Lung cancer treatments can lead to a range of side effects. However, not everyone will experience the same side effects, and when they do, their intensity and nature can vary significantly.
Lung cancer treatments can lead to a range of side effects. However, not everyone will experience the same side effects, and when they do, their intensity and nature can vary significantly.
Some of the more common side effects include:
Many cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies, can cause diarrhea. Other factors, such as stress, dietary changes, and infections, can also contribute. Left unchecked, diarrhea can lead to complications like dehydration, fatigue, and electrolyte imbalances. Besides loose stools, symptoms can include gas or flatulence, cramping, bloating, weight loss, rectal pain, bleeding, or discharge.
Before starting your treatment, get a sense of your regular bowel movement patterns, such as the frequency and consistency of stools. This baseline understanding will enable you to detect any changes during treatment. Also, if your treatment is known to cause diarrhea, ask your doctor for preventive medications.
For tips and strategies to manage diarrhea visit your comprehensive guide to lung cancer.
Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy, can often lead to constipation. Certain medications, like opioid painkillers and anti-nausea drugs, are also known culprits. Other factors, such as insufficient fluid intake, a low-fibre diet, overuse of laxatives, and decreased physical activity, can also lead to constipation.
Besides hard stools, symptoms of constipation can include bloating, cramps, gas, loss of appetite, irregular bowel movements, small hard stools, rectal pressure, occasional stool leakage, swollen abdomen, and nausea. Prolonged constipation can lead to fecal impaction, where stool becomes lodged in the colon. This condition is serious and requires immediate medical attention.
Before your treatment, talk to your doctor about ways to prevent constipation. If you experience constipation during treatment, tell your doctor.
For tips and strategies to manage constipation visit your comprehensive guide to lung cancer.
Chemo brain refers to cognitive changes after chemotherapy. People who experience chemo brain often report having difficulty concentrating, trouble finding the right words, challenges in recalling information, and struggles with multitasking. While some recover fully over time, others might have longer-lasting effects.
If you experience symptoms of chemo brain, tell your doctor. If you have more serious symptoms such as visual loss, change in gait, or severe headache, visit your doctor immediately.
For tips and strategies to manage forgetfulness and brain fog visit your comprehensive guide to lung cancer.
Targeted therapies and immunotherapies can cause skin toxicities such as rashes, dry skin, and itching. Rashes most commonly appear on the face and chest, but they can also develop elsewhere. These rashes can be uncomfortable, causing pain, itchiness, and a burning or tingling sensation. If you notice a rash or other skin symptoms, tell your doctor. They may prescribe a medicated cream for relief. If there’s a risk of infection, they may give you antibiotics, and if needed, they may refer you to a dermatologist.
For tips and strategies to manage rash and skin toxicity visit your comprehensive guide to lung cancer.
For tips and strategies to manage treatment side effects visit Your comprehensive guide to lung cancer.
