Just hearing the word chemotherapy can send shivers up the strongest of spines. It is a well-known word, feared by many. If a treatment such as chemotherapy can actually save lives, then what makes it so frightening? The answer is quite simple; side effects.

There are many side effects brought about from the use of chemotherapy. The most well known side effects are hair loss, loss of appetite, mouth sores, nausea, and vomiting.

An encouraging tip to point out, regarding the nausea, is there are treatments before the chemotherapy that will reduce or eliminate it all together. Some medications that have been proven helpful for the nausea are Reglan, Phenergan, and Ativan.

Along with the cancer cells, chemotherapy will destroy blood cells. A complete blood count is necessary to detect certain conditions affecting the blood. Some of these blood conditions associated with chemotherapy are Anemia, Neutropenia, and Thrombocytopenia.

Anemia is the name given for low red blood counts. Red blood cells contain protein, which is called hemoglobin. This protein carries oxygen to the vital organs and tissues of the body. When the adequate supply of oxygen is not provided, the health of the organs and tissues will be in danger.

Neutropenia is a condition that lowers the white bloods cell count. It is the job of the white blood cells to fight off infection in the body. When the white blood count is down, the body can no longer fight off infection sufficiently. In some cases, patients who have Neutropenia will not be strong enough to continue chemotherapy and it will need to be postponed until the blood counts are back to a normal level.

Thrombocytopenia is the medical term relating to the platelets of the blood. Chemotherapy can destroy the cells in the bone marrow, which generate platelets. In turn, this will lower the platelet count resulting in bruising or excessive bleeding.

There are many different drugs used in chemotherapy. Knowing the different side effects brought about by a certain drug is an important step in attempting to control some of the adverse effects.

The following is a list of certain drugs used in chemotherapy and the side effects associated with them.

Doxorubicin

~ Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and mouth sores
~ Damage to the heart
~ Pinkish color to the urine, tears, saliva, and sweat
~ Thrombocytopenia (low platelets, bleeding, bruising, tiredness, and infection)

Cisplatin

~ Kidney damage
~ Thrombocytopenia
~ Hearing loss affecting normal and high frequency sounds

Methotrexate (high dose)

~ Adverse reaction to sunlight
~ Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
~ Mouth sores, and hair loss

Etoposide

~ Nausea, vomiting, and hair loss
~ Thrombocytopenia

Ifosfamide

~ Nausea, vomiting, and hair loss
~ Thrombocytopenia
~ Poisoning of the kidney cells (nephrotoxicity)
~ Low sperm count

The use of chemotherapy is vital in treating some cancers, and can mean the difference between life and death. Knowing the different side effects is the first step in managing the chemotherapy. In some cases, your doctor can assist you in preventing some of the side effects before they affect your body.

Learn more about this author, Wendy Pettit.
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