Many people have visions of having chemotherapy treatment and vomiting uncontrollably at the saw time. Luckily that is generally not the case. In fact, many people having chemotherapy have few side effects, and the ones they do have can be managed quite easily. It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently to chemotherapy treatment, and even you may have different reactions to your chemo as you progress through the cycyles.
There are several things you can do to minimise the effects of chemotherapy treatment, and to manage any side effects you may experience. firstly though it is important that you tell your doctor or nurse if you experience side effects, as they can best advise you how to manage them, and may even be able to prescribe some medication to prevent the side effectc occurinf throughout future cycles of Chemo.
Feeling Nauseous (sick) or Vomiting.
When you receive your chemotherapy treatment, it is likely you will also receive some drugs intravenously (or orally) thast will prevent nausea. You may also be givin some of these to take home with you. You not feel nasueous unitil a few hours or even days after your treatment, but if this feeling continues for more than a few daysd and is preventing you form eating or drinking, it is a good idea to contact your doctor.
There are many different types of anti-nusea drugs available, so if one doesn’t work for you, tell your Doctor and try another. Sometimes it may be a case of trial and error to find the best drug for you.
Chances are that during chemotherapy treatment your tastes and eating habbits will change. If this does occur, try to continue to eat small regular meals, and when you feel hungry try to make up for the times when you’re not able to face food. Eating a well balanced diet will ultimately help you cope better with your treatment and recover from your disease.
Constipation/diarrhoea
Unforunately it is common to suffer from both constipation and diarrhoae during chemo. Cytotoxic drugs (the actual chemo) tebd to cause diarrhoea whilst anti-nausea and pain killers can cause constipation. it can somtimes prove difficult to manage these symptoms as they often happen in quick succession.
If you are having problems with constipation, try and increase the amount of fibre in your diet - like wholemeal breads and pasta, fruits, vegetables and bran. Also try some light exercise such as walking.
If diarrohea is troubling you, you should avoid fibre rich products, avoid spicy and rich foods and try eating small meals more often. Biscuits, toast, cooked rice and cgese and also known to be good. There are also some medications you can take at home to try and stop the diarrhoea - ask your doctor.
Whichever of these side effects bothers you, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Water will help loosen your constipation, and also will help keep you hydrated if you are experiencing diarrhoea. If your diarrhoea becomes extreme, you may need to attend hospital.
Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers (sore inside your mouth that can also occur down your throat) are a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Some chemptherapy drugs are given whilst you suck ice chips in order to try and prevent blood flow to this area whilst the chemotherapy is circulationg through your blood stream.
It is advisable to have a dental check-up before undergoing chemotherapy, to make sure there are no underlying mouth infections.
Mouth care will become very important during your chemotherapy treatment regime. It is important to start using a soft (or even a childrens) toothbrush to avoid mouth scratches. and to stop using any alcohol based mouthwashes as these may lead to more irritation. You can however use a salt water or bi-carb water mouth wash after first checking with your doctor.
If you notice mouth ulcers appearing, or have trouble with thickening saliva, or difficulty swallowing it is a good idea to contact your doctor for advice. I hope this article help you with info about chemotherapy treatment.
