My Breakthrough
Dealing with chemotherapy side effects
Before you start treatment, your doctor or nurse should tell you about the side effects you are most likely to have with your type of chemotherapy. Not everyone will get every side effect.
We have mentioned only possible side effects with each drug. Specific side effects need to be discussed with your doctor or nurse.
Many hospitals have leaflets about chemotherapy and its side effects. You can reduce the severity of some of these side effects by taking medicines or protecting yourself in other ways when you have your chemotherapy.
To find out more about coping with the side effects of chemotherapy, visit the Cancerbackup website.
Many hospitals have leaflets about chemotherapy and its side effects. You can reduce the severity of some of these side effects by taking medicines or protecting yourself in other ways when you have your chemotherapy.
Nausea and vomiting
You can take anti-sickness (also called anti-emetic) drugs when you have your chemotherapy and for as long as you are likely to feel sick. There are several different drugs, and some work better than others. So if you still feel or are sick after taking one type of drug, be sure to tell your cancer doctor or nurse, so you can try something else.Tiredness
Don't expect to do as much as usual when you're having chemotherapy and for a while after each treatment. You will probably find you have less energy. This may be because your chemotherapy can give you anaemia or it may interfere with your sleep. Try to rest whenever you can, and be reassured that you won't feel so tired when your treatment is over.Hair loss
Some drugs (e.g: doxorubicin, epirubicin and paclitaxel) make you lose more hair than others. The good news is that your hair will grow back when you stop treatment. Cooling your scalp while you have your chemotherapy may help reduce hair loss, so you may want to ask your doctor or nurse about this. Your cancer nurse should also be able to tell you about wigs and hairpieces, if you would like to wear one.Mouth ulcers
Drinking plenty of fluids and cleaning your teeth regularly with a soft toothbrush can protect you from getting mouth ulcers. Your doctor or nurse can also tell you about special mouthwashes and medicines to prevent or treat mouth infections.Bladder irritation
This can happen if you are taking cyclophosphamide, but you can help to prevent it by drinking plenty of fluids each day.Diarrhoea
You can take anti-diarrhoeal medicines to clear this up, so be sure to tell your doctor or nurse if it's a problem. Also, try to drink plenty of fluids so you don't get dehydrated as a result of the diarrhoea.Fertility problems
Many of the drugs that are used to treat breast cancer can cause infertility. If you are hoping to have children after you've completed your chemotherapy, it's important to discuss this with your breast cancer specialist. He or she may refer you to an infertility specialist.To find out more about coping with the side effects of chemotherapy, visit the Cancerbackup website.
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