Some friend asked me about the side effects arising from chemotherapy, mainly as reference to help someone they know.
Below is a record of what I experienced, and some ways I cope. Depending on the drugs used, there could be various side effects, and individuals would react differently too.
- Chemotherapy drugs originated from chemical warfare, which someone also found some therapeutic effects and adapted the toxins for cancer treatment. So drink lot of fluid to help the key organs (kidney and liver) to get rid of the toxin. Water, barley drink, chrysanthemum tea, green tea, green bean soup etc are some recommended fluid. Typically 2-3 liters per day. If the urine passed is yellowish, that means insufficient fluid is taken.
- Low white & red blood cell: reducing immunity level: avoid those who sneeze or having flu. Avoid crowd. Get blood booster from the oncologist during those days the blood counts dive.
- Fever: Take medication, if body temperature exceeds 38deg C, take prescribed antibiotics, or see the doctor.
- Taste buds change, causing lose in appetite: a fellow patient told me to put some hard candy in the mouth during chemo infusion, this proves to be useful in minimizing the taste change
- Low in protein: Take lots of meat and other proteins during chemo treatment period
- Diarrhea: Drink lots of water to re hydrate Some food could help in easing the diarrhea, like boiled rice, tapioca, banana, peanut butter......isotonic drink like H2O, 100Plus and porridge water would help. Avoid milk, coffee, high fiber food till conditions improve
- Fatigue: Take lot of rest. Sleep
- Dry skin: Moisturize.
- Skin peels, on fingers, legs, and feet: Get prescribed medicine from oncologist.
- Fungus growth on tongue: Get prescribed medicine from oncologist.
- Nose bleeding: Squeeze the nose to prevent flow to help in blood clot.
- Skin pigmentation especially on fingers, toes, and bottom of the soles. This should fade away after chemo.
- Hair drop: Shave.
- Dryness in throat and mouth: Drink water regularly. For mouth wash, use salt water to gargle, avoid using alcohol-based mouth wash
- Mouth ulcers, sores: use pain relief gel like "bonjela"....
- Numbness on fingers, lips : -
There are other side effect like change in voice especially the first few days the chemo infusion was done, difficulty in sleeping the first day of the chemo infusion etc.....
.So my strategy is not to look out for side effects, but inform the oncologist if any arises. He would make necessary remedies.
Also, on the other front, to help get over the side effects:
+ Keep faith in God, have a strong 'dose' of prayer and praise.
+ Keep positive attitude. 1Peter5:7 Casting all the cares upon the Lord, for He cares for me. Philippians 4: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
+ Support from family, friends and colleagues
+ Exercise if the body allows.
+ See a good TCM physician. TCM is able to moderate some of the side effects. Inform the oncologist about taking TCM too.
Below is a record of what I experienced, and some ways I cope. Depending on the drugs used, there could be various side effects, and individuals would react differently too.
- Chemotherapy drugs originated from chemical warfare, which someone also found some therapeutic effects and adapted the toxins for cancer treatment. So drink lot of fluid to help the key organs (kidney and liver) to get rid of the toxin. Water, barley drink, chrysanthemum tea, green tea, green bean soup etc are some recommended fluid. Typically 2-3 liters per day. If the urine passed is yellowish, that means insufficient fluid is taken.
- Low white & red blood cell: reducing immunity level: avoid those who sneeze or having flu. Avoid crowd. Get blood booster from the oncologist during those days the blood counts dive.
 |
| White blood cell booster syringe |
- Fever: Take medication, if body temperature exceeds 38deg C, take prescribed antibiotics, or see the doctor.
- Taste buds change, causing lose in appetite: a fellow patient told me to put some hard candy in the mouth during chemo infusion, this proves to be useful in minimizing the taste change
- Low in protein: Take lots of meat and other proteins during chemo treatment period
- Diarrhea: Drink lots of water to re hydrate Some food could help in easing the diarrhea, like boiled rice, tapioca, banana, peanut butter......isotonic drink like H2O, 100Plus and porridge water would help. Avoid milk, coffee, high fiber food till conditions improve
- Fatigue: Take lot of rest. Sleep
- Dry skin: Moisturize.
- Skin peels, on fingers, legs, and feet: Get prescribed medicine from oncologist.
- Fungus growth on tongue: Get prescribed medicine from oncologist.
- Nose bleeding: Squeeze the nose to prevent flow to help in blood clot.
- Skin pigmentation especially on fingers, toes, and bottom of the soles. This should fade away after chemo.
- Hair drop: Shave.
- Dryness in throat and mouth: Drink water regularly. For mouth wash, use salt water to gargle, avoid using alcohol-based mouth wash
- Mouth ulcers, sores: use pain relief gel like "bonjela"....
- Numbness on fingers, lips : -
There are other side effect like change in voice especially the first few days the chemo infusion was done, difficulty in sleeping the first day of the chemo infusion etc.....
.So my strategy is not to look out for side effects, but inform the oncologist if any arises. He would make necessary remedies.
Also, on the other front, to help get over the side effects:
+ Keep faith in God, have a strong 'dose' of prayer and praise.
+ Keep positive attitude. 1Peter5:7 Casting all the cares upon the Lord, for He cares for me. Philippians 4: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
+ Support from family, friends and colleagues
+ Exercise if the body allows.
+ See a good TCM physician. TCM is able to moderate some of the side effects. Inform the oncologist about taking TCM too.
以 賽 亞 書 40:28-31
Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)
28 你 岂 不 曾 知 道 麽 ？ 你 岂 不 曾 听 见 麽 ？ 永 在 的 神 耶 和 华 ， 创 造 地 极 的 主 ， 并 不 疲 乏 ， 也 不 困 倦 ； 他 的 智 慧 无 法 测 度 。
29 疲 乏 的 ， 他 赐 能 力 ； 软 弱 的 ， 他 加 力 量 。
30 就 是 少 年 人 也 要 疲 乏 困 倦 ； 强 壮 的 也 必 全 然 跌 倒 。
31 但 那 等 候 耶 和 华 的 必 从 新 得 力 。 他 们 必 如 鹰 展 翅 上 腾 ； 他 们 奔 跑 却 不 困 倦 ， 行 走 却 不 疲 乏 。
Isaiah 40:28-31
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. |
