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Will there be any side-effects?
Everyone is different. You may feel well during your chemotherapy
, and not have any problems. Even if you do get side-effects, your doctor may be able to give you treatments to help you feel better.
The side-effects you get will depend on which drugs you are taking. Your doctor or nurse will tell you more about the drugs you are going to have, and how they may affect you.
Listed below are some of the more common side-effects that chemotherapy drugs may cause, and links to information on things you can do to help yourself feel better.
Infections
When you have chemotherapy, your body is less well able to fight infections. Try to avoid getting infections, if you can.
You should also learn to spot the signs of infection, so that you can quickly go for treatment if you get one. If infection isn't treated, it could make you very ill.
Feeling sick (nausea)
Some chemotherapy drugs may make you feel or be sick. Your doctor may give you some anti-sickness drugs to help stop this problem. There are also things you can do yourself to make you feel better.
Mouth and eating problems
Chemotherapy may make your mouth sore. Sometimes, food tastes different, or you may not feel like eating much. All these problems will pass.
Hair loss
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause hair thinning or hair loss. It is almost always temporary. The hair will normally start to grow back a few weeks after treatment has finished.
Feeling very tired (fatigue)
Chemotherapy may make you feel much more tired than usual. You may have to take things easy until you start to feel well again.
Bowel problems
Chemotherapy sometimes causes diarrhoea or constipation. Your doctor may give you medicine for these problems, but there are also steps you can take to help yourself.
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