Cytostatic drugs attack only those cells that divide particularly quickly. These primarily include cancer cells, but also some healthy cells. If these are damaged by chemotherapy, unpleasant side effects can occur and the quality of life of the affected patients can be significantly reduced. Therefore, in each individual case, the benefit of the treatment must always be weighed against the reduction in quality of life that the patient must accept as a result of the therapy.
Short-term and long-term side effects
Some of the side effects may occur within hours or days of starting chemotherapy. However, others may not become apparent for years. The severity of side effects depends primarily on the dosage as well as the type of cytostatic drugs used. However, the patient’s physical and psychological condition also play an important role. Today, many side effects can be significantly reduced by accompanying measures. This is especially true for side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
Multiple side effects possible
The most common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting and hair loss. However, in addition, the following side effects may also occur:
- Loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
- Nail changes
- Chills, sweating, fever
- States of exhaustion (fatigue)
- Blood formation disorders
- Increased risk of infection
In the long term, the treatment may cause organic damage, such as to the kidneys, liver, lungs or heart. Similarly, a disturbance in the function of the gonads may occur, through which the patient’s ability to reproduce may be impaired.
Hair loss
Because hair cells in the body divide particularly frequently, hair loss is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Patients who are likely to experience this side effect before beginning therapy can have a prescription for a wig filled directly upon request. After the end of treatment, hair usually grows back without problems, so chemotherapy does not cause permanent damage to hair cells.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are among the most common side effects of chemotherapy, along with hair loss. Vomiting is a natural protective reflex of the body: this tries to get rid of the cytostatic drugs, which are often classified as toxins, as quickly as possible. Today, however, these side effects are usually much less severe than they were a few years ago. This is because patients are usually given concomitant medications that mitigate the unpleasant side effects. Frequently, the drugs are not only used in acute cases, but are prescribed prophylactically.
Increased risk of infection
During chemotherapy, the effect of the treatment on the white blood cells (leukocytes) is checked again and again. These are responsible for immune defense in the body. If the number of leukocytes drops, the risk of infection increases. If the immune defense is weakened too much, chemotherapy may have to be interrupted or at least the breaks between the individual therapy cycles may have to be extended. Patients who are expected to be at increased risk of infection from the outset are often hospitalized.
Disruption of hematopoiesis
Cytostatic drugs can negatively affect the formation of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the bone marrow. They are responsible for oxygen transport in the body. If the number of erythrocytes drops sharply, anemia occurs. This manifests itself in impaired performance and increasing fatigue. In most cases, the anemia resolves itself after the end of treatment. If the disorder is very severe, transfusions may help to eliminate the anemia more quickly. In rare cases, permanent restriction of blood formation may occur.
Fatigue
Many cancer patients struggle with fatigue, exhaustion, and depression. While it was once thought that fatigue was simply due to anemia, it is now known that the problem is more complex. Among other things, disease processing also plays a decisive role.Exactly how physical and psychological factors interact in fatigue syndrome is currently not definitively understood.
Risks of chemotherapy
Most side effects of chemotherapy subside relatively quickly after the end of treatment; for example, hair grows back and possible damage to the nails also disappears. However, permanent damage can also occur, which is particularly severe in younger patients. Some cytostatic drugs cause damage to the nerves, others damage the heart muscle cells or kidney function. It is also possible for chemotherapy to disrupt the function of the gonads and make the patient infertile. You should discuss how high the risk is in each individual case with your attending physician. The cytostatic drugs also increase the risk of a second illness. This is because some of the substances can themselves be cancer-promoting, albeit with a long time lag. However, the risk of a second disease is much lower than the risk of dying from the untreated first disease.
