Chemotherapy: Side Effects

Every person reacts differently to chemotherapy and different drugs cause different side effects.

Side effects from chemo depend on the type of drug, how much is used, how often it is given and for how long. Side effects can include short-term hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, to name a few.

The severity of side effects varies greatly from person to person Many patients have few or no side effects. No one can predict who will and who will not. You may be among those who have few problems. How you react to the chemo has no relationship to whether or not it is helping you.

There are medications and other steps to take to prevent or lessen the effects of each side effect. One of the common ways to reduce the effect of side effects is that your doctor may do blood tests to find out if you need a lower dose of chemo drugs, or if you need longer breaks between doses.

Be sure to talk to your doctor and nurse about which side effects are most likely with your chemo, how long they might last, how bad they might be, and when you should seek medical care for them. For more information see the Survivorship A to Z document: "When to call your doctor."

Many people have no long-term problems from chemo, although the effects of chemo can continue for a while after treatment ends.

Although side effects can be unpleasant, they must be measured against the need to destroy the cancer.