What To Expect During Chemotherapy

Side Effects Of Chemotherapy

Since chemotherapy drugs cannot distinguish between malignant cells and healthy cells, they can have some harsh side effects. The healthy cells that are most vulnerable when a patient undergoes chemotherapy are the hair follicles, blood-forming cells within the bone marrow, cells in the mouth, cells in the reproductive system, and cells in the digestive tract. Certain chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause damage to cells in the bladder, nervous system, heart, and lungs. The most common side effects of chemotherapy include the loss of hair, frequent infections, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, abnormal bleeding and bruising, anemia, changes in appetite, mouth sores, throat pain, tingling sensations, constipation, diarrhea, weight changes, and fertility issues. When a patient's cancer care team decides which chemotherapy drugs to use, they have to carefully consider their side effects. They also have to consider the interactions they may have with each other and any additional drugs the patient may be taking.