General information
Since all cytostatic drugs damage normal cells as well as tumour cells, side effects of chemotherapy are inevitable. However, these are accepted as only an aggressive therapy can fight the tumour. However, it is rarely possible to predict the severity of the side effects, as these vary from patient to patient.
The type of side effects also depends strongly on the medication used. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors also belong to the chemotherapeutic drugs. In contrast to the classical chemotherapeutic drugs, however, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors act specifically and thus cause fewer side effects.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors also belong to the group of chemotherapeutic drugs. In contrast to the classical chemotherapeutic drugs, however, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors act in a targeted manner and thus cause fewer side effects. Acute toxicity can occur if the intravenous catheter is not placed correctly and the chemo can therefore run “para”, i.e. not into the vein but into the surrounding tissue.
This causes severe pain, which is accompanied by a skin reaction (redness, blisters). This can occur with varying time delays: Immediate reaction: nausea, vomiting, fever, allergic reactions, drop in blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, phlebitis: Changes in blood cells, inflammation of mucous membranes, gastrointestinal diseases with diarrhoea and loss of appetite, hair loss, skin changes, fertility disorders, lung diseases, liver diseases and kidney function damage. Some of the above mentioned side effects are explained in more detail below:
Individual side effects
Our blood cells are produced in the bone marrow from the so-called stem cells. These react very sensitively to chemotherapy and are damaged to such an extent that they can no longer produce sufficient cells for our blood. Primarily affected are the white blood cells (here most of all the so-called neutrophil granulocytes) and the blood platelets (thrombocytes).
These two components of the blood have decisive tasks for the organism – the neutrophil granulocytes are important for our defence against infections, the thrombocytes play a major role in stopping bleeding. If these two components are reduced, we are more susceptible to infections and bleed even from minor injuries. Since we have practically no functioning immune system during this time, normally mild infections can become life-threatening.
Therefore it is important to keep the risk of infection as low as possible – the patient himself, but also the people around him should wear mouthguards and gloves. If, despite all precautions, an infection does occur, one must act quickly and treat with a wide range of antibiotics. For some years now, it has been possible to increase the number of neutrophil granulocytes with a new drug (G-CSF).
Thus we are able to build up a competent defence system again more quickly. Of course, the red blood cells (the erythrocytes) are also affected by the chemotherapy. The decrease of the erythrocytes leads to side effects of anaemia, the so-called haemoglobin value falls.
Since the erythrocytes transport the vital oxygen, which is indispensable for our energy production, the anaemia is accompanied by a drop in performance, the patients are tired and exhausted. Some patients complain about the side effects of the continuing loss of appetite. The food tastes bland (just like “cardboard”) and any enjoyment of eating is lost.
This automatically leads to weight loss. The side effects listed here are generally reversible after stopping the chemotherapy, i.e. they usually disappear completely. However, rare complications can also occur that cause permanent damage.
In this case, the heart muscles are attacked by the chemotherapy, so that they lose part of their ability to contract and thus trigger a cardiac insufficiency. Accordingly, chemotherapy should be considered twice if the heart disease is already present, but also if the patient is older. In the further course of treatment, the heart function should be well investigated.
Most cytostatic drugs are excreted via the kidneys. This means that they inevitably have to pass through the kidney and may have a toxic (poisonous) effect. Especially affected are the so-called renal tubules, through which the urine flows and is concentrated here.
In addition, important substances that would otherwise be lost through the urine are also brought back into the circulation from the tubules (reabsorbed). On the other hand, toxic substances for the body are also excreted through the urine. A damaged kidney can no longer fulfil these functions.
There is a certain risk of side effects, such as the fact that touch is no longer perceived correctly or the sense of touch no longer functions fully. An unpleasant tingling sensation can also be a result of chemotherapy. A possible damage to our brain has not yet been proven.
Take an interest in the subject of nerves. Paradoxically, chemotherapy, although used to cure cancer, can cause the growth of a second tumor years after treatment. Thank God this “side effect” is very rare.
It should not be forgotten, however, that even after a successful cancer cure, the probability of getting cancer again is the same as for a healthy person. So it is not zero. As rare further late effects, there can also be side effects in the lungs (in the form of so-called pulmonary fibrosis), liver and vascular system (high blood pressure).
