Chemotherapy Side Effects and Warnings

Side Effects

Many types of chemotherapy drugs not only damage the cancer cells but can also damage some of your normal cells. This can create side effects. Side effects will vary between chemotherapy treatments. Your doctor will review a list of possible complications for your treatment type. Some side effects of chemotherapy include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Appetite loss

• Hair loss

• Low red blood cell count ( Anemia )

• Weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to infection

• Fatigue

• Easy bruising and/or bleeding

• Mouth sores

• Persistent numbness and tingling sensation in the hands and/or feet, or weakness due to nerve damage

• Kidney damage

• Damage to the heart muscle

• Infertility

• Cessation of the menstrual period

You and your doctor will talk about options to help relieve some of these effects.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills

• Sores in your mouth, throat, or lips

• White patches in your mouth

• Difficulty/pain with swallowing

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Vomiting that prevents you from holding down fluids

• Blood in your vomit

• Easy bruising

• Nosebleeds, bleeding gums, new vaginal bleeding

• Blood in your urine or stool

• Burning or frequency of urination

• Cough, trouble breathing, or chest pain

• Severe weakness

• Shortness of breath or cough

• Calf pain, swelling, or redness in the legs or feet (which could signify a blood clot)

• Abnormal vaginal discharge, itching, or odor

• New or uncontrollable pain

• Numbness, tingling, or pain in your extremities

• Joint pain, stiffness, rash, or other new symptoms

• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or a "pimple" at the site of your IV

• Headache, stiff neck

• Hearing or vision changes

• Ringing in your ears

• Exposure to someone with an infectious illness, including chickenpox

• Weight gain or loss of 10 pounds or more

In case of an emergency, call 911.