All cancer treatments can cause side effects. It’s important that you report any side effects that you experience to your health care team so they can help you manage them. Report them right away – don’t wait for your next appointment. Doing so will improve your quality of life and allow you to stick with your treatment plan. It’s important to remember that not all patients experience all side effects, and patients may experience side effects not listed here.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and dose of drugs given and the length of time they are used.
They can include:
- Hair loss
- Increased risk of infection (from having too few white blood cells)
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Changes in memory or thinking
- Peripheral neuropathy (numbness or tingling in hands and feet)
- Inflammation of the pancreas and liver
- Damage to the bones called avascular necrosis
Side Effects of Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy drugs don’t have the same effect on the body as do chemotherapy drugs, but they can still cause side effects. Common side effects of targeted therapy include rashes, problems with blood clotting and wound healing, diarrhea, liver problems (such as elevated liver enzymes), and high blood pressure.
Side Effects of Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy travels through the bloodstream, helping to prompt an immune response. Because it may attack healthy cells as well as cancer cells, certain side effects may be experienced, including fatigue, decreased appetite and digestive tract symptoms. The management of these potential side effects is discussed later in the next section of this booklet.
CAR T-cell therapy has its own specific potential side effects, including:
- Cytokine-Release Syndrome (CRS). The infusion of CAR T-cells into the body results in the production of large numbers of cytokines (molecules that help cells communicate), which can cause the immune system to become excessively active. This can lead to CRS, with symptoms such as high fever and flu-like symptoms. These side effects can be controlled and reversed with cytokine-blocking drugs and steroids.
- Changes in Cognition. Some changes in cognition (thought processes) ranging from mild to severe can occur within several days of CAR T-cell therapy. The symptoms are often treated with steroids and are almost always reversible.
- B-Cell Aplasia. CAR T-cell therapy destroys normal as well as cancerous B-cells, which can cause B-cell aplasia (low numbers of B-cells), in which the body is less able to make the antibodies that protect against infection. Immunoglobulin replacement, administered intravenously, can be used to treat or prevent infection.
Managing Digestive Tract Symptoms
Nausea and vomiting
- Avoid food with strong odors, as well as overly sweet, greasy, fried or highly seasoned food.
- Nibble on dry crackers or toast. These bland foods are easy on the stomach.
- Having something in your stomach when you take medication may help ease nausea.
- Many effective medications for nausea and vomiting have been developed in recent years; talk to your doctor about whether any may be right for you.
Diarrhea
- Drink plenty of water. Ask your doctor about using drinks such as Gatorade which provide electrolytes as well as liquid. Electrolytes are body salts that must stay in balance for cells to work properly.
- Over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide (Imodium A-D and others) and prescription drugs are available for diarrhea but should be used only if necessary. If the diarrhea is bad enough that you need medicine, discuss it with your doctor or nurse.
- Choose foods that contain soluble fiber, such as beans, oat cereals, oranges and flaxseeds. High-pectin foods such as peaches, apples, oranges, grapefruit, bananas and apricots can also help to avoid diarrhea.
Loss of appetite * To help maintain your weight, eating small meals throughout the day is an easy way to take in more protein and calories. Try to include protein in every meal. * To keep from feeling full early, avoid liquids with meals or take only small sips (unless you need liquids to help swallow). Drink most of your liquids between meals and focus on liquids that have nutritional value. * Keep high-calorie, high-protein snacks on hand such as hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, cheese, ice cream, granola bars, liquid nutritional supplements, puddings, nuts, canned tuna or trail mix. * If you are struggling to maintain your appetite, talk to your health care team about whether appetite-building medication could be right for you.
Managing Fatigue
Fatigue (extreme tiredness not helped by sleep) is one of the most common side effects of many cancer treatments. If you are taking any medications, your doctor may lower the dose of the drug or drugs, as long as it does not make the treatment less effective. If you are experiencing fatigue, talk to your doctor about whether taking smaller doses is right for you.
There are a number of other tips for reducing fatigue:
- Take several short naps or breaks.
- Take short walks or do some light exercise, if possible.
- Try easier or shorter versions of the activities you enjoy.
- Ask your family or friends to help you with tasks you find difficult or tiring.
There are also prescription medications that may help, such as modafinil. Your health care team can provide guidance on whether medication is the right approach for your individual circumstances.
Managing Pain
There are a number of options for pain relief, including prescription and over-the-counter medications. It’s important to talk to a member of your health care team before taking any over-the-counter medication to determine if they are safe and whether they will interfere with your treatments.