Cancer treatment can have both long-term and short-term side effects. A side effect occurs when the cancer treatment damages the patient’s healthy cells. Side effects are different from one person to another; they also depend upon the various medicines and types of treatment rendered. Cancer treatment in Mumbai is offered in several speciality hospitals by an expert team of physicians.
Along with the course of treatment, you must also be aware of the side effects of cancer treatment. This article talks about the various side effects of cancer treatment and what measures can be taken to alleviate them.
Side-Effects of Cancer Treatment
Both cancer and its treatment can cause side effects. Side effects occur when the treatment impacts healthy organs and tissues. The common side effects that come with cancer treatment procedures such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation are:
Neutropenia
Neutropenia is where the white blood cells that are the body’s primary defense against any infections become less. Neutropenia typically occurs after a patient receives chemotherapy. During treatment, the patient will be checked for low white blood cell count. Chemotherapy drugs kill fast-growing body cells that include both cancer cells and healthy white blood cells. Chemotherapy reduces the white blood cells that fight germs, increasing the chances of an infection.
Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene to reduce the chances of this infection, and talk to your doctor about ways to minimize the infection possibilities. The main symptom of this infection is the sudden onset of fever.
Lymphedema
If you had your lymph nodes removed during surgery or they got damaged due to radiation treatment, the lymph fluid may not drain properly, will build up under the skin, and cause swelling of certain body parts. This condition is known as lymphedema.
Hair Loss
When chemotherapy treatment causes your hair to fall out, the condition is called alopecia. Typically, hair grows back after 2 to 3 months after cancer treatment. A cooling cap is a tight cap that fits on the head before and after chemotherapy treatment. The working of the cooling cap depends upon the type of chemotherapy you receive. The other options are shaving your head before chemotherapy or wearing a wig, hat, or scarf during treatment.
Cognitive Capacity
The drugs used in the treatment of cancer can cause some difficulty for some people in thinking and remembering things. Some ways to cope with this problem are to get plenty of sleep and focus on one task at a time.
Nausea
Some cancer treatments can make you nauseous and sick. But there are some medicines and natural remedies that can help control nausea and help make you feel better.
Pain
Unfortunately, cancer treatment can cause you pain, sometimes even restricting your normal activities and impacting your quality of life. Therefore, pain control must be an important component of your cancer treatment plan. Your physician will work with you to find the cause of pain and address the problem in the best possible way.
Thrombosis
Also known as deep vein thrombosis is where a blood clot forms deep in the vein. Clots generally form in the lower leg, pelvis, thigh, or arm. Cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy are at a higher risk of developing thrombosis than others.
Anemia
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can cause anemia, reducing the red blood cells count in your body. Oxygen is transferred to other parts of the body via red blood cells to help it work properly. Anemia treatment will be based on the symptoms causing the condition.
Loss of Appetite
Many cancer treatments can lower your appetite significantly. This can be brought through several factors such as mouth or throat problems, nausea, and fatigue. Talk with your physician on ways to manage the loss of appetite and difficulty in eating. Be careful not to lose weight or become dehydrated, as eating well is an important part of cancer treatment.
Fatigue
Fatigue is usually a side-effect of most cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and surgery. Anemia, medications, and pain can also worsen fatigue for some people.
Constipation
Specific cancer treatments such as chemotherapy may cause constipation. Some pain medicines, diet changes, and low intake of fluid can cause constipation. This condition can be treated by drinking more water, increasing fiber intake, and getting enough exercise.
Long-term Side Effects
Some other late and long-term side effects of cancer treatment in Mumbai are:
Problems from surgery depend upon the type of cancer and on which body part the surgery was performed.
- Heart problems
- Hypertension
- Lung Problems
- Endocrine system problems such as menopause, hormone problems, and infertility
- Bone and joint problems
- Brain and nerve problems
- Dental problems
Conclusion
Understand to the best of your capacity the short-term and long-term side effects of your cancer treatment in Mumbai from your physician and his team. This can help you prepare better for the treatment and manage its side effects more effectively.
Also Read: Understanding Types of Lung diseases
