Chemo, short for chemotherapy, refers to medication given to cancer patients in an attempt to destroy cancerous cells in the body. Unfortunately, chemo drugs can also harm healthy cells, which can cause adverse effects during chemotherapy and after the treatment is completed. The adverse effects depend on both the drugs used and the length and strength of the therapy.
Hair & Skin
One of the widely recognized adverse effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. The hair follicles become weakened from the potent drugs, and start to shed. Some people lose their eyelashes, eyebrows and body hair, as well as the hair on their heads. In most cases, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the hair loss is temporary.
Some cancer patients undergoing chemo may experience skin changes, as reported in the April 1998 issue of the journal "Nursing." People with dark skin tones are more likely to experience pigmentation changes during chemo, especially in the knuckles. Other adverse changes are dry skin, heavy shedding of dry skin, and the likelihood of skin infections.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Chemo may produce a range of gastrointestinal issues both during treatment and sometimes after treatment. Cancer patients often experience diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, which can become dangerous if the person's nutritional needs are not being met.
The reasons for the stomach upset are twofold, explains the ACS. The chemo may irritate the stomach and create nausea. The drugs may contribute to delayed gastric emptying, a condition in which undigested food sits in the stomach longer than normal. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of delayed gastric emptying. Cancer patients who experience severe digestive issues during chemo should be monitored closely to prevent (or correct) dehydration.
Fatigue
Crippling fatigue is an adverse effect of chemotherapy. The combination of the drugs used to damage the cancerous cells can wreak havoc on the body and sap all energy. Fatigue is also a side effect of malnutrition, dehydration and anemia, all conditions that may occur during chemo.
Strategies to cope with a severe lack of energy as reported in "Nursing" include getting plenty of sleep, keeping a journal of energy levels and prioritizing what is important, so that you can decide what activities can wait until the fatigue passes.
Organ Damage
Organ damage may be one of the most serious adverse effects. Heart, lung, liver and kidney damage may all occur as a result of the toxicity of the chemo. The ACS estimates that 10 percent of people who take anthracyclines drugs as part of their chemo regimen may sustain heart damage.
Senior citizens who smoke or who have chest radiation along with a medication called bleomycin are at risk of permanent lung damage, according to the ACS. Liver and kidney damage comes from metabolizing high levels of toxic substances during the chemotherapy process.
Nerve Damage
Damage to the nervous system is one of the adverse effects that may be seen during treatment or may not develop until years later. Chemo may disrupt the normal functioning of the nerves involved in sensation, called the peripheral nerves.
People who experience nerve damage as a result of chemo may feel tingling, burning or numbness in areas of the body, especially the arms and legs. Chemo can also impair the nerves that conduct hearing and can cause hearing loss or result in ringing of the ears, a condition called tinnitus.
Infertility
Infertility may be one of the most upsetting of the aftereffects of chemotherapy, especially to young couples who have not started their families. The strong drugs can cause a woman's periods to stop and may send her body into premature menopause, as stated in "Nursing." Anti-cancer drugs may contribute to an interrupted or lack of sperm production, and may lead to male sterility.
Sexual side effects can include impotence and a lack of desire in both men and women. Though infertility is a possibility, not all cancer patients remain unable to have children. Chemotherapy drugs can harm a fetus; the journal "Nursing" and ACS recommend that cancer patients of childbearing age use birth control to prevent a pregnancy that may result in deformities.
Delayed Development
Children who undergo chemo may see its aftereffects later in life. The ACS reports that some children who are former cancer patients do not grow as well as their peers. Developmental delays in the form of learning challenges may also be an adverse effect from chemotherapy.
