Guide To Chemotherapy Side Effects

Loss Of Appetite

It is not uncommon for a patient undergoing chemotherapy to have a loss of appetite as an adverse side effect of their treatment. Several mechanisms can cause an individual to lose their appetite as a result of their chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy is notorious for producing nausea and vomiting, and that alone tends to reduce appetite. Chemotherapy also causes changes to take place in a patient's taste buds, causing taste changes to different flavors and foods. When nothing tastes good, individuals tend to lose their appetite easier. Another way chemotherapy causes patients to lose their appetite is because the drugs cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is uncomfortable and can make an individual less likely to eat regularly. Chemotherapy also can cause the patient to develop mouth sores or ulcers due to the changes in the acidity of the oral cavity. These ulcers or mouth sores can be very painful and more so when attempting to eat food. An association of pain with eating can cause a patient to lose their appetite frequently.

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