Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Managing Side Effects
Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Managing Side Effects
They’re usually short-term and go away after you’re done with treatment. You can take steps to ease them. Report them to your medical team so that they can be treated promptly. Doctors can reduce your dose and delay or stop treatment to keep symptoms from getting worse.
Nausea and vomiting. Feeling like you’re going to throw up or actually doing it can be a problem on treatment days. Your doctor will give you medicine to keep these symptoms at bay.
Hair loss. Follicles, the tiny structures that hair grows out of, contain some of the fastest-growing cells in your body. So chemo attacks them, too. Within a few weeks of starting treatment, you may lose some or all of your hair. The good news is that it’s almost always temporary. It can make you feel better to cut or shave before it starts to fall out. If you opt to go bald, use an electric shaver so you don’t cut your scalp. If you get a wig, shop for it while you still have hair so you can match it to your current hair color.
Bleeding or clotting problems. Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding. They plug damaged blood vessels and help your blood clot. If you don’t have enough of them, you may bleed or bruise more easily than usual, even from a minor injury. Your doctor will check your platelet count often during your treatment. If it falls too low, you may need a transfusion.
Loss of appetite. Instead of three large meals per day, have five or six small ones. Avoid greasy, salty, sweet, or spicy food that might make you feel queasy. If even the smell of food is a turnoff, eat cold meals instead.
Diarrhea. Frequent bowel movements that are loose or watery can get in the way of your daily life. They can also drain too much liquid from your body. Skip dairy and high-fiber, greasy, or spicy foods. Drink water or suck on ice chips, and call you doctor if your symptoms last more than a day.
Tips to Help You Manage Side Effects
In this article
Chemotherapy continued...
They’re usually short-term and go away after you’re done with treatment. You can take steps to ease them. Report them to your medical team so that they can be treated promptly. Doctors can reduce your dose and delay or stop treatment to keep symptoms from getting worse.
Nausea and vomiting. Feeling like you’re going to throw up or actually doing it can be a problem on treatment days. Your doctor will give you medicine to keep these symptoms at bay.
Hair loss. Follicles, the tiny structures that hair grows out of, contain some of the fastest-growing cells in your body. So chemo attacks them, too. Within a few weeks of starting treatment, you may lose some or all of your hair. The good news is that it’s almost always temporary. It can make you feel better to cut or shave before it starts to fall out. If you opt to go bald, use an electric shaver so you don’t cut your scalp. If you get a wig, shop for it while you still have hair so you can match it to your current hair color.
Bleeding or clotting problems. Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding. They plug damaged blood vessels and help your blood clot. If you don’t have enough of them, you may bleed or bruise more easily than usual, even from a minor injury. Your doctor will check your platelet count often during your treatment. If it falls too low, you may need a transfusion.
Loss of appetite. Instead of three large meals per day, have five or six small ones. Avoid greasy, salty, sweet, or spicy food that might make you feel queasy. If even the smell of food is a turnoff, eat cold meals instead.
Diarrhea. Frequent bowel movements that are loose or watery can get in the way of your daily life. They can also drain too much liquid from your body. Skip dairy and high-fiber, greasy, or spicy foods. Drink water or suck on ice chips, and call you doctor if your symptoms last more than a day.
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