CHEMOTHERAPY

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Introduction

Modern chemotherapy has undoubtedly the treatment of malignant diseases, and facilitates improved. Some cancers can be cured with chemotherapy other causes a significant reduction of symptoms and / or prolongation of survival time. However, such treatment is not without side effects. It is obvious that potent drugs can have severe adverse effects. The key factor is whether it succeeds as a favorable ratio of desired effect to achieve an undesirable side effect. This so-called "therapeutic index" makes the final decision on the use of each drug, especially of course of cytotoxic drugs.

Special care of the side effects of chemotherapy are to be considered when the treatment is probably not lead to a cure, but only a temporary improvement. It would be of little help to the patient if the disease-related symptoms improve with treatment-related side effects that were possibly worse, would be gained.

So if the implementation of chemotherapy will be discussed with you, must be considered from the beginning to the possible side effects, because only then can a decision can be made viable. Even for those affected, it is of great importance to know the expected side effects that occur regularly in the relevant drugs.

It is useful to distinguish between adverse events that occur relatively independent of the patient frequently, and those that are rare or observed only under special circumstances. With regularly expected side effects such as nausea and vomiting, a preventive treatment is necessary.

Discussion

Many cytotoxic drugs have similar or the same side effects, this is because these drugs are so rampant effect on fast-growing cells. Because cancer cells are created from the body's own cells, a targeted treatment with no effect on normal cells is hardly possible; other fast growing cells in the body are affected. These are mainly the formation of blood cells, mucous membranes and the hair follicles and the cells that form from which the nails. In addition, many of these drugs cause nausea and vomiting.

Below the main side effects of chemotherapy are described and explained. Of course, it gets the impression that it is very risky drugs, yes, "a veritable devil's work" is. In a sense this is true, of course, also. Consider, however, that almost all side effects that are caused by chemotherapy, can also occur with other drugs, of course not as often. And the greatest danger is not the side effects per se, but the ignorance of the side effects, as can almost all be avoided with appropriate care or alleviate. Accordingly, only use doctors with sufficient experience these substances. In this way can be very helpful in some cases the effects of use of these drugs, all without causing too much damage.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are among the most common and also one of the most unpleasant side effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy. They affect not only the acute patient comfort and limit him socially; they can also affect the often poor nutritional status of ...