What is the most common type of side effect with chemotherapy drugs?

Tiredness. Tiredness (fatigue) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Many people having treatment feel tired a lot of the time or get tired very easily doing everyday tasks.
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What is the most commonly reported side effect of cancer treatment?

Some of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment include pain and fatigue, anemia, mouth problems, nausea/weight change/dietary issues, and hair, skin and nail problems. Pain. The term “pain” describes a broad category of types of symptoms and it is common to all cancers and cancer treatments.
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What are two common problems in patients receiving chemotherapy?

Many types of chemo drugs are known to cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, or diarrhea. Medicines can prevent or ease a lot of these symptoms. It's also common for kids to find that their taste preferences change while on chemo (they can't tolerate certain smells or textures, for example).
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What side effects occur as a result of chemotherapeutic medication?

Common side effects of chemotherapy drugs include:
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Hair loss.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Mouth sores.
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What are the most common side effects experienced by patients were receiving first cycle of chemotherapy?

The most common chemotherapy-induced side effects are nausea and vomiting, fatigue, decreased appetite, changes in taste, hair loss, dry mouth, and constipation.
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Anti-cancer drugs Side effects (Chemo toxicities) - Visual mnemonic



What is the most serious side effect of chemotherapy?

Infections. Chemotherapy can reduce your body's ability to fight infection. This makes you more likely to get infections that could make you seriously ill.
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Do chemo side effects get worse with every treatment?

Don't plan your chemo response until you've gone through your first infusion. The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle.
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What is a common side effect of several chemotherapeutic drugs?

Diarrhea. Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing. Peripheral neuropathy or other nerve problems, such as numbness, tingling, and pain. Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change.
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What are the major permanent side effects of chemotherapy?

What cancer treatments cause late effects?
  • Dental problems.
  • Early menopause.
  • Hearing loss.
  • Heart problems.
  • Increased risk of other cancers.
  • Infertility.
  • Loss of taste.
  • Lung disease.
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What should chemo patients avoid?

10 things to avoid while receiving chemotherapy
  • Don't eat raw meat or seafood. ...
  • Avoid foods that may aggravate cancer treatment side effects. ...
  • Don't start taking any new medications or supplements. ...
  • Don't smoke or drink alcohol. ...
  • Avoid excessive UV exposure. ...
  • Don't risk pregnancy or chemotherapy exposure with sexual partners.
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How many days after chemo do you feel better?

Nausea, vomiting, and taste changes

You may experience nausea (feeling like you might throw up) and vomiting (throwing up) after your last chemotherapy treatment. It should go away in 2 to 3 weeks. Your appetite may continue to be affected due to taste changes you may have experienced during your treatment.
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What are the signs that chemo is working?

You might notice an improvement in cancer symptoms, such as less pain, reduced lymph node swelling, and improved energy levels. If you use topical chemotherapy on skin lesions, the area might feel irritated and look red and swollen for the first few weeks. These are all signs that chemotherapy is working.
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What are the three most common side effects of chemotherapy?

Common side effects of chemotherapy include:
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Hair loss. ...
  • Mouth and throat sores. ...
  • Diarrhea. ...
  • Constipation. ...
  • Nausea and vomiting. ...
  • The doses of chemotherapy can often be adjusted to prevent low blood counts. ...
  • These symptoms usually get better with a lower chemotherapy dose or after treatment.
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Can cancer spread while on chemo?

While chemotherapy is one of the oldest and most successful ways of treating cancer, it doesn't always work. So, yes, cancer can spread during chemotherapy. Spreading could mean the tumor keeps growing, or that the original tumor shrinks, but cancer metastasizes, forming tumors in other areas of the body.
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Which cancers are most likely to recur?

Some cancers are difficult to treat and have high rates of recurrence. Glioblastoma, for example, recurs in nearly all patients, despite treatment. The rate of recurrence among patients with ovarian cancer is also high at 85%.
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Does everyone get sick from chemo?

Not everyone experiences nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. Find out if you're at risk of these side effects and what you and your doctor can do to prevent them. Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
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Is it possible to have no side effects from chemo?

Everyone reacts to chemotherapy differently. Some people have no side effects, others have many. Whether you experience side effects and how severe they are depends on the type and dose of drugs you are given and your reaction from one treatment cycle to the next.
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What are the most serious toxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents?

Cardiovascular effects can be among the most serious adverse events resulting from chemotherapy, and can occur early or late during the treatment. Cardiotoxicity can be mild, consisting of blood pressure changes, to more severe, such as myocardial infarction and heart failure.
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What is the most common and potentially serious complication of antineoplastic medications?

One of the most common side effects of many antineoplastic drugs therapies is nausea/vomiting (N/V).
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What is the most common side effect seen from chemotherapy radiation treatments?

Fatigue is the most common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation. During treatment, your body is not only fighting cancer, but it's also working to repair cell damage from treatment. As a result, you may feel too drained to carry out your usual activities.
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Is the first week after chemo the worst?

For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment.
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When do chemo side effects peak?

Sickness caused by chemotherapy can start within a couple of hours of starting your treatment and only last a day or so. Or it can come on more than 24 hours after the start of treatment. This is called delayed onset nausea and vomiting and usually lasts about a week.
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Why can't you touch chemo pills?

Chemotherapy drugs are considered to be hazardous to people who handle them or come into contact with them. For patients, this means the drugs are strong enough to damage or kill cancer cells. But this also means the drugs can be a concern for others who might be exposed to them.
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