremendous amount of mucus,
which is expectorated by the patient in the form of sputum.
The nursing staff and the residents of the hospital may apply gentle
suction with a small plastic tube placed in the stoma regularly to
remove the sputum which, if it thickens and forms crusts, may drastically
decrease the quality of breathing.
Eventually, the patient learns to cough out the sputum or to suck
it out himself with a suction tube without the help of any nursing
staff. The patient may also have to get the saliva sucked out from
his mouth because the swelling in the throat prevents swallowing.
All these are, however, just temporary phenomena.
Usually, the nose and the throat and the oral cavity moisten the air
when it goes to the windpipe. Because this entire route has been short-circuited
by the tracheostomy; there is no natural mechanism by which the air
which is being inhaled can be moistened. If this is not done,then
the lungs are exposed to dry air, which is a severe irritant. Therefore,
an artificial way has to be employed to moisten the air, which is
now entering through the tracheostomy. Patients are usually kept comfortable
with a device, which adds moisture to the air. This device is called
a humidifier.
A layrngopharyngectomy which has been associated with some form of
neck dissection, may make parts of the neck and throat feel numb because
nerves have been cut. There may also be a stiffness and weakness around
the shoulder and neck.
Of course, the power of natural speech is gone for ever, and some
artificial method may have to be adopted.
The effects of radiation
depend upon the dose of radiation, the size of the area radiated,
and the number and size of each fraction.
The commonest side effect is extreme fatigue.
Although bed rest is good, most radiotherapists advise the patient
to be as mobile as possible.
Another common problem is that of radiation dermatitis
in which the skin covering the radiated area becomes red, dry,
itchy, and may show signs of scaling off. This will slowly settle
down after radiation ceases, but there may be a permanent 'bronzing'
of the skin. It is important to note here that this skin problem is
associated only with teletherapy or external radiation therapy.
Radiation also may cause nausea and vomiting,
diarrhea, urinary discomfort.
There may also be a fall in the white blood cells,
which are needed by humans to fight infection.
Usually the radiotherapist can suggest the drugs and diet necessary
to alleviate such problems.
The various drugs used in chemotherapy
cause a varied spectrum of side effects. The severity and variability
of these symptoms are very individualistic, changing from patient
to patient.
Some of the common side effects are: |
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Skin rashes. |
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Loss of hair. |
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Diarrhea. |
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Vomiting. |
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Tingling and numbness in the
fingers and toes. |
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Hearing loss. |
Most are temporary
and recede after therapy is over. Hair growth gradually starts after
cessation of chemotherapy.
The medical oncologist (chemotherapist) will usually be able t reduce
he severity and spectrum of these side effects.
The psychology of the patient is very important during therapy. The
better psychologically prepared the patient is, the better are his
or her chances of having decreased side effects.
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