Side effect of chemo and radiation skin#

Other side effects may improve with lifestyle changes and home care. If any side effects arise during treatment, inform the doctor as soon as possible - some effects indicate that the treatment program should be changed or that the person should be taking radioprotective drugs. lymphedema, which is swelling in the arms or legsīefore RT begins, a doctor will describe the adverse effects that a person may experience during and after the treatment.These side effects can appear 6 months or longer after finishing RT and can include: swelling or tenderness at the treatment site.Other early side effects of RT can include: color changes, such as redness in some people.

Side effect of chemo and radiation skin#

Early side effectsĪccording to the American Cancer Society, fatigue and skin changes are the most common early side effects of RT. The specific adverse effects can depend on the type of RT and the part of the body receiving the treatment. In some cases, a person may develop new side effects several months after the treatment ends. This can cause adverse effects during and after treatment. Acute pancreatitis induced by combination chemotherapy used for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.RT effectively destroys cancer cells, but it also damages healthy cells.

What breast cancer survivors need to know about osteoporosis.

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions to targeted chemotherapeutic drugs: A clinico-epidemiological study. Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia associated with anti-carboplatin and the first example of anti-paclitaxel. Cyclophosphamide and/or anthracyclines induced epiphora in breast cancer patients: A rare side-effect.

Infection and neutropenia during cancer treatment.

Coping and living well during cancer treatment.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. It may help to try foods that are soft and easy to swallow.Įating small, frequent, high-calorie snacks instead of large meals is a good way to increase caloric intake. Talk with your doctor about anti-nausea medications to reduce vomiting during treatment.Įven if you don’t feel hungry, it’s important to continue eating healthy foods. Nausea is another common chemotherapy symptom that may result in vomiting, leading to dehydration and decreased appetite. You can lessen these symptoms by drinking plenty of water during the day.

pressure, bloating, and gas around the abdomen.

If you have trouble eating or if the treatment causes food to taste unusual or unpleasant, it may lead to unintentional weight loss.Ĭhemotherapy drugs can also harm cells along the gastrointestinal tract.

mouth sores that form on the tongue or gums, making you more susceptible to infection.

Certain types of chemo also impact your mucosa more than others. These problems are less likely to occur if your heart is strong and healthy when you start chemotherapy.Ĭonsuming frequent or larger doses of chemotherapy drugs increases the likelihood of pain and discomfort in your mouth or throat. These conditions can affect your heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. It can also disturb your heart rhythm, a condition called arrhythmia. Some chemo drugs may also damage the heart, potentially leading to cardiomyopathy, or heart muscle disease.

small red dots on your skin called petechiae.

Low numbers of them mean you’re likely to bruise and bleed easily. It’s important to take precautions to avoid exposure to viruses and bacteria if you’re receiving chemo.Ī low platelet count, called thrombocytopenia, can also occur with chemotherapy. White blood cells play an important role in the immune system and help fight infections.

The drugs can cause a loss of healthy red blood cells, resulting in anemia.Ĭhemo can also cause neutropenia, a condition where you have a low white blood cell count. Routine blood count monitoring is a crucial part of chemotherapy. It’s worth understanding how these cancer drugs can affect your major body systems: In some cases, depending on the reactions your body is having, your doctor may need to adjust the type or dose of chemotherapy.Ĭhemotherapy drugs can affect any body system, but may especially impact the following: It is important to discuss any side effects you’re experiencing with your doctor. Many side effects clear up shortly after treatment ends, but some may continue for months, years, or may never go away. the type and amount of chemotherapy you receive.The severity of these side effects depends on: This may cause a variety of side effects. While chemotherapy drugs are powerful enough to kill rapidly growing cancer cells, they can also harm healthy cells. But chemotherapy does a lot more than get rid of cancer. After all, chemotherapy is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment.