Cancer is one of the worst things that can happen to a person. People who’ve had it in the past and have fought against it say that they wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy. Cancer includes regular radiations and chemotherapy sessions, both of which are not a walk in the park.
People who go through chemotherapy sessions will tell you how draining it is and the side effects associated with it. However there is no rulebook for each side effect and it can vary from one patient to the other.
The following symptoms are very common:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Alopecia (Hair loss)
- Fatigue
- A low number of white blood cells, leading to a condition called neutropenia. White blood cells assist in fighting a number of infections. If the count becomes low then the immunity of the person will reduce significantly.
- A person may start suffering from anemia. This is a condition caused by a low number of red blood cells. These blood cells are the carriers of oxygen throughout our body and once anemia starts to develop, a number of health problems come into the picture.
- Thrombocytopenia is also caused at times due to chemotherapy. Thrombocytopenia leads to a low number of platelets. The platelets help with blood clotting and help in preventing incessant bleeding.
- Chemotherapy leads to troubles with memory. A person can become forgetful and forget to do her everyday chores.
There can be a few more serious side effects like mouth sores that refuse to go, etc. You can do a detailed research before you start with your chemotherapy. Speak to your doctor or look up trusted websites which will give you an idea on what you can expect. More importantly, find out the cost for Chemotherapy in india, and see if your insurance plan covers it.
Talk to your doctor
The importance of talking one on one with your physician cannot be emphasized enough. He/She can guide you about what you can actually do to reduce the side effects associated with chemotherapy. Talking in terms of the masses, for most people the chemo side effects will reduce or disappear after the treatment is over. However on the negative side, some side effects will take longer to subside and some may never go away at all.
Whenever you go to a doctor, make sure you have a list of questions ready to ask your doctor. If possible, take someone along with you who can write down the answers and ask things that you might have forget.
This way, you can be more aware of what’s happening with you and your family members will help you by reminding things prescribed by the doctor.
Avoid infections:
When it comes to get a strong dose of chemo, you stand as a very easy target for infection because your immunity system becomes weak. There are many ways with which you can protect yourself. The first and foremost rule is to wash your hands frequently with an antiseptic soap and water. This way you will at least know that you did everything you could to keep a problem at bay.
