Side Effects
Information about common side effects of chemotherapy medications and tips for managing them.
Constipation
This handout answers questions about and offers tips for managing constipation.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools three or more times a day that may or may not cause pain or discomfort in the abdomen and/or rectum. Because diarrhea can cause many problems, including dehydration, loss of important nutrients, weight loss, and fatigue, it should never be ignored or left untreated. This hand-out answers questions about and offers tips for managing diarrhea.
Nail and Skin Care
Treatment for cancer can affect the nails and skin in some patients. This article offers tips for managing nail and skin changes during chemotherapy.
Guide to Blood Counts
Cancer itself and the therapies used to treat it can affect your normal blood counts. This article explains the various types of blood cells, what their normal levels should be and how your body is affected when these counts become too low. Includes a chart to track blood counts.
Hair Loss (Alopecia) from Chemotherapy
A common side effect of chemotherapy is hair loss (alopecia). This side effect handout answers questions about alopecia and offers tips for coping with hair loss caused by chemotherapy.
Hand-Foot Syndrome
HFS is a skin reaction that appears on the palms of the hands and/or the soles of the feet as a result of certain chemotherapy agents. It may also be referred to as acral erythema, palmar plantar erythema (PPE), or Burgdorf reaction. This handout answers questions about and offers tips for managing hand-foot syndrome caused by chemotherapy.
Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is when you do not feel hungry, or you have no desire or interest in eating. This can be a side effect of some treatments for cancer or from the cancer itself. This handout offers tips for coping with a loss of appetite from cancer and cancer therapy.
Low Platelet Count (Thrombocytopenia)
Low platelet count, also know as thrombocytopenia, can be caused by cancer itself, radiation and chemotherapy. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting so thrombocytopenia puts you at a higher risk of bleeding. This article details what you can do to prevent bleeding, how to reduce bleeding and general precautions to take when you have thrombocytopenia.
Low Red Blood Cell Count (Anemia)
Anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBC). This article describes details about anemia, signs and symptoms and how it is treated.
Low White Blood Cell Count (Neutropenia)
A neutrophil is a type of white blood cell that acts as a first responder when an infection is starting in the body. When this count is low it is called neutropenia. This handout discusses neutropenia, precautions to take to decrease risk of infection, signs of infection and food safety while neutropenic.
Mucositis (Mouth Sores) & Oral Care Tip Sheet
Mucositis may also be called mouth sores, oral mucositis, or esophagitis. It can range in severity from a red, sore mouth and/or gums to very painful open sores, causing a patient to be unable to eat. This article provides information about mucositis symptoms, oral care, tips to reduce pain and treatment.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is a "sick" or "queasy" feeling in your stomach. Vomiting or "throwing up" often goes along with nausea. Several different aspects of cancer care can cause nausea. This handout answers questions about nausea and vomiting and offers tips for coping with this side effect.
Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which a nerve or group of nerves have difficulty "communicating" with each other. This article provides an overview of peripheral neuropathy and offers tips for coping with this side effect of some chemotherapy agents.
Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea)
Dyspnea is trouble breathing or difficulty catching your breath. Some people describe it as an awareness of uncomfortable breathing or a feeling of working very hard to breathe. This handout answers questions about and offers tips for coping with shortness of breath.
Vaginal Dryness and Painful Intercourse
The article provides an overview of vaginal dryness and related painful intercourse (also called dyspareunia). These are some of the most common problems reported by women during or after cancer treatment.
Injection Site Reactions
Some medications can cause reactions in the tissues around an IV or central line. Reactions can be caused by a sensitivity to the medication being given or by if the medication leaks out of the blood vessels and into the nearby tissues.