Chemotherapy is a treatment method that involves powerful drugs to treat cancer, however it can cause several side effects including nausea, hair loss, mouth ulcers, severe fatigue and vomiting.
According to cancer specialists, chemotherapy is an effective treatment but it does have side effects, although these effects are now being reduced more effectively than before.
Experts say that during chemotherapy it often happens that along with cancer cells, the body’s healthy cells are also affected.
According to the National Institute of Health, the body needs to produce new cells to replace old or damaged ones. Some cells, such as those lining the intestines or those related to hair growth, grow rapidly and chemotherapy drugs can also damage them.
Moreover, chemotherapy significantly reduces the number of white blood cells, which are an important part of the body’s immune system, increasing the risk of inflammation and infection. Some medications may also cause nerve weakness known as neuropathy, leading to pain, tingling, numbness and balance problems. However, effective ways to prevent these effects are available, which are as follows:
Effective ways to prevent side effects:
Health experts have suggested several effective strategies to reduce the effects caused by chemotherapy.
According to experts, anti nausea medications can be used for nausea and vomiting. Dietary changes can help manage nausea, fatigue and mouth ulcers. To control fatigue, light physical activity and better sleep habits should be adopted. Pain relieving medications related to chemotherapy may also be used.
Experts say that doctors can recommend appropriate strategies based on the patient’s symptoms.
On the other hand, researchers are also working to find methods that can further reduce the side effects associated with chemotherapy. While discussing the use of herbal remedies such as ginger for treatment, researchers say that these traditional methods are of interest because they tend to have relatively fewer side effects. For example, common effects of acupuncture may include minor bruising or slight bleeding, while yoga may result in joint or muscle pain.
