Side effects of Conventional Cancer Treatment

It is difficult to protect the healthy cells of side effects caused by the drugs administered during conventional cancer treatment and this makes cancer so dreaded. All cancer patients facing those side effects and suffer adverse effects of cancer treatment that affect their skin, look and internal organs. 

The following are main side effects caused by major conventional cancer treatment:

Side effect from Cancer Treatment – Chemotherapy

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type of drugs, dose of the chemotherapy, and the length of treatment. Patient may get temporary side effects, which might include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and mouth soars. The common situation is hair loss or alopecia.

Since chemotherapy attacks the fast growing cells, the normal tissues with high growth rate suffer the major brunt of attack of the chemotherapy drugs. These include the fast growing cells of the bone marrow, oral mucus membrane and lining of the stomach and intestine. This may subsequently lead to low blood counts, mouth soars, diarrhea, and abdominal upset.

Side effect from Cancer Treatment – Surgery

Cancer surgery provokes the side effects like damage to internal organs and blood vessels during surgery, risk of wound infection and blood clots can form in the deep veins of the legs after surgery, especially if a person remains in bed for a long time

Side effect from Cancer Treatment – Radiation therapy

There are three most commonly experienced side effects of radiation therapy are: fatigue, skin problems where skin may appear sunburned or irritated, and lost of appetite which can lead to fatigue and nutritional deficiencies.

Side effect from Cancer Treatment – Hormone Therapy

Same as chemotherapy, the side effects of hormone therapy is depends on the type of treatment used and prescribed medicines. One such cancer treatment is the use of drug called Tamoxifen in hormone; this drug can cause cancer patients suffering hot flashes, irritation or vaginal discharge, nausea and irregular menstruation.