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WHile in Our Care
Treatment Tips
Some people experience unpleasant side effects
from cancer treatments. The effects vary from person-to-person,
so you may experience a few side effects or none at all. You and
your family can better cope with chemotherapy and radiation therapy
if you know what to expect in advance, and how to manage side effects.
Important Note: If you feel
that you need immediate consultation or advice regarding a serious
condition, do not hesitate to call your Comprehensive Cancer Centers
of Nevada (CCCN) physician. If your call is received after business
hours, a physician will be paged on your behalf, and will respond
quickly.
For more information about our emergency and
after hours services, click here.
The information provided within this
website is not intended as medical advice. It should never be substituted
for a consultation with a healthcare professional. Please contact
your physician or visit a CCCN office with questions and concerns
about your health condition.
Chemotherapy Side Effects
Some of the most common side effects of
chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, infections,
and increased chances of bruising and bleeding.
Before your chemotherapy treatments, talk with
your CCCN medical team about the possible side effects, and get
their recommendations for management and treatment of these side
effects.
The following link gives you information regarding
the treatment of chemotherapy side effects. The content provided
through this link is not the information of CCCN, and CCCN does
not necessarily endorse such content. All content provided through
this link is for information only and does not constitute medical
advice. Please consult your physician before acting or relying upon
such information.
American
Cancer Society, Chemotherapy Effects
Nausea: Some chemotherapy
drugs can cause a queasy, upset stomach. Severe
nausea can cause vomiting. You should tell your oncology doctor
or nurse if you experience nausea symptoms, as they can prescribe
medications that will help reduce nausea.
For detailed tips on how to deal with nausea
and vomiting, visit:
American
Cancer Society, What Can I Do About Nausea and Vomiting?
Mouth Sores: Tell your oncology
team immediately if you develop mouth sores during chemotherapy
treatments.
For safe, easy treatment of mouth sores, avoid citrus fruits and
juices, and replace spicy, rough or crunchy foods with foods that
are soft and easy to swallow. A baking soda mouthwash can be used
as often as desired.
Hair Loss: Some chemotherapy
drugs affect hair cells, and this can mean partial or complete hair
loss. In almost all cases, your hair will grow back after your chemotherapy
treatments are over—this can take two to five months.
Here are some techniques to help you
cope with hair loss:
Use mild shampoos.
Use soft hairbrushes.
Use low heat if you must use a dryer.
Don't use brush rollers to set your hair.
Don't dye your hair or get a permanent.
Have your hair cut short. A shorter style will
make your hair look thicker and fuller, and it will be easier to
manage if hair loss occurs.
Use a sunscreen, sun block, hat, scarf, or wig
to protect your scalp from the sun.
Use a satin pillowcase.
You may want to consider wearing a wig or a
hairpiece, or perhaps a scarf, cap, or turban. Please ask your CCCN
physician or nurse about programs in your area to help you look
and feel your best.
Skin Irritation: With chemotherapy
treatments, you may develop rashes, itchy, dry or flaky skin, or
changes in the color of your skin or nails. These are all temporary
side effects that will most likely disappear after treatment.
Here are tips to help you with skin irritations.
If symptoms persist, quickly notify your oncology physician or nurse.
If you develop acne, keep your face clean and
dry.
For itching skin, apply cornstarch.
To help avoid dryness, take quick, warm showers
rather than long, hot baths.
Apply creams and lotions while your skin is
still moist.
Avoid perfumes, colognes, or after-shave lotions.
These products often contain alcohol, which can make your skin dry.
Kidney or Bladder Problems:
Some chemotherapy drugs will irritate your bladder or cause permanent
kidney damage. You may notice a change in the color of your urine
(orange, red, or yellow), or your urine may develop a strong or
medicine-like odor.
You should ask your CCCN medical team if your
chemotherapy treatments will cause any of these problems, and tell
them of any symptoms you may experience.
Be sure to watch for these signs:
Pain or burning when you urinate
Frequent urination
A feeling that you must urinate right away
Reddish or bloody urine
Fever
Chills
To avoid or treat kidney or bladder problems,
you can safely drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This will
ensure good urine flow and help prevent problems. Besides water,
fluids that are useful include juice, coffee, tea, soup, soft drinks,
broth, ice cream, popsicles, and gelatin. Of course, be careful
of excessive sugar and caffeine when making your choices.
Sexuality or Fertility Problems:
Chemotherapy can affect sexual organs and performance, but this
does not occur with all people or with all chemotherapy drugs. Your
possible side effects will depend on the drugs used for your treatments,
your age, and your general health.
The following links take you to information
regarding men's and women's sexuality and fertility during chemotherapy
treatments. The content provided through these links is not the
information of CCCN, and CCCN does not necessarily endorse such
content. All content provided through these links is for information
only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your
physician before acting or relying upon such information.
American
Cancer Society, Will My Sexual Function and Fertility be Affected?
Radiation Therapy
Side Effects
With radiation therapy, you may experience fatigue, skin changes,
and some loss of appetite. Before your radiation treatments, talk
with your CCCN medical team about the possible side effects, and
get their recommendations for management and treatment of these
side effects.
To learn more about the side effects of radiation
therapy and how to cope with them, visit:
American
Cancer Society, Radiation Therapy Effects
Fatigue: During radiation
therapy, you may become weak or fatigued because your body uses
more energy to handle the demands of cancer and radiation treatments.
This may begin a few weeks after radiation therapy begins, and it
may increase as your treatments progress. After your treatments
are finished, your weakness and fatigue should gradually go away.
To fight weakness and fatigue associated with
radiation treatments, you should try to get more sleep at night
and rest during the day. Ask family members or friends to help you
with daily chores such as shopping, cooking, child care, housework
and driving. Neighbors can sometimes pick up groceries for you when
they do their own shopping.
Skin Irritations: While undergoing
radiation treatments, your skin may become red, dry or irritated,
taking on the appearance of a tan or sunburn. This usually occurs
in and around the treatment area of your body.
You should immediately notify your CCCN medical
team of any noticeable skin changes. This team can suggest measures
to relieve your discomfort and possibly minimize further irritation.
During radiation treatments, you need to be
gentle with your skin. Here are some suggestions of safe practices
that may help:
Use only lukewarm water and mild soap.
Do not rub, scrub or scratch your affected areas,
even while bathing.
Do not wear tight clothing over the treatment
area.
Avoid using heating pads or ice packs on your
affected skin, unless advised by your doctor.
Do not use powders, creams, perfumes, deodorants,
body oils, ointments, lotions, or home remedies on your affected
skin while you are being treated and for several weeks afterward,
unless approved by your oncology doctor or nurse.
Avoid exposing your affected skin areas to the
sun during treatments, and for at least 1 year after your treatments
are completed.
Loss of Appetite: During radiation
treatments, you may experience digestive problems, or complete loss
of interest in food. Even if you are not hungry, it is important
to keep your protein and calorie intake as high as possible. If
you develop eating problems, quickly talk with your CCCN oncologist,
nurse or nutritionist. This team can provide you with tips, guides
and recipe ideas to help you overcome your problems.
To learn more about the effects of radiation
therapy on your eating habits, click on the link below. The content
provided through this link is not the information of CCCN, and CCCN
does not necessarily endorse such content. All content provided
through this link is for information only and does not constitute
medical advice. Please consult your physician before acting or relying
upon such information.
American
Cancer Society, Will I Develop Eating Problems?
To learn more about the side effects of cancer
therapies and how to cope with them, visit the following websites.
The content provided through these links is not the information
of CCCN, and CCCN does not necessarily endorse such content. All
content provided through these links is for information only and
does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician
before acting or relying upon such information.
American
Cancer Society, Coping with Physical and Emotional Changes
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