The sores in her mouth and throat were so painful she could barely talk or swallow. It's called mucositis or thrush and it occurs when chemotherapy targets rapidly growing cells such as cancer but can't avoid the other rapidly growing cells such as those in the mouth, throat and intestines.
It was hard enough that her perfectly shaped head, complete with a 15-inch scar from ear to ear after brain surgery, had relinquished her long beautiful locks of hair after only her 2nd round of chemotherapy. But overall my daughter was lucky. She embraced her baldness and used it as a conversation piece to attract others who understood her journey.
Until the last ditch effort to save her life with a stem cell transplant, (successful by the way) the 14 previous months of cancer treatment my daughter received rendered few of the regular side effects experienced by many cancer patients.
Since up to this point we hadn't been in the loop regarding the latest cancer treatment we had no idea how far it had come. We were not only terrified for her life, but what torture the treatment would impose on her 24 year-old body. We were delighted (I use that word lightly) to learn that the field of oncology has come a long way in developing medicines to counter the often-debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. A few decades ago there was little patients or medical personnel could do to soften the harsh effects of the poison designed to save or prolong lives.
There are scores of different types of chemotherapy regimens to combat cancer. Depending on the type of cancer involved will determine what course of treatment your doctor will use. Some have more side effects than others.
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND THEIR CAUSES:
HAIR LOSS: the death of rapidly growing cells such as hair
NAUSEA & VOMITING: body trying to eliminate the toxins
MOUTH SORES: death of rapidly growing cells such as mouth and throat lining
CONSTIPATION: disruption in digestive process
DIARRHEA: death of natural cells and bacteria of the intestines.
PAIN: Many different causes
NUMBNESS AND TINGLING: disruption in circulatory process
FORGETFULNESS AND INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE: Called chemobrain caused by toxic effects of therapy
REPRODUCTIVE SIDE EFFECTS: hormonal changes and disruption of egg or sperm production
ANEMIA: Low red cell count
THROMBOCYTOPENIA: Low platelet count
NEUTROPENIA: Low white cell count, usually requiring special diet.
New drugs have been developed to counter the most immediate side effects of chemotherapy like nausea and vomiting and have made chemotherapy treatment much more humane.
COMMON MEDICINES FOR TREATMENT OF SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY:
APREPITANT:
may be given by mouth to reduce nausea and vomiting by blocking certain neurotransmitters in the brain. It may cause constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and headache.
ZOFRAN:
may be given either intravenously or by mouth (IV or orally) to control acute episodes of nausea and emesis occurring within 24-48 hours of chemotherapy administration. This drug is not as effective in controlling delayed nausea and emesis.
KUTRIL:
is given either intravenously or by mouth (IV or orally) to help control acute episodes of nausea and emesis occurring within 2448 hours of chemotherapy administration. It is not effective in controlling delayed nausea and emesis.
COMPAZINE:
is given either intravenously or by mouth (IV or orally) to help control delayed episodes of nausea and emesis occurring more than 48 hours after chemotherapy administration.
REGLAN:
Is a medication that is usually administered in pill form. It is used to help reduce nausea and emesis by moving food through the stomach faster.
DECADRON:
is a steroid that has multiple actions and uses. It can be used alone, or in combination with Zofran or Kytril, to help control acute episodes of chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. It also can be used alone to improve appetite and to improve the patient's general feeling of well-being. This drug can cause weight gain if used for prolonged periods of time.
MEGACE:
is given orally, in either pill or liquid (most common) form. The medication is a progestational agent, which increases appetite and causes weight gain due to increased caloric intake. This drug may be used as second or third line therapy in patients who have breast cancer that has progressed on Tamoxifen.
MARINOL:
Is a prescription medication that mimics the increased appetite side effect of marijuana, without the associated high.
LOMOTIL:
is a prescription medication that is used to decrease transition time in the colon, allowing more water to be reabsorbed and decreasing the incidence of diarrhea.
IMMODIUM:
is an over-the-counter) medication that decreases colon transition time, reducing the frequency of diarrhea.
BENADRYL/NYSTATIN/VISCOUS LIDOCAINE SOLUTION:
is a prescription solution of three medications that helps to relieve the pain, inflammation and potential fungal infections associated with moderate to severe mucositis and esophagitis (inflammation and sores of the mouth and esophagus).
BAX SOLUTION:
is a prescription medication that helps to relieve the pain and potential fungal infections associated with moderate to severe mucositis.
DIFLUCAN:
is a prescription antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections of the mouth and throat. Diflucan can be given either intravenously or by mouth (IV or orally).
CHLORHEXIDINE GLUCONATE (Peridex, PerioGard:
is a prescription medication that helps to relieve the pain and potential fungal infections associated with moderate to severe mucositis.
If you or someone you know has received the heart-wrenching diagnosis of cancer, and chemotherapy becomes necessary, take heart that the treatment is no longer the cause for fear it used to be, as we were so pleased to discover. The negative side effects of treatment in many cases can be reduced. And the good news is that most of the side effects, such as hair loss, are only temporary. When hair does grow back it may have changed color and texture. When my daughter's hair began to grow back in the first time it was a little darker with soft curls where before it was board straight.
We hope it will grow back again, but 3 full rounds of chemo, and a month of whole brain radiation makes it unlikely the doctors tell us. She has surprised them before, however, and she just may do it again. We are just grateful that she's alive. And bald or not, she is just as beautiful today as whe was before cancer tried to get a grip on her - and failed.