The side effects of breast cancer chemotherapy are so unexpected!

An important treatment for breast cancer is chemotherapy, but as we all know, chemotherapy can kill cancer cells while also causing damage to normal tissues. Therefore, chemotherapy can have many side effects, and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hair loss are likely to occur during chemotherapy.

1. Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are the most common gastrointestinal reactions to chemotherapy. In addition to overcoming the adverse conditioned reflex vomiting caused by fear, some antiemetic drugs can be used according to the situation. Different chemotherapy drugs will cause different vomiting reactions. The main adjuvant chemotherapy drugs currently used are: FAC (5-F0, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), paclitaxel, etc. These drugs may cause vomiting. The most commonly used antiemetic in clinical practice is histamine H3 receptor blocker, including fast-acting antiemetics: ondansetron; long-acting antiemetics: ketamine and vobitex. Both types of drugs can be used together before chemotherapy and can be used for another 1-3 days after chemotherapy. Sedatives can also be added, such as oxytocin and promethazine. Another commonly used antiemetic is dexamethasone. Generally speaking, if the medication is used properly, nausea and vomiting can be completely controlled.

2. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is also a common reaction after chemotherapy. At this time, the first thing to do is to adjust the patient's diet, let the patient eat some light, easy to digest and nutritious foods, such as some soups, porridge, noodles, etc., avoid eating raw, cold, greasy and crude fiber-rich foods. At the same time, symptomatic drug treatment can be carried out. The main therapeutic drugs include lactobacillus, smectite, etc. If the condition is severe, Imodium can be used.

3. Poor appetite

Most breast cancer patients experience loss of appetite after chemotherapy. Therefore, you should choose some light meals at this time, and be careful not to eat too much at one time, but eat small meals frequently.

4. Hair loss

Chemotherapy can cause hair loss in patients. In order to reduce hair loss, especially for female patients, patients can be given an ice cap, because ice can constrict blood vessels in the head, thereby reducing the damage of drugs to the scalp and hair.

5. Skin reactions

Chemotherapy drugs can cause skin reactions under the action of light, causing the skin to darken, so excessive sun exposure should be avoided during chemotherapy.

6. Phlebitis

Long-term chemotherapy and intravenous injection may cause phlebitis. A PICC catheter can be inserted into the vein during the injection and retained for a long time to reduce the damage of chemotherapy to the blood vessels.

7. Decreased white blood cells and platelets

Breast cancer patients may also experience a decrease in white blood cells and platelets after chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to check once or twice a week so that the situation can be observed at any time. If target cells and platelets are found to be reduced, some drugs can be used to control them.

8. Abnormal heart, liver and kidney function

Some chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel, can cause cardiac side effects. ECG and echocardiography should be performed before and after chemotherapy, left ventricular ejection fraction should be monitored, and cardioprotectants should be taken, such as amifostine and dexamethasone. Liver and kidney function should also be checked regularly, and measures should be taken according to the situation.

9. Allergic reactions

Some chemotherapy drugs can cause allergies, which can be divided into two categories: acute hypersensitivity reaction and chronic allergic reaction. Acute hypersensitivity reactions are more common in taxanes, which are also one of the more effective chemotherapy drugs we just talked about, such as docetaxel and paclitaxel. The more serious reaction to this type of drug is an allergic reaction.