Many people feel very tired, weak, drained and become quickly worn out while they are having chemotherapy.
It can be due to the direct effect of chemotherapy on the body. But anaemia may also cause tiredness. This is because chemotherapy can stop your bone marrow from making red blood cells for a while. The number of red blood cells gradually starts to go down a few days after you have your chemotherapy drugs.
Learning, memory, and attention difficulties.
Chemotherapy and high-dose radiation therapy to the head and other areas of the body may cause cognitive problems for adults and children. Cognitive problems occur when a person has trouble processing information. Talk with your doctor if you experience any of these issues.
Most chemotherapy side effects are temporary and disappear once your treatment is over. For some people chemotherapy can cause long term changes in the body months or years after treatment. Many people feel more tired than usual for a long time after chemotherapy treatment.
Your fatigue may get worse with each treatment. For some people, fatigue is worst about halfway through the full course of chemo. Radiation. Fatigue often gets more intense with each radiation treatment until about halfway through the cycle.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Fatigue caused by chemotherapy may last for some weeks or months after a treatment cycle ends. Many people find that their energy levels return to normal within 6–12 months of treatment ending. While fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy, it can also be a symptom of depression.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
If you develop side effects, they can happen any time during, immediately after or a few days or weeks after chemotherapy. Sometimes late side effects develop months or years after chemotherapy. Most side effects go away on their own or can be treated, but some side effects may last a long time or become permanent.
Feeling and being sick. Sickness caused by chemotherapy can start within a couple of hours of starting your treatment and only last a day or so. Or it can come on more than 24 hours after the start of treatment. This is called delayed onset nausea and vomiting and usually lasts about a week.
Following the tips below will help protect your skin from damage and infection: Bathe every day and use warm water. Avoid soaking in spas or hot tubs. Use a mild soap for bathing.
Water, water, water: we know it can be difficult, but please drink plenty of water before, during and after chemo treatment. Drinking lots of water will help to flush the chemo through your system, and can also help to keep your bladder from becoming irritated.
During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999, and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years).
Which Type of Cancer Spreads the Fastest? The fastest-moving cancers are pancreatic, brain, esophageal, liver, and skin. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dangerous types of cancer because it's fast-moving and there's no method of early detection.
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment.
A good night's sleep may help you to think more clearly, lower your blood pressure, help your appetite, and strengthen your immune system. Sleep problems that go on for a long time may increase the risk of anxiety or depression.
Exercise, yoga, massage therapy, counseling, and dietary or nutritional counseling are all used to help treat fatigue and weakness. If you're having problems sleeping or sleeping too much, your doctor or nurse may suggest sleep therapy.
Good night's rest
A full night's sleep is vital for anyone who has had chemotherapy. Patients should get at least eight hours of sleep if possible.