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Chemotherapy as the drug-based cancer treatment involves the elimination of the disease by stopping cancer cells from division. Cancer cells divide at an accelerated rate and therefore need to be attacked powerfully in order to stop the invasion. Unfortunately, chemotherapy destroys other cells with a rapid division speed normally encountered with many body functions; the bone marrow, the hair follicles and the digestive tract will be the most affected. Hence, these are the anatomical elements most affected by chemotherapy effects. The most frequent side effects that occur during and after chemotherapy include myelosuppresion – decrease in the production of blood cells, mucositis – inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, and alopecia – hair loss.

Chemotherapy effects or side effects can be divided into two major groups as short and long term. Negative reactions to the treatment are normal, given the fact that powerful chemicals do disturb the functions of the system. It is not difficult to confuse drug side effects with symptoms of cancer. Symptoms are specific to the disease in fact, while the side effects represent natural adverse reactions to a powerful external invasion in the body. Side effects vary depending on the type of drugs used in the treatment, with the mention that one single form of medication will not trigger all the possible adverse reactions in a patient.

Generally speaking, chemotherapy affects those cells that divide at a quicker pace. Chemotherapy will thus affect the bone marrow responsible for blood cells production, the mouth, the intestines, the skin and the hair. Since hair is growing all the time, the skin is constantly renewing itself and the lining of the digestive system and the mouth have the same dynamics, then, the new cells result from a rapid and constant division occurring in these parts of the body. And, unfortunately, when cells are dividing, chemotherapy drugs attack them.

Chemotherapy effects and adverse reactions also vary from one patient to another. The way one goes through chemotherapy therefore differs immensely, depending on some factors specific to every case. These elements refer to the period of drug administration, the dose or amount of drug, the administration mode, the patient’s overall health condition, as well as the combination of the chemotherapy drug with other medicines. Some chemotherapy effects are serious medical conditions which require professional help; others, although bothersome, are not necessarily damaging to the patient’s health. It is also important to discuss the effects of chemotherapy with the health care provider in order to be aware of what lies ahead and be able to bear the treatment in a good psychological shape.

 

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