Know about these side-effects of chemotherapy

Apart from hair-loss, here are the other side-effects of chemotherapy that you should know about.

Written By Editorial Team | Published : May 14, 2019 6:48 PM IST

Chemotherapy-side-effects

Chemotherapy is a treatment option for cancer patients where one or multiple anti-cancer drugs are given to a patient in order to eradicate the cancer cells from the patient’s body. According to a new study published in the journal Lancet Oncology, a 53 per cent surge will be witnessed in the use of chemotherapy among cancer patients by 2040. The study further mentioned that currently the numbers are 9.8 million globally in terms of chemotherapy usage all over the world and it is expected that by the year 2040, these numbers will cross 15 million. While chemotherapy is renowned cancer treatment, it has various side-effects as well. The most common side-effect of this procedure is severe hair fall, however, there are various side-effects as well like fatigue, anemia, diarrhoea, changes in appetite, easy bleeding, so on and so forth. Here, we give you a low-down about the various side-effects that can occur after a successful chemotherapy session.

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Diarrhea

Diarrhoea: Irregular bowel movements are another common occurrence among cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. If this condition persists for a long duration, you may become dehydrated and malnourished.

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Loss Of Appetite

Suppresses your appetite: It is common for cancer patients to lose their appetite. Side-effects like mouth and throat problems can make it difficult for you to eat and some of the drugs used in chemotherapy can change the way how food smells and tastes. If you don’t feel hungry for too long, you should consult your doctor immediately.

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Bleeding

Easy bleeding: Chemotherapy reduces the number of platelets in your blood which acts as a clotting factor that prevents excessive bleeding. Lack of platelets can cause severe bleeding even after a minor injury.

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Fatigue

Fatigue: According to several estimates, every 7-8 out of 10 cancer patients suffer from fatigue because of the anti-drugs involved in the treatment. Chemotherapy inhibits the production of red blood cells in your body which leads to fatigue.

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Insomnia

Insomnia: Sleep problems are also common in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. This could be due to a number of factors like the combination of medication, long hospital stays or stress.