by D. P. Noe

Created on: June 05, 2009   Last Updated: July 11, 2011

Not every cancer treatment will produce side effects for individuals undergoing chemotherapy and ration treatments for cancer. The type of chemotherapy and the dosing and what pre-existing health problems an individual has will affect the type of side effects that they may experience. Individuals can have a lot of side effects or some individuals may experience no side effects. The duration of how long a person will experience the side effects will depend on their state of health and what type of chemotherapy they are receiving. Many of the side effects go away as soon as the chemotherapy is done, but sometimes it can take months or years for them to go away.

There are many different side effects that an individual can develop from cancer treatments. Learning about the side effects beforehand and knowing what to expect can make this difficult time a little easier to manage.  This is the time when individuals need to get their hands on all the material available about possible side effects of cancer treatments.

When individuals are faced with a diagnosis of cancer it is a very difficult time of life. Cancer is a very scary word, but it is more frightening not to have the answers to the questions that are flowing through your mind. When faced with chemotherapy, the more knowledge individuals have about chemotherapy and its side effects, the better equipped individuals will be to handle the treatment. Not knowing what to expect will only increase your anxiety during this difficult period in your life. This is the time to gather all the information about chemotherapy and its side effects and not go into treatment blind sighted.

One of the more common side effects of cancer treatments is anemia. Some chemotherapy treatments cause anemia because it has an effect on the bone marrow and its ability to produce red blood cells. There are red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your entire body. When you do not have enough of these red blood cells circulating throughout your body, this is the definition of anemia. When you do not have enough circulating red blood cells your heart will work harder because the anemia will cause you to have less oxygen available for normal body functions. This can cause you to feel short of breath, tired and weak. Individuals may also experience some dizzy spells.

Cancer patients who experience the side effects of anemia will be told to get plenty of rest, decrease their daily activities and eat a well balanced

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