Fatigue – the most common symptom is the sense of exhaustion experienced by patients undergoing the treatment.
Pain – some patients experience pains, and these might include nerve damage, which shows itself in shooting pains around the body. There is also a wide reportage of headaches, stomach pain and muscular ache. Pain is a side effect expected to decrease over time; however, patients should be aware that nerve damage might continue to affect them for months or years after the conclusion of their chemotherapy treatment.
Sores – sometimes, chemotherapy damages the cells of the mouth and throat. Sores then develop from during the fortnight after receiving the treatment. Despite being quite common, sores can be expected to heal quickly when treatment is complete.
Diarrhea – it is important to ensure good hydration if you experience this side effect.
Constipation – another common condition that should not cause major problems if it is managed properly. Again, ensuring good hydration is vital.
Nausea and vomiting – nausea can easily be controlled with anti-nausea medication.
Blood disorders – regular blood count tests should be taken, in order to assess how chemotherapy has affected the formation of new blood cells in the bone marrow.
Nervous system effects – as mentioned, nerve damage does sometimes occur with chemotherapy. The patient may experience tingling, burning, weakness or numbness in parts of their body. It is also common to experience aching muscles, loss of balance and shakiness.
Mental effects – there is increasing research into the issue of ‘chemo brain’ which is known as a kind of ‘mental fog’ experienced by some patients after chemotherapy. You may experience difficulty concentrating, or some short-term memory loss.
Sexual and reproductive issues – fertility can sometimes be affected by this treatment, so it is important to assess this risk and plan in advance of your course of treatment.
Appetite loss – a tendency that needs to be carefully managed in order to avoid weight loss and malnutrition, which make recovery much harder.
Hair loss – a well-known pitfall of the treatment, many patients lose body hair within the first month of receiving chemotherapy.
Patients will benefit by being well-informed of what may arise during and after their course of chemotherapy. Upon completing the treatment it is essential to prioritise wellbeing and undergo regular medical check-ups to guard against any permanent damage.