
9 Management Tips For Chemotherapy Side Effects
Bangalore, a bustling IT hub, has the highest cancer rate of any Indian city at roughly 126 per 1,000 people.
Bangalore is ranked first with 113.4 cancer cases per 1,000 males and 139.1 points per 1,000 women per year, according to the most recent statistics from the Population-Based Cancer Registry.
So many top hospitals offer first-class cancer treatment in Bangalore in which Chemotherapy is a standard treatment option. Chemotherapy is a medication therapy that destroys the body’s rapidly proliferating cells by using potent chemicals.
This procedure eliminates cancer cells but also has specific unavoidable pharmacological side effects. Be at ease, though. The advice in this article can help cancer patients manage the adverse effects of Chemotherapy.
1. Fatigue
The most frequent side effect of Chemotherapy is fatigue. Cyclical weariness from Chemotherapy is every day. The most demanding time after therapy is typically the first three days.
Following that, fatigue usually gets better until the following treatment. Despite what can seem paradoxical, exercise is one of the best strategies to lessen weariness while receiving therapy. Don’t miss out on the benefits of exercise.
Don’t bother going to the gym; even walking has many benefits. Following a regular sleep/wake cycle, taking quick naps during the day, eating a balanced diet rich in protein, and drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water each day are additional methods for combating fatigue.
2. Taste changes
Specific chemotherapy treatments may impact your sense of taste. The flavour of red meat may differ. If so, substitute poultry, fish with a bit of seasoning, or dairy.
Try to stay away from your favourite dish if it tastes different to prevent developing an aversion. Utilize plastic utensils if the flavour is metallic. Use sweet marinades to give the main dishes a taste.
3. Constipation
Constipation is another side effect of cancer treatment. It is characterized by fewer than usual bowel movements (poop).
Consume fibre-rich meals. You can utilise some healthy & easy meal prep ideas.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plums, and prune juice all contain fibre. Try to get at least eight glasses of drink each day. If you can, go for a walk or do some light exercise.
4. Hair loss
Some chemotherapy medications destroy the hair follicle cells, resulting in hair loss or thinning. Consult your cancer care team to see whether wearing a cooling hood during treatment will lower your risk if your chemotherapy regimen contains medications that can cause hair loss.
It is believed that cooling causes the blood arteries in the scalp to tighten and constrict, lowering the number of chemotherapy medications that reach the cells of the hair follicle. This condition is known as scalp hypothermia.
By treating your hair tenderly both during and after treatment, you can help reduce hair loss. As the strands regrow, keep conditioning your hair and scalp because new hair is likely to be brittle.
5. Short-term mental fog
Following therapy, some people endure a short period of mental haze. Keeping track of and remembering appointments, people’s names, addresses, phone numbers, and to-do lists are all part of managing the infamous “chemo brain.”
To keep your mind engaged, take classes, attend lectures, solve crossword puzzles, and utilize a practical daily planner. Eat well, move around frequently, and sleep properly. Try to focus on one thing at a time.
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6. Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are two of Chemotherapy’s most prevalent and dreaded side effects. However, perhaps you don’t need to feel such fear.
Today’s medical professionals may treat nausea effectively with drugs known as antiemetics. It is possible to more effectively manage and, in many cases, even stop nausea and vomiting.
In addition to anti-nausea drugs, chemotherapy-related nausea can be managed by eating small meals often throughout the day, abstaining from fatty and spicy foods, and elevating your head for an hour after meals.
According to some research, acupuncture and relaxation methods, including deep breathing, listening to music, meditating, and reading books, may also help reduce nausea brought on by Chemotherapy.
7. Loss of appetite
Cancer treatment or radiation-induced nausea might make you feel nauseous. Even when you don’t feel like eating, you should still make an effort to maintain excellent dietary habits.
A balanced, nutrient-rich diet is essential for the body to heal after treatment, maintain or gain weight, and fight infections.
You might be unable to consume a healthy diet while in the hospital due to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, appetite loss, etc. Depending on your nutritional deficits, your doctor may prescribe parenteral nutrition if these side effects make it impossible for you to maintain an adequate diet.
8. Diarrhoea
More significant than usual, faeces, loose or watery stools (poop), or both are signs of diarrhoea. Specific chemotherapy treatments can make you sick. Every day, chug 8 to 10 glasses of drink.
Make careful to consume electrolyte-rich liquids in addition to water. Unless your doctor advises differently, take an over-the-counter antidiarrheal drug such as loperamide.
Take no laxatives or stool softeners for at least 12 hours or until the diarrhoea stops. Steer clear of hot, fibre- and fat-rich foods.
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9. Skin allergies
Another part of the body where chemotherapy side effects can be seen is the skin. If you are taking injectable Chemotherapy and have any redness, pain, or sores at or around the injection site either during or after treatment, let your nurse or doctor know.
It is crucial to call your nurse or doctor if the affected region turns red, swells, develops blisters, or if there is an open wound. The skin must be kept dry and clean at all times.
If you are receiving or have recently completed radiation therapy, consult your doctor or nurse before using moisturizing creams. Some chemotherapy treatments can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. It’s critical to take precautions against the sun’s rays. Don’t use sunlamps.
You could develop a sensitivity to these rays and develop a sunburn. The sun protection factor (SPF) of your sunscreen should be 15 or greater.
Conclusion
Those receiving the best cancer treatment in Bangalore may have some common adverse effects.
Understanding how to assist patients in coping with the negative impact of Chemotherapy can significantly increase their chances of success, offer them hope, and enhance their quality of life.