Coping with Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is an individual experience
Every person experiences chemotherapy differently, both physically and emotionally. Each person experiences side effects from chemotherapy differently, and different chemotherapy drugs cause different side effects. Fortunately, as the science of cancer treatment has advanced, so has the science of managing treatment side effects.
Whatever you experience, 记住,化疗给你的感觉和你是否从中受益之间没有关系.
Many people feel fine for the first few hours following chemotherapy. Usually, some reaction occurs about four to six hours later. However, some people don't react until 12 or even 24 to 48 hours after treatment. Some people experience almost all of the side effects described below, while others experience almost none.
We have many treatments to help you deal with side effects. 请让我们知道您的感受,以便我们解决您的问题并帮助您更舒适.
Your well-being is very important to us. 化疗的好处和可能产生的副作用之间有一个微妙的平衡. Please tell your doctor if you feel that the harm outweighs the benefit.
Before starting chemotherapy
Before starting chemotherapy we suggest that you take care of some of your basic health needs. If time permits, have your teeth cleaned before rather than while you are having chemotherapy. If you need major dental work, try to postpone it until after chemotherapy. If you need your teeth cleaned while receiving chemotherapy, please let your doctor or nurse know beforehand and discuss any concerns.
Emotional support
你可以让家人、朋友或支持你的人陪你参加化疗. 我们认识到,癌症会影响到你整个人,也会影响到你的家人和亲人.
To varying degrees, 所有癌症患者都在与应对和适应这些生活变化的挑战作斗争. At the Cancer Center, we have a number of programs to support you through the process, such as the Peer Support Program, support groups and individual counseling, that are available to all cancer patients.
Fever and infection
Chemotherapy lowers the number of white blood cells (WBCs) your body makes. White blood cells are made in the bone marrow and help fight against infection. Neutrophils are one type of WBC that fights infection. 通常你的中性粒细胞计数将决定你是否会按计划接受化疗.
A fever of 101° Fahrenheit (38.3° Celsius) or above, or chills with or without a fever, can be a serious sign of infection. You must call your cancer specialist if you experience these symptoms, even if it's at night or on the weekend.
An infection is most likely to occur when your neutrophil count is low. 化疗输注后7到12天,你最容易受到细菌感染. 大多数细菌感染都是由于你的身体无法抵抗胃肠道或皮肤上的正常细菌. Bacterial infections do not commonly result from being in a crowded place. 所以,如果你感觉很好,我们鼓励你继续出去看电影或出去吃饭.
However, 病毒感染,如感冒和流感是常见的,很容易从其他人传播. To reduce your chance of infection, wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with anyone who is ill during this time.
Practical hints regarding fever and infection
- If you have a fever of 101° Fahrenheit (38.3° Celsius) or above, with or without chills, call your doctor or nurse immediately. If you cannot reach your cancer specialist, go to an emergency room.
- Keep a thermometer in your home and know how to take your temperature. Do not eat, drink or smoke for 10 minutes before taking your temperature. Leave the thermometer under your tongue for three minutes. If you are still unsure of how to take your temperature, ask your doctor or nurse.
- Call your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you develop a cough, sore throat, pain or burning when you urinate.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water to prevent infection.
- Avoid rectal intercourse, tampons, douches, enemas and rectal thermometers.
- Do not eat raw foods such as sushi and sashimi, Caesar salad or milk shakes made with raw eggs, until you complete chemotherapy and your blood counts have returned to adequate levels. Raw foods may carry bacteria that can lead to infection. Make sure to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables.
- Wash hands and cutting boards well after food preparation.
- Always tell your doctor before going to the dentist.
The table below will help you understand your temperature in both Fahrenheit and Centigrade:
Fahrenheit |
Centigrade |
98.6° |
37° |
99° |
37.2° |
100° |
37.8° |
101° |
38.3° |
102° |
38.9° |
Remember, always call your doctor if you have a temperature of 101° Fahrenheit (38.3° Centigrade) or higher.
Flu-like symptoms
Around the third day following a chemotherapy treatment, some people may experience flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and pains. 如果你感到这些疼痛,你可以服用非处方药物,如泰诺或Advil. If necessary, contact your doctor for stronger medication.
Nausea
止吐药或抗恶心药是用来预防和治疗化疗引起的恶心和呕吐的. Not all chemotherapy drugs cause nausea. Many anti-nausea drugs are available, and your doctor or nurse will recommend what is expected to work best for you.
If possible, have your prescriptions filled before your treatment day. 如果你的药物没有给你足够的缓解,或者如果你有抗恶心药物的副作用,请打电话给你的十大赌博平台排行榜或护士.
Practical hints for nausea
- Eat a small, light meal before your chemotherapy appointment. Most people do better if they have something in their stomach.
- Eat what sounds good to you. 一般来说,米饭、面包、土豆、热谷物和布丁等淀粉类食物都是可以接受的.
- Try not to skip meals. An empty stomach will worsen all symptoms. If you don't feel like sitting down to a meal, try nibbling on something that appeals to you.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Herbal teas, water, sports drinks and diluted juices are recommended more than soda.
- Avoid unappealing smells.
- Freeze meals so you don't have to cook. Ask your family and friends to help with meals, especially following chemotherapy when you are most likely to feel nauseated.
For more practical tips on dealing with nausea, schedule a free appointment with the dietitian by contacting the Patient and Family Cancer Support Center.
Fatigue
Chemotherapy can make you feel tired. This fatigue may or may not worsen as you are treated with more cycles of chemotherapy.
Most people have to make some adjustments in work and family responsibilities; the degree of change is very individual. Try to balance activity and rest. As much as possible, try to maintain your everyday activities. It can be very beneficial to both your physical and emotional recovery. The fatigue will go away after you recover from chemotherapy.
The Patient and Family Cancer Support Center also hosts monthly fatigue management workshops to address these concerns.
Practical hints for fatigue
- Plan your activities, such as grocery shopping, for a time when you feel the best.
- If you have children, rest when they are napping. When you feel most tired, consider hiring a babysitter for a few hours so that you can relax or take a nap.
- Take naps early in the day so you do not disturb your sleep pattern at night.
- Consider exercising every day or several times a week. Good forms of exercise include swimming, walking and yoga. Contact the Patient and Family Cancer Support Center for information on free exercise classes.
Hair loss
许多人认为脱发是化疗最困难的方面之一. 不是所有的化疗药物都会导致脱发,所以和你的十大赌博平台排行榜或护士谈谈会发生什么.
Most often, hair loss begins about two to three weeks after starting chemotherapy. Some people will lose relatively little hair, while others may lose the hair on their head, eyelashes and eyebrows, as well as other body hair. You may want to cover your head with a wig, scarf, hat or turban, or you may not want to cover your head at all. Do what makes you most comfortable. Many people choose different head coverings for different situations.
We have many resources to assist you during this time, including the Friend to Friend Gift Shop and the Look Good... Feel Better! program. Please visit the Patient and Family Cancer Support Center for additional referrals and resources for wig and head covering boutiques.
If you decide to buy a wig, try to buy one while you still have your own hair so you can better match color and style. You may want to ask your doctor for a prescription for a "cranial prosthesis" (i.e., a wig), 因为有些保险公司只会为戴假发的人支付颅骨假体的处方.
Your hair will begin to grow back after you stop chemotherapy. It usually takes from two to three months to see the change from no hair to some hair. Your new hair may be slightly different in color and texture than your old hair. Often, the new hair will be baby soft and curly, but will generally return to its original texture after some time.
Practical hints for hair loss
- It is not always necessary to buy a real wig. Synthetic wigs can look as good and are less expensive, easier to care for, lighter in weight and may be more comfortable to wear.
- Before possible hair loss, some people like to cut their hair short. The hair loss won't be quite so shocking if there is less hair to lose.
- 在你的枕头上放一条毛巾,这样当你早上掉头发的时候就更容易清理了.
- Buy a drain catch for your shower. Other people choose to shave their head hair when hair loss begins.
- Refer to our wig information sheet for places to shop near you.
- Refer to the Friend to Friend Gift Shop or the Cancer Resource Center for more information.
- When buying a wig, take a friend for emotional support and maybe even a laugh!
Appetite and taste changes
During chemotherapy, you may experience taste and appetite changes and a heightened sensitivity to odors. Don't worry if you don't have an appetite the first few days or a week following chemotherapy; it is not unusual. As you feel better, your appetite will improve.
当食物反流到食道时,打嗝或烧灼感可能会加重恶心. Please report these symptoms to your physician or nurse so that they can be treated. You may find that you can only tolerate certain foods. We encourage you to eat what appeals to you during this time, and to drink enough fluids: eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses per day, more if you have a fever or diarrhea.
健康营养的建议包括低脂肪饮食(少于20%的脂肪)和高全谷物饮食, fruits and vegetables, and plant-based proteins. Some people want to begin dietary changes during active therapy; others prefer to wait until chemotherapy is completed. Some people prefer small, slow changes, while others benefit from a "major overhaul." We encourage you to become informed and make healthy dietary and lifestyle changes.
Many people gain weight while on chemotherapy for reasons that are not well understood. Again, if you have concerns about nutrition, please consult our staff dietitian.
Practical hints for taste and appetite changes
- Eat what appeals to you during this time.
- Eat foods that are warm rather than hot.
- Avoid places where food is being cooked, such as the kitchen at dinnertime.
- Avoid unappealing smells.
- Try to drink eight to 10 glasses of fluid a day.
Diarrhea or constipation
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause diarrhea. If you have more than three or four watery stools in 24 hours or blood in your stool, call your doctor or nurse. 不要使用非处方抗腹泻药物,如易莫停,除非你的十大赌博平台排行榜或护士建议这样做.
Some chemotherapy and anti-nausea drugs can cause constipation. 此外,你可能更容易便秘,因为你的活动水平和饮食已经改变. If you experience constipation, contact your doctor or nurse the same day.
Practical hints for constipation
- To help prevent constipation, drink eight to 10 glasses of fluid a day.
- Take a stool softener (not a laxative) such as ducosate sodium, also known as Colace, one tablet once or twice a day. Senekot or Senekot-S also may be suggested. Ask your doctor or nurse for a recommendation.
- Stay as active as you can. Consistent regular exercise can reduce constipation.
- If you can tolerate them, try high-fiber foods such as prunes, bran, fruits and vegetables.
Practical hints for diarrhea
- 为了补充流失的水分,每天喝8到10杯8盎司的不含咖啡因的液体.
- If your rectum is sore, use soft toilet paper and A&D ointment (used for diaper rash in infants) or Anusol, which can help numb the rectum and soothe soreness.
Mouth sores
Another side effect of chemotherapy can be mouth sores and discomfort when swallowing. Mouth sores occur because chemotherapy not only destroys cancer cells, but also rapidly dividing cells, such as those that line your mouth and esophagus. 如果出现口腔疼痛或吞咽困难,请致电十大赌博平台排行榜. A special mouth rinse may be prescribed.
Practical hints for mouth sores
- Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush three times daily.
- Rinse your mouth with a solution of one teaspoon baking soda and one teaspoon of salt, diluted in a glass of lukewarm water, three or four times daily.
- Most commercial mouthwashes contain alcohol. Ask your health care provider about mouthwashes that are not irritating to your mouth.
- Ulcer-ease is a commercial product that may provide temporary relief from sores.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy, which means disease or dysfunction of the nerves, can happen to some people. 由化疗引起的神经病变类型的一些最常见症状包括刺痛和灼烧, numbness or pain in the affected areas, loss of your sense of position – knowing where a body part is without looking at it – and loss of balance. The most commonly affected areas are the tips of fingers and toes, although other areas are sometimes affected as well.
Tell your doctor about any symptoms that you experience. 早期发现和治疗是控制症状和防止进一步神经损伤的最好方法.
Practical hints regarding neuropathy
- Tight shoes and socks can worsen pain and tingling, and may lead to sores that won't heal. Wear soft, loose cotton socks and padded shoes.
- If you have burning pain, cool your feet or hands in cold, but not icy, water for 15 minutes twice a day.
- Massage your hands and feet, or have someone massage them for you, to improve circulation, stimulate nerves and temporarily relieve pain.
Menopause
For women, chemotherapy may temporarily stop your periods or result in permanent menopause. The effects depend on the type of chemotherapy administered, your age and how close you are to naturally occurring menopause.
With menopause, you may experience symptoms such as hot flashes, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, mood changes and sleeping disturbances. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or nurse to get information and treatment for the symptoms.
If your periods continue during treatment, they are likely to change in duration, flow and regularity. The changes may be temporary, lasting only while on chemotherapy, or the changes may lead to menopause.
Practical hints for menopausal symptoms
- If you have breast cancer, we DON'T recommend hormone replacement therapy.
- Eat soy products or take vitamin E (400 units only) to reduce hot flashes.
- Your doctor may recommend prescription medications for hot flashes.
- Wear light cotton pajamas to help prevent overheating when sleeping.
- Use vaginal moisturizers on a regular basis or other water-based lubricants as needed, especially during and before sexual activity. These products will help with vaginal dryness and irritation.
- Try an opened vitamin E capsule or olive oil spread on the vagina to increase lubrication.
- 有一些处方药物可以给阴道组织局部剂量的雌激素来治疗阴道干燥.
Questions and concerns
If you have a question or concern, staff will take your message and your nurse or physician will call you back. Please allow two days notice for medication refills.
If your call is urgent, please tell us immediately when you call.
If you are calling at night, on a weekend or a holiday, please call the same clinic number. 您将与客服人员通话,他们会记下您的姓名和电话号码. A physician will be paged and will call you back. Please be prepared to tell the answering service:
- Your name and doctor
- Your type of cancer
- The type of chemotherapy and the date you last received treatment
- The names of any other medications you are taking
- Your pharmacy's phone number
请记住,我们在这里是为了让你在这段时间不那么困难,有任何问题或担忧请打电话给我们.
UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. 它仅用于教育目的,并不打算取代您的十大赌博平台排行榜或其他医疗保健提供者的建议. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.