| - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - General Chemotherapy Side Effects Information
The type and the severity of the side effects from chemotherapy or radiation may vary depending on the specific chemotherapy or radiation treatment regimen used. The effects can be further influenced by the condition and age of the patient.
- - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - Possible Chemotherapy Side Effects
While high doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy can potentially affect any of the bodys normal cells or organs, the more common side effects may include the following: Reduced production of blood cells and platelets
High-dose chemotherapy directly destroys the bone marrows ability to produce white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Some patients experience side effects from low numbers of white blood cells (neutropenia), red blood cells (anemia) and platelets (thrombocytopenia). Infections from Chemotherapy
The immune system may take even longer to recover than white blood cell production, which can result in a susceptibility to some bacterial, fungal and viral infections for weeks or months, including pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and herpes zoster infection, which commonly occurs after high-dose chemotherapy. Liver Damage: Veno-Occlusive Disease of the Liver (VOD)
High-dose chemotherapy can result in damage to the liver, which can be serious and even fatal. This complication is increased in patients who have had previous chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, a history of liver damage or hepatitis. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver typically occurs in the first two weeks after high-dose chemotherapy treatment. Patients typically experience symptoms of abdominal fullness or swelling, liver tenderness and weight gain from fluid retention. Development of strategies to prevent or treat veno-occlusive disease is an active area of clinical investigation. Lung Damage: Interstitial Pneumonia Syndrome (IPS)
High-dose chemotherapy can cause damage directly to the cells of the lungs. This may be more frequent in patients treated with certain types of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. This complication may occur anytime from a few days after high-dose chemotherapy to several months after treatment. Patients typically experience a dry, non-productive cough or shortness of breath. Sometimes, patients and their doctors often misinterpret these early symptoms. Patients experiencing shortness of breath or a new cough after allogeneic transplant should bring this to the immediate attention of their doctors since this can be a serious and even fatal complication.
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There are several long-term or late side effects that result from the chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The frequency and severity of these problems depends on the type of radiation or chemotherapy used. It is important for doctors to explain the specific long-term side effects that may occur for the actual treatment they propose. Some examples of complications may include the following: Cataracts
Cataracts occur in the overwhelming majority of patients who receive total body irradiation in their treatment regimen. In patients who receive chemotherapy without total body irradiation, cataracts are much less frequent. The onset of cataracts begins at 18-24 months following treatment. Patients who have received large doses of steroids will have an increased frequency and earlier onset of cataracts. Patients are advised to have slit-lamp eye evaluations annually with early correction with artificial lenses. Infertility
The overwhelming majority of women who receive total body irradiation will be sterile; however, some prepubertal and adolescent females do recover ovulation and menstruation. In patients who receive chemotherapy-only preparative regimens, the incidence of sterility is more variable and more age related, i.e., the older the woman is at the time of treatment the more likely chemotherapy will produce anovulation. These are important considerations because of the need for hormone replacement. All females should have frequent gynecologic follow-up. The overwhelming majority of men who receive total body irradiation will become sterile. Sterility is much more variable after chemotherapy-only regimens. Men should have sperm counts performed over time to determine whether or not sperm are present. New Cancers
Treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy is known to increase the risk of developing a new cancer. These are called secondary cancers and may occur as a late complication of high-dose chemotherapy. Patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant appear to have an increased risk of developing a secondary cancer. In a report evaluating almost 20,000 patients treated with allogeneic stem cell transplant, 80 patients developed a new cancer. This represents an approximate 2.5 percent greater risk compared to normal individuals. The longer patients survived after high-dose chemotherapy, the greater the risk of developing a secondary cancer. Patients treated with total body irradiation appear more likely to develop new cancer than those treated with lower radiation doses or high-dose chemotherapy. High-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant is used more often to treat certain cancers because it improves cure rates. Patients should be aware of the risk of secondary cancer following high-dose chemotherapy treatment and discuss the benefits and risks of high-dose chemotherapy with their primary cancer physicians.
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Beneficial Dietary Supplements
Astralgus Root stimulates the immune system.
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REFERENCES: Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd Edition, Phyllis Balch, CNC; James F. Balch, M.D. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - -
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