Chemo Side Effects

I had a reaction to the Cytoxin during my first 3 treatments (of 6) but by mid way, the steroid and benydryl treatments allowed me to get through no problem. Fatigue, the 'funky mouth' after a few days after transfusion left food tastless but I drank plenty of water and for some reason, salty corn tortilla chips helped me maintain an even keel. I know a number of people really lose their appetite and they can have trouble when nausea sets in but with my regimen, I really had no nausea. By my last 2 treatements, I was fatigued much more and had trouble sleeping. As someone had warned me about the cumulative effects may be a little more debilitating, my oncologies prescribed some Ambien to help sleep and that was very helpful to me. With 4 kids and me a stay at home mom, I needed every hour of sleep I could get!

To me, depression is the result of sadness that is not grieved, released. Sadness is often related to loss. Long term sadness leads to depression and hopelessness. Depression is statistically related to the incidence of cancer. What is happening at the emotional level is reflected at the physical level. A depressed person has a depressed immune system. DRJK at http://DrJayKantor.Com .

There are caps, scarves, turbans, and hats of many types, some designed specifically for medical hair loss, but most them serving the general head wear market. Even if you wear a wig, you will likely want other head wear options on hand as wigs can be tight, hot and abrasive on sensitive scalps that lack hair due to a scalp condition or chemotherapy. Unless you choose to sleep in a wig, a soft sleep cap is also important as you might not realize the degree to which scalp hair insulates us against heat loss until you don't have hair.

If you lose your hair during chemotherapy, consider those head wear options designed specifically for chemo hair loss as your needs can differ from those of the general head wear market. Hats and pre-tied scarves are great options if you are unable to lift your arms over your head to tie or adjust more complicated head wear items. Soft fabrics/materials are helpful if you experience the scalp sensitivity that often accompanies chemo hair loss.

Among the most important issues in choosing head wear items for medical hair loss is fit. If you're going to be wearing something on your head all day, you want it to fit comfortably and securely.

I am also dealing with reactions to Arimidex and do not react well to Benydryl. Femera is too expensive so I may ask about alternatives, but my doctor has suggested I may have to return to Tomoxifan since I am experiencing a high number of side effects that are difficult to manage on other medications. I am one in the rare percentage that has high sensitivities and reactions to medications making it difficult.

I totally agree with, and want to expound upon what JK Jones wrote about pain management. Going to a pain management clinic can be very valuable as they can help you find effective ways to cope with the pain as opposed to focusing on it. I have seen people make tremendous strides thanks to the benefits of an effective pain management program.

When my neuropathy began I told my Oncologist right away and she sent me to a Neurologist who did blood tests and other tests and a neuro-exam to make sure what I was having was related to the chemo that I had and that is was neuropathy.

Somebody told me not to eat any meat the day before and the day I had chemo. Why, I had no idea, but it seemed to have helped. I did really well with soups and smoothies. Perhaps its because I stuck with foods that digest more quickly.

Crackers ARE great, but be careful. Believe it or not, most people gain weight with breast cancer chemo and this is the converse of what happens with chemo for other cancers. For most people, the goal in chemo treatment should be to maintain your weight - you don't want to fluctuate up or down too much.

Since taste buds are changing, it is important to discover what tastes you find appealing:
- Try different foods that look and smell good and fix a colorful dinner in pleasant surroundings.
- Use air freshener and fragrant candles to eliminate unpleasant odors.
- Food that is chilled may be more palatable.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Use plastic utensils to eat and cook with.
- Try different seasonings and marinating your meat in juices, wines, salad dressings. Try barbecue sauce and sweet and sour sauces for different flavors.
- Consider drinking ginger ale or tea.
- Try chewing gum or sucking on mints or hard candies to freshen your mouth or sucking on ice chips

Tips for controlling taste changes may include:
- brush your teeth often and before and after eating
- maintain good oral hygiene
- discuss with your physician if it is ok not to eat 1-2 hours before or 3 hours after treatments
- rinse your mouth with salt water or baking soda dissolved in water to refresh your taste buds
- try to avoid cigarette smoke

Here are some suggestions for dealing with neuropathy:
- Because of the side effect of loss of feeling, patients are prone to accidents and should be extra careful when cooking, in slippery areas, and in dark places.
- Keep the area with the symptoms warm and avoid extreme temperatures
- Good skin care and watch for cuts and burns
- Massage and physical therapy
- Make sure your diet includes the essential vitamins and minerals
- Stop smoking and exercise to improve circulation
- Moderate your alcohol intake

When a physician treats neuropathy caused by cancer treatments, they treat the pain symptoms as well as prevention from worsening.

Pain relief options include:
- Over the counter - pain patches, topical creams, tylenol, etc.
- Prescription medications that might be effective are anti-seizure medications, lidocaine patch, and anti-depressants

Potential options to prevent the neuropathy from worsening are:
- If the medications are the cause, switching chemotherapy medications or dosage may be considered
- If a tumor is causing the problem, the tumor may be treated

Neuropathy can be caused by the following treatments for breast cancer:
- certain chemotherapy medications - toxins from the treatments damage the nerves
- radiation therapy - radiation damages the nerves

Neuropathy is damage to your peripheral nervous system, which may effect the skin, internal organs, or muscles.

For cancer patients, chemotherapy treatments may result in neuropathy. The symptoms, if they appear, usually increase gradually and may worsen as chemotherapy treatments continue. The symptoms may be the worst months after the treatments are completed. Neuropathy may be permanent, either the symptoms stay constant or diminish in severity, or eventually disappear. It may take months for the symptoms to resolve.

If the skin is affected, the symptoms are tingling, numbness, burning, sensitivity to touch, or freezing. People may notice these feelings in their fingertips and toes. The feelings gradually move to the hands and feet and the rest of the body.

If the internal organs are affected, the symptoms are constipation, bladder problems, dizzyness, or sexual dysfunction.

If the muscles are affected, the symptoms are weakness, cramping, spasms, and balance.

Do your best to avoid scratching and itching.
Don’t rub your skin.
Shower in lukewarm water with a mild soap and pat dry.
Wear loose clothes.
Wash with mild soap that contains no perfumes to reduce irritation.
Protect your skin with clothing and sunscreen when outdoors.
Stop using deodorants, body lotions, powders, body oils, and creams with perfumes as well as perfumes.

Hydrocortisone cream or anti-itch cream (diphenhydramine - benadryl) may be purchased over the counter.

Or your physician may prescribe a stronger steroid cream to alleviate itching.

Fatigue is one of the most common side effect of breast cancer treatment. This side effect may appear at any time during the treatment. Rest does not alleviate the feelings of tiredness and fatigue. Fatigue may also continue after the treatments have ended.

To fight fatigue, it is important to exercise. Exercising 4 hours a week is recommended. You may find exercise partners at your support group, with friends, or fellow breast cancer survivors. You may also join a wellness center or gym and even get a personal trainer. This will improve your quality of life and physical fitness.

It is important to rest and eat properly along with drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated because your body is fighting the death of cancer cells (and healthy cells). Hydration assists metabolism. Your diet should include fruit, vegetables, and whole grains along with vitamins and minerals. Try to eat 15 calories a day for each pound you weigh. Eat several times a day, including nutritious snacks to boost your calories and protein intake. Good snacks are raisins, cranberries, apricots, yogurt, string cheese, carrots, vegetables, and prepackage energy bars. Liquid nutritional supplements such as Ensure come in different flavors and these provide extra calories and energy boosts. Protein assists in rebuilding the cells in your body and helps in the healing process.

Keep to a routine of when you eat and exercise. Exercise when you feel most energetic. Take naps when you need them as well.

Dizziness may be described in two ways, vertigo or light headedness. It is important to differentiate between them. If you experience either though, you should share your symptoms to your physician.

Vertigo is the sensation that the room or your surroundings are whirling or spinning. This may be caused when your sensory nerves send incorrect signals to and from your brain.

Light headedness or wooziness is a feeling that you may faint, but you do not feel as if you or your surroundings are moving. Light headedness usually is a result of a lowering of your blood pressure or not enough blood flow to your head when you get up too quickly from a chair or out of bed. This might be a result of dehydration. It is a feeling of weakness or unsteadiness.

Chemotherapy may cause the side effect of dizziness. Some medications that might have this side effect are faslodex, femara, and fareston.

Here are some tips that may help if you are feeling dizzy: drink lots of fluids, try not to make quick movements, keep a telephone near in case you fall, keep the floors clear of clutter, and your living area well lighted.

Medications that may be prescribed for vertigo are meclizine, dramamine, and scopolamine patch.

Potential treatments for unexplained bruising are:
- apply ice to the bruised area for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will help to constrict, or shrink the blood vessels that may be damaged and bleeding.
- heated compression (heating pad or warm wash cloth), 2 or 3 times a day, to help reabsorb the blood.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain, up to 4000 mg per day which is maximum dose.

If you experience unexplained bruising, contact your physician and do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin unless the doctor suggests or states it is okay to take these medications.

Be sure to tell you doctor about any medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies you are taking as well as other disease conditions.

Certain medical treatments may damage a woman's ovaries, suppress her estrogen and progesterone levels, and stop the ovaries from working. The treatments that may cause medical menopause are chemotherapy, anti-estrogen hormone therapies, and pelvic radiation. These treatments may cause a sudden drop in female hormone levels, resulting in temporary or permanent menopause with all the side effects of menopause. Younger women may only experience temporary menopause.

Breast cancer chemotherapy regimens that may cause medical menopause include cytoxan, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. According to BreastCancer.org, with treatment of these medications, fifty percent of women younger than 35, 80% of women 35–44, and nearly 100% of women over 45 will go into menopause. With adriamycin chemotherapy, the risk of permanent menopause is somewhat less for women under 40, but it is similar to that of cytoxan, methotrexate, and fluoruacil in women over 40.

If you are taking HRT (Hormone Replacement Treatment medications) for menopause symptoms and are diagnosed with breast cancer, you may stop the HRT treatments and this will result in a drop in estrogen levels and menopause.

If your ovaries are surgically removed you will experience menopause right away. This is called surgical menopause.

One of the potential side effects from chemotherapy treatments is low blood platelets, which may result in a bleeding disorder (unexplained bruising and bleeding).

You should be watching for the following:
- tiny, red, pinpoint spots on your skin (petechiae)
- bleeding from a cut that doesn't stop after a few minutes
- bleeding from your mouth or nose (nose bleed called epistaxis)
- black or bloody stools
- bleeding from your vagina when you are not having your period (menstruation)
- bleeding during your period that is heavier or lasts longer than normal
- changes in how well you see
- feeling confused or very sleepy
- changes when you go to the bathroom
- blood in your urine (the urine will have a red or pink color to it)
- head or vision changes
- bad headaches

Thrombocytopenia is any disorder in which there are not enough platelets. Platelets are cells in the blood that help blood to clot.

Thrombocytopenia is a potential side effect of many chemotherapy and chemo prevention medications.