What should you know about effects of chemo?

Chemotherapy targets cells that divide quickly. Cancer cells are a target, but some healthy cells also divide quickly, including cells in the mouth, digestive tract, hair roots, and bone marrow. This can lead to tiredness, nausea, reduced appetite, mouth soreness, diarrhoea or constipation, and hair thinning or loss. Some medicines can cause tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, skin changes, or changes in taste.

Blood-count changes may make infection, bruising, or bleeding more likely, depending on which blood cells are affected. Effects can begin during treatment or after a session, and some may appear later. Your regimen determines what to expect, so a symptom list from someone else may not match your experience.

Keep a simple record of symptoms, their timing, your temperature if advised, and any medicines you take. Tell the oncology team before changing a dose, stopping treatment, or starting a supplement. They may offer anti-sickness medicine, mouth-care advice, bowel treatments, nutrition support, or changes to the treatment plan.

Sip fluids as recommended, choose small meals when appetite is low, and use gentle mouth care. Wash your hands regularly and follow the infection precautions given by your team. Rest between activities, but keep moving gently if you feel able. Ask before receiving vaccines or taking over-the-counter medicines.

Contact your cancer team promptly for a fever or feeling suddenly unwell, chills, a new cough, breathlessness, uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhoea, inability to drink, unusual bleeding, black stools, severe mouth pain, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Use the emergency service if you have severe trouble breathing, confusion, collapse, or bleeding that will not stop. Follow the temperature threshold and after-hours instructions supplied for your regimen, because these can differ between treatments.

Which effects are expected with my medicines, and when should they start or settle? What number should I call outside clinic hours? Which symptoms require urgent assessment? Can I work, exercise, travel, or eat normally during treatment? Which medicines, supplements, vaccines, or foods should I avoid?