5 Things You Need to Know About the Disadvantages of Chemotherapy

1. What is Chemotherapy?

If you have just been prescribed chemotherapy, it means your doctor wants you to take medications to treat your cancer. Your doctor might explain how it can check the spread or growth of cancer, when given either before or after surgery or radiation. You should not be surprised, however, that the way it works can kill other healthy dividing cells just as well as the abnormal cancerous cells.

2. What's the Flip Side To Chemotherapy?

As chemotherapy does not differentiate between cancer and other healthy cells so long as they are all multiplying, side effects are inevitable. For instance, healthy dividing cells could include cells of the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system and hair follicles. The side effects could be temporary or longer term. Of course, not every drug will cause every side effect. You should not hesitate to ask your doctor if the specific chemotherapy you are taking has any disadvantages.

3. Temporary Disadvantages of Chemotherapy

These are effects that should not scare you. Temporary side effects range from hair loss to lung or nerve damage. Also dry mouth, mouth sores, difficulty or pain swallowing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, bleeding, loss of appetite and changes with taste are a few of the temporary disadvantages. Once you finish your chemotherapy, you should usually recover your normal condition. For instance, you get your hair back two to three months after chemotherapy is over. But if you find any of them intolerable, you should just let your doctor know. He may switch to new medication or administer another drug for relief.

4. Watch Out for Long-term Disadvantages

It is possible that chemotherapy could leave behind long-lasting, tell-tale signs of damage. Long after you complete your treatment, you might discover another form of cancer such as leukemia or Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. They are cancers of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Or there could be damage to liver, kidneys, heart, nervous system and brain. Sometimes, there might be blood in the urine. Chemotherapy can damage sperm. Getting pregnant with damaged sperm can increase the risk of producing genetically defective babies. Of course, not all chemotherapy drugs have these long-term disadvantages but you may want to discuss with your doctor for suitable options.

5. Dealing with Chemotherapy

Drink plenty of fluids if you are getting chemotherapy that can damage the bladder and kidneys. Try to eat five or six small meals and snacks each day instead of three large meals. Do not take any vitamins, herbs, minerals, dietary supplements, aspirin, or other over-the-counter medicines without consulting your doctor first. You may want to avoid tobacco or alcohol if your mouth is sore. See your dentist at least two weeks before starting chemotherapy. Promptly report your doctor any major skin changes and if you have pain, a specialist can help. Report any nervous symptoms including tingling, burning, dizziness, clumsiness and other symptoms. Also, it may be a good idea to use a condom when you have sex.