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Why Does Chemotherapy Cause Side Effects?

Chemotherapy acts by focusing on living cells. Cells that are developing and dividing as a regular component of the cell cycle are known as active cells. Healthy cells and cancerous cells are both living things moving through the cell cycle. Chemotherapy affects these healthy cells, which results in side effects. For instance, you could throw up or feel sick to your stomach. side effects for chemotherapy do not indicate how effectively a chemotherapy treatment is working in the majority of cases. Many negative effects of chemotherapy can be treated or prevented by your healthcare provider. There are a lot more drugs accessible now than there were in the past to treat the side effects of chemotherapy. Palliative care, also known as supportive care, involves the prevention and treatment of long term side effects of chemotherapy. At any point in the cancer treatment process, it is crucial.

Doctors and scientists are always trying to create new medications, pharmacological combinations, and delivery methods that have fewer side effects. Nowadays, side effects for chemotherapy are lower than they were merely a few years ago.

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Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Many people are concerned about whether or not they are likely to suffer side effects for chemotherapy and, if so, what those effects would look like. The following are a few of the most common side effects brought on by chemotherapy:

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Fatigue

One of the most common side effects for chemotherapy is tiredness, or fatigue. Many patients with therapy experience fatigue most of the time or get quickly tired while doing ordinary tasks. You should try to get enough sleep or try a light exercise like yoga or walking to increase your energy levels. Make sure you contact a nurse or doctor if you suddenly feel very tired and breathless. Although the majority of cancer treatment centers provide extensive care to their patients, OnCare provides the best care and comfort to its patients. You can visit them for a consultation session.

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Hair Loss

While it is not a usual side effect of chemotherapy, hair loss is one of its common long term side effects of chemotherapy. Find out from your medical team if it might be a result of the medications you take. If hair loss happens, it usually starts a few weeks after your initial treatment. A significant amount of hair loss usually occurs in one to two months. The head is the most typical place to lose hair, but other body areas, including the arms, legs, and face, can also experience hair loss. Almost usually, the hair loss is quite temporary. Soon after your treatment is over, you should start to see the growth of new hair. You can opt to wear a cold cap during the treatment to lessen the chances of hair loss. Designed to keep your scalp chilly during a treatment session, a cold cap resembles a cycling helmet. As a result, less medication reaches your scalp due to decreased blood flow.

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Sore Mouth

Some chemotherapy medications can end up in infections or mouth sores, including ulcers. This is more likely to come up if you have gum disease or dental issues or if you have received radiation therapy to the head, neck, or chest.

Inform your doctor if you see any sores, ulcers, thickened saliva, or difficulty swallowing. Also, follow these tips to avoid mouth sores:

• Twice a day, brush your teeth with a gentle toothbrush.
• Four times a day, rinse your mouth with a glass of warm water with one teaspoon of salt or bicarbonate of soda. Steer clear of alcohol-containing mouthwashes.
• During chemotherapy treatments, try sucking on ice to avoid mouth sores.

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Changes in Skin and Nails

Many chemotherapy medications can cause in peeling, darkening, or dry, itchy skin. Your skin could grow more sensitive to the sun during treatment and for a few months. Some people also notice that their nails alter, turning darker than normal or getting white lines or ridges across them. Additionally, your nails might get dry and brittle. Usually, these alterations intensify. You can do several things to look after your skin and nails:

• Only wear loose clothes made of cotton fabric instead of rough wool or synthetic fiber.
• Do not shave or wax until your skin healed completely.
• Use moisturizing soap for showers, and always apply moisturizing cream to help with the dryness.