Side Effects to Certain Cancer Treatments

Surgery

How it Can Affect Eating

Increases the need for good nutrition. May slow digestion. May lessen the ability of the mouth, throat and stomach to work properly. Adequate nutrition helps wound-healing and recovery.

What Sometimes Happens: Side Effects

Before surgery, a high-protein, high calorie diet may be prescribed if a patient is underweight or weak. After surgery, some patients may not be able to eat normally at first. They may receive nutrients through a needle in their arm or through a tube in their nose or stomach.



Radiation Therapy

How it Can Affect Eating

As it damages cancer cells, it also may affect healthy cells and healthy parts of the body.

What Sometimes Happens: Side Effects

Treatment of head, neck, chest or breast may cause:
• Dry mouth
• Sore mouth
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Change in taste of food
• Dental problems
• Increased phlegm
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cramps, bloating



Chemotherapy

How it Can Affect Eating

As it destroys cancer cells, it also may affect the digestive system and the desire or ability to eat.

What Sometimes Happens: Side Effects

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Sore mouth or throat
• Weight gain or loss
• Change in taste of food



Biological Therapy, Immunotherapy

How it Can Affect Eating

As it stimulates your immune system to fight cancer cells, it can affect the desire or ability to eat.

What Sometimes Happens: Side Effects

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sore mouth
• Severe weight loss
• Dry mouth
• Change in taste of food
• Muscle aches, fatigue, fever



Hormonal Therapy

How it Can Affect Eating

Some types can increase appetite and change how the body handles fluids.

What Sometimes Happens: Side Effects

• Changes in appetite
• Fluid retention

Source: National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov

How do Doctors Treat Cancer?

There are three common methods for treating cancer: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Cancer treatment plans are tailored to each patient because cancer is different in each patient.

A person with cancer may undergo any one of these treatments or a combination of them:

• Surgery removes cancerous tissue. A surgeon removes the cancerous tissue along with a small amount of the healthy tissue surrounding it to make sure that all the cancer is removed and has not spread.
• Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer using medication to destroy malignant
(cancerous) cells. Side effects include nausea, fatigue, hair loss or other side effects. Chemotherapy may destroy some healthy cells in the process of removing of the malignant cells. These healthy cells will eventually start to grow again and the side effects should disappear.
• Radiation or radiotherapy is when high levels of radiation are used to kill cancer cells or to shrink tumors. It is usually painless, but there are side effects including fatigue, 32 nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Sometimes, the area of skin that has been irradiated becomes inflamed. Most of these side effects are temporary.

An interruption in chemotherapy or radiation treatment can result in a spread of the cancer or a more rapid progression of the disease. It can also increase any pain that the individual was suffering due to the cancer. It is important that your treatments continue as scheduled even in a disaster.

How do Doctors Diagnose Cancer?

If cancer is suspected, your doctor will order several tests. These may include blood tests, x-rays or an MRI. A biopsy, which involves the removal of a small tissue sample to examine it for cancer cells, may also be performed.

What Causes Cancer?

Scientists and researchers do not really know what causes cancer, but there is some understanding of why people get cancer. People get cancer based on their genetics and certain environmental or behavioral triggers. For example, if a close relative had lung or skin cancer, you may be more likely to inherit the tendency to get lung or skin cancer. If you are exposed to environmental or behavioral triggers such as smoking cigarettes or excessive sun exposure, you may be more likely to get lung or skin cancer. The combination of genetics and environmental and behavioral triggers determine the likelihood that you will get cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Cancer?

There are many different types of cancer. As a result, there are many different symptoms.

There are a few common symptoms including:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Swelling or lumps in certain parts(10 or more pounds) of the body (e.g., abdomen or neck)
• Extreme exhaustion
• Problems with walking or balance
• Headaches
• More infections
• Blurred vision
• Unusual bleeding
• Nausea