The side effects of cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment and may be different for each patient. Doctors and nurses explain possible side effects of treatment to patients. They suggest ways before and after treatment to avoid side effects.
Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for lung cancer. After lung surgery, air and fluid tend to accumulate in the chest cavity. Patients often need help turning, coughing, and breathing deeply. These movements are important for treatment. Because it helps the remaining lung tissue to expand, and excess air prevents fluid accumulation. Chest pain, shortness of breath, are common side effects of lung surgery. Patients may need weeks and sometimes months to regain their old energy and strength. The side effects of chemotherapy vary depending on the drug given. As a general rule, chemotherapy affects rapidly proliferating cells. Blood cells that provide coagulation during bleeding, defend against diseases and carry oxygen to the organs in our body are cells that multiply rapidly. Normally, since our defense system is strong when they enter our body, microbes that do not cause disease can easily cause us to catch febrile diseases as the cells that provide our defense after chemotherapy are reduced. During this period, we should pay attention to the raw vegetables and fruits that we wash and eat. While washing such vegetables, we should keep them in vinegar water for 15-20 minutes and then rinse them and take them to the table. Make sure your food is cooked on the same day. If you have a fever above 38 degrees and exceeding an hour, you should definitely contact your doctor. If you have a fever and your blood cells are found to be low in the blood count, you will need to be treated with antibiotics. This decrease in the number of your blood cells will go away on its own within a week to 10 days and the cells will reach their normal numbers. Another group of rapidly proliferating cells are digestive system cells and hair root cells. Therefore, hair falls out after the first week, usually after chemotherapy. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mouth sores may develop in patients, almost all of these side effects can be controlled with medication. These side effects are short-lived, the complaints of the patients disappear before the next chemotherapy starts. Daily walks keep you fit. In this period, methods that include light-paced walks, meditation and exercise such as yoga may be beneficial in preventing fatigue and increasing the patient’s quality of life.
Radiotherapy, like chemotherapy, affects both cancerous and normal cells. During the period of radiotherapy, patients should rest as much as possible. The skin in the treated area may become red, dry, sensitive and itchy. Towards the end of the treatment, the same area becomes more wet and runny. This is a reaction of the skin to the beam. This area should be in contact with the air as much as possible, tight underwear and clothes should be avoided during this period. During the period of radiation therapy, this area should not come into contact with water. No lotion or cream should be used for this area without asking the doctor. The effects of radiation therapy on the skin are temporary. But the degree of influence varies from patient to patient. Sometimes the skin color in the area that has received radiation therapy may remain darker than normal. Brain irradiation is performed in metastatic disease, especially in brain metastases. This process lasts for 1 week or 10 days, and side effects such as nausea and vomiting may develop due to radiation therapy. For these conditions, the drugs to be taken before and during the treatment are explained to the patient by the radiotherapist. Patients receiving radiotherapy to the brain may experience headache, skin changes, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, problems with memory and thinking time. Many side effects go away with time. Other common side effects of radiotherapy; dryness in the throat, pain, difficulty in swallowing, fatigue, tissue changes in the treated area and loss of appetite.
Cancer can cause decreased appetite. Some patients experience an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Nausea, vomiting and mouth sores, which are mostly side effects of treatments, make it difficult for the patient to eat. But nutrition is very important. Meals must contain sufficient calories and protein. Thus, weight loss and tissue repair can be achieved. Patients receiving treatment will feel more energetic and better if they eat regularly and adequately, and the side effects of drugs will be less common.
