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Chemotherapy Side Effects

Monday, June 6, 2011 9:17:00 PM Posted by Cancer Centers

By Anabel BL Fisher

Chemotherapy side effects are inevitable. It is considered as one of the most famous methods of killing cells that causes cancer to the human body. Chemical compounds are being combined and used to kill microorganisms in the body. Though an effective treatment, chemotherapy still has side effects which affect other areas of the body. For brain cancer, one side effect is hair loss. It does not only mean hair on the head but also on other areas such as armpits, face, or even in the groin and sensitive areas as well. Others may get to experience nausea and vomiting. It usually occurs immediately after receiving the treatment and can last for several hours.

Changes in bone marrow are one of many chemotherapy side effects. Responsible in the production of red and white blood cells and platelets, the bone marrow's functions which includes carrying oxygen and fight infections, are being interrupted by the chemotherapy process. Also, it may interfere with the human body's capacity to stop excessive bleeding and may weaken the patient.

Aside from the above mentioned, chemotherapy may also affect a person's thinking and memory. This is sometimes called as "chemo-fog" or "chemo-brain". Researches and studies have suggested that the chemicals produced by the body are responsible for the brain function changes.

There are many factors that a chemotherapy session affects. One of these is sexual ability which is reduces during treatment and may resume after. One issue however, affects women as it may cause problems in terms of infertility. The drug exposure may reduce a woman patient's ability to conceive while the treatment ongoing.

Despite the chemotherapy side effects mentioned above, some of these can be prevented if proper methods are used. A patient must be physically conditioned. Doing so may reduce the severity of the treatment's adverse reaction to the human body. However, the treatment varies from person to person. Some may experience more side effects while others may have less.

The main goal of a chemotherapy treatment is always to cure cancer. It means that the tumor or cancer gradually disappears and should never return to the human body. However, it does not always happen because cancer depends on the patient's response to the treatment. If it is impossible to cure the cancer, at least chemotherapy is being done to control it or stop the cancer cells from spreading. It can help the patient feel better and live longer. The cancer cells may not completely disappear but rather controlled and managed like other diseases through maintenance. While there are cases that the cancer may have completely disappeared, it sometimes goes back when the human body becomes weak and prone to cancer cells again.

Though not normal, chemotherapy side effects cannot be prevented easily because it is part of the treatment. It is always important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and complete body maintenance to avoid any diseases from coming into the body. Remember that cancer is one of the most deadly diseases and not only that, it is also costly but there is always no assurance of being totally cured.

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