Navigating the course of cancer treatment is akin to venturing through challenging terrains, with medications forming essential waypoints on this journey. However, these waypoints—while indispensable—often come with hurdles in the form of side effects. In this post, we aim to equip you with actionable insights and approaches to handle these common challenges that accompany cancer treatments.
During cancer treatment, the pivotal role medications play cannot be understated, as they focus on halting the disease and bolstering the body’s recovery. However, the side effects of these medications can sometimes overshadow their benefits, making it imperative for patients to manage these medication side effects proactively. Let’s delve deeper into the multifaceted world of cancer treatments and their accompanying side effects.
Decoding Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
To craft an effective strategy against medication side effects, it’s instrumental to grasp the basics of cancer diagnosis and the vast treatment landscape. Each therapeutic modality in cancer treatment, be it chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy, presents its unique set of challenges.
Common Side Effects During Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy-related Side Effects: Notorious for its side effects, chemotherapy can lead to nausea, hair loss, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, and heightened susceptibility to infections. These types of treatments are meant to target the rapidly dividing cancer cell by targeting the “software code” of the cancer cell called the DNA. Unfortunately, chemotherapy cannot tell the difference between the dividing cancer cell and the normal cells of our bodies hence the potential adverse effects. Later, we’ll guide you through mitigation measures for these challenges.
Radiation Therapy-related Side Effects: This modality might result in skin irritations or burns at the application site, changes in taste, fatigue, and digestive or urinary issues. Radiation oncologists aim to deliver the highest lethal dose to the malignant tumor while at the same time limiting the dose to the nearby normal tissue. Fear not; we’ve got tips tailored for these side effects.
Immunotherapy-related Side Effects: With its focus on the immune system, this therapy might occasionally backfire with the patient’s own immune cells attacking its own normal cells such as the skin or intestinal tract causing skin rashes, diarrhea, or fatigue. We’ll offer strategies to manage these effects.
Targeted Therapy related Side Effects: The side effects here hinge on the specific drug used. Regulars in this list include hand-foot syndrome, hypertension, mouth ulcers, and skin concerns. Most of these types of treatments are oral regimens with side effects that improve with drug cessation alone. As always, we’ll navigate you through management tactics.
Tips for Managing Side Effects
Our comprehensive toolkit for managing these challenges includes:
Engaging Your Healthcare Team: An open communication with your healthcare providers is a cornerstone for effectively navigating medication side effects. We underscore the weight of consistent communication in this journey. At my center, there is usually 3-4 different ways to reach my clinic via my nurses, navigators, extenders, oral pharmacist, acute symptom management clinic. If the symptoms are significant, then occasionally it may be necessary give intravenous fluid or medications at the outpatient infusion center or possibly admit to the hospital.
Strict Medication Adherence: Heeding medication instructions is paramount. Know exactly what treatments you will start with the name of the regimen, dosage, schedule, route via oral or intravenous, and potential side effects. Occasionally, we will prescribe preventative secondary drugs such as medications to prevent as well as treat breakthrough nausea or emesis. Or growth factor support for prevention of infectious issues.
Prioritizing Nutrition and Hydration: A well-nourished body is better equipped to tackle side effects. Discuss proper nutrition during the treatments with the treating oncology team specifically with the nutritionist. For me, its calories with high protein, high fat and good carbohydrates. No dieting of any kind during treatments. The drugs get into your system and your body as the ability to either break it down, pee or poop it out.
Staying Physically Active: Moderate physical activity can be a panacea for numerous side effects, especially fatigue. It is suggested to exercise at least 3-4x a week with light to moderate exercise with simply walking for 30-45 minutes. At the same time, listen to your body. If you need to rest, then rest. If you’re feeling up for it, then move!
Confronting the side effects of cancer treatment isn’t just about managing challenges but enhancing the quality of your journey. By employing these curated strategies, the path becomes smoother, ensuring that the challenges don’t overshadow the treatment’s overarching goal. Always remember: this journey isn’t solitary. Lean on your healthcare team, gather insights, and fortify your treatment trajectory. Together, we can not only tackle but transcend the side effect challenges, paving the way for a holistic healing experience.
If you or someone you hold dear is battling cancer and its treatment-induced challenges, I urge you to champion open conversations with your medical team. Hand in hand, we can tailor strategies, transforming challenges into manageable tasks. Harness your inner strength, remain hopeful, and let’s collectively forge a path that diminishes cancer’s might.
About the author
Dr. Sajeve Thomas is a distinguished medical professional and a compassionate guide in the field of oncology. With over a decade of dedicated experience as a board-certified medical oncologist/internal medicine specialist, Dr. Thomas has become a trusted expert in the treatment of melanoma, sarcoma, and gastrointestinal conditions. Currently practicing at the renowned Orlando Health Cancer Institute, he brings a wealth of expertise to the complex and challenging world of oncology.