Side effects of Cancer Treatment

Almost every patient who received radiation therapy or chemotherapy have certain side effects, most often in the form of nausea or vomiting and decreased white blood cell count.

Patients who receive chemotherapy often experience hair loss. Reducing the side effects is an important aspect of treatment.

Nausea and vomiting 

Nausea and vomiting can usually be prevented or reduced with medication (anti-emetic).

Nausea can be reduced by reducing the frequency of snack and avoid high-fiber foods that produce gas or very hot or very cold.

Decrease in white blood cell count

Sitopenia is a state where there is a deficiency of one or several types of blood cells. This can occur during cancer treatment.

For example patients may experience :

• Anemia (red blood cell count is low)
• Neutropenia or leukopenia (white blood cell count is low)
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)

usually sitopenia not need to be treated. But if its severe anemia can be given a transfusion packed red cells. Similarly, when his weight thrombocytopenia, platelet transfusion may be given to reduce the risk of bleeding.

In patients who experienced neutropenia (neutropihil count of white blodd cell-type-low) are at high risk for infection. Therefore, fever in excess of 38degC handled as an emergency. Examined the possibility of infection and may require antibiotics or even hospitalization.

Rare white blood cell transfusions because only last a few hours and cause various side effects. Can be given certain materials (such as granulocyte stimulating factor) to stimulate white blood cell formation.

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