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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.
The various drugs 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 will usually be able to reduce the severity
and spectrum of these side effects.
The psychology of the patient is very important during therapy. Better
psychologically prepared the patient is, better are his chances of
having decreased side effects. The patient should drink large quantities
of water while the therapy is in progress, and preferably avoid uncooked
or raw food. Water should be filtered or boiled. Any relative or person
who has any sort of infection such as common cold should be asked
to desist from coming close to the patient.
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.
Biological
therapy
The side effects commonly encountered with this therapy are as follows: |
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Low grade fever. |
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Rashes and bruises. |
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Nausea and vomiting (usually
mild). |
All these problems
disappear on cessation of therapy.
The riskiest problem as far as bone marrow transplantation is concerned
is GVHD or graft versus host disease. In this,
the donated bone marrow attacks the patient's tissues and blood, and
causes severe reactions ranging from effects on the liver, to the
skin and to the digestive system.
GVHD can range from being very mild to very severe and can occur any
time after the transplant, even many years later. Drugs are usually
given along with GVHD, and subsequently in the years following the
transplant in order to prevent GVHD sort of reactions.
The patient's also face an increased risk of bleeding, infection,
or other side effects associated with the immunocompromised.
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