Side Effects

Blood Counts An OncoLink visitor asks questions about blood counts (Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia, Anemia). Why does chemotherapy affect my blood counts? Chemotherapy kills both cancerous cells and other normal cells in your body. The...
Constipation Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," What is Constipation? What can I do to prevent constipation? When should I call my doctor about my constipation? How is constipation treated? Karen T. Bruchak, RN, MSN, MBA responds: ...
Diarrhea caused by disease or the side effects of the treatment Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," What is diarrhea? What can I do to prevent it? When should I call my doctor about it? How is it Treated? Karen Bruchak, RN, MSN, MBA, OncoLink Editorial Assistant responds: What is...
Exposure to People After Vaccines Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," How long should a neutropenic person stay away from someone who has received a vaccine, regular flu shot, H1N1, or infants who received their regular vaccinations? I see that it says to "avoid" recently...
Fatigue after Ovarian Cancer Treatment My mother has stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. She can no longer eat and has a feeding tube. Since coming home she seems very tired, frustrated, and does not wish to engage in any activities. Do you have any hints how we could help her? It is a real...
Hair Loss/Alopecia An OncoLink visitor asks about hair loss due to chemotherapy: Why does chemotherapy cause hair loss? Do all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss? Which chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss? Is the hair loss permanent? What can I do if...
Hair Loss/Alopecia - OncoLink Nurse Notes General questions about hair loss due to cancer treatment. Gale Snyder-Port RN, MSN, OCN, CNA, Janice Gibson, RN, MSN, OCN and Kathleen Spurrier, RNC, OCN of the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania respond: ...
How can I protect my skin during and after radiation therapy? Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," How can I protect my skin during and after radiation therapy? Each time radiation therapy is delivered, small amounts are absorbed by the skin over the area being treated. Over time, redness...
Hypercalcemia in Cancer Patients Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My mother has breast cancer with spread to her bones. Recently she became disoriented and started to hallucinate. The doctor said that this is due to the high calcium level in her blood. Is this common in...
Information about Frey Syndrome Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My husband recently had a surgery to remove cancer in his parotid gland. Ever since, he has been having problems with excessive sweating and flushing in his cheek and behind his ear. His doctor told him...
Nausea and Vomiting Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," What is nausea and vomiting? What can I do to prevent it? When should I call my doctor about it? How is it treated? Karen Bruchak, RN, MSN, MBA, of the Abramson Cancer Center of the...
Neutropenic Precautions Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Are there any standard protocols involving neutropenic precautions while in the hospital? Presently, at my hospital, they consider neutropenia a valid reason for isolation in leukemics only, and solid tumor patients...
Questions about Chemotherapy-related Fatigue Can chemotherapy-related fatigue last 5 months after treatment has ended? I recently returned to work as a teacher and felt dizzy and off balance. Can the fatigue reoccur slightly after returning to work? Lora Packel MS,...
Spinal Cord Compression Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My father recently developed spinal cord compression from his known lung cancer. My questions are: What are the major causes? How often do you see spinal cord compression in general? What are the...
Treatment for Alopecia Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," The literature is full of abstracts related to various forms of scalpcooling to prevent or minimize alopecia during chemotherapy. None of myoncologists seem interested in this. Can you provide any...
Tumor induced hypercalcemia Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I have searched your database for tumor induced hypercalcemia, and nothing exists on this subject.I would like to know if you have any current information on this metabolic disorder to read? Thanks...