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Most chemotherapeutic agents act on rapidly growing cells in the body, such as the tumor cell. Some normal cells which grow rapidly are also affected by chemotherapy. These include the hair follicle, the lining of the mouth, the GI tract, and the Bone Marrow. Thus, many chemotherapeutic drugs may produce occasional diarrhea, mouth soreness, hair loss and bone marrow suppression.
CHEMOTHERAPY DRUG SIDE EFFECTS
HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES
OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, P.A.
A Commitment to Care. A Promise of Hope.Located in Morristown and Parsippany, New Jersey
Bone marrow suppression is often the most serious side effect of chemotherapy. Blood cells which are made in the bone marrow are responsible for fighting infection (white blood cells), carrying oxygen (red blood cells), and causing blood to clot (platelets). A reduction in the number of these blood cells (bone marrow suppression) can thus lead to an increased risk of bleeding or infection. Should these effects occur, they can be treated with blood products (transfusions) and antibiotics. Your doctors will ask you to report any fevers (usually 101 or greater) or chills which may be an indication of an infection.
Hair loss is a side effect of cancer treatment feared and noticed by many patients; however, not every agent causes hair to fall out. Severity can range from these treatments which are benign to hair to those which cause thinning to drugs which cause one to become bald. These effects are temporary and one's hair will return upon completion of therapy.
HOANNJ can provide recommendations for places to purchase wigs, and many insurance companies will even reimburse for the cost of such a product. HOANNJ will provide a prescription to accompany the form to receive reimbursement for a wig purchase.
Some chemotherapeutic agents may also cause irritation of the skin if injected outside a vein, and in some cases the drugs may lead to either temporary or permanent sterility in men and women or menstrual irregularity in women.
Although normal body cells may be affected by these drugs, the normal cells are able to regenerate and re-grow and repair this damage, whereas the tumor cells may be less capable of regeneration and may not be able to repair this damage. The desired effect of chemotherapy is to destroy tumor cells permanently while only temporarily affecting normal cells.
For mouth soreness careful and attentive oral hygiene can help reduce the severity and duration of mouth soreness. One should brush their teeth after meals and before bed time. Rinses of water and salt or of water and baking soda can be helpful. Avoid mouth washes containing alcohol if there are sores present in your mouth. If pain is excruciating and you are unable to eat, please call the office for a prescription.
The following is a list of potential side effects associated with the drugs you will receive. Many of these side effects are rare and not anticipated. Your physician can explain which of these side effects are more common.
Unanticipated side effects may occur which have not been reported. If you have any unusual side effects, please report them immediately to your physician.
In an attempt to avoid side effects, your physician will examine you and obtain laboratory tests to determine the effects of your treatment and alter the drug doses if necessary.
To view specific possible side effects of commonly used chemotherapy medications click here.
Mailing Address:
MORRISTOWN: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, 100 Madison Avenue, P.O. Box 1089, Morristown, NJ 07962
PARSIPPANY: Hematology-Oncology Associates of Northern New Jersey at Saint Clare's Center, 3219 Rte. 46 East, Suite 108, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
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