Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

Understanding chemotherapyPossible side effectsThe side effects you get will depend on the chemotherapydrugs you’re having. Different drugs cause different sideeffects. Some side effects are mild and easily treated.Others can be harder to manage but can often be reducedor helped in some way.Most side effects are short term and usually stop or graduallygo away when chemotherapy is over. Although the side effectscan be unpleasant, the benefits of chemotherapy usuallyoutweigh this.If you’re having a single drug you won’t usually have asmany side effects as someone having a combination of drugs.People having high doses of chemotherapy and who need tostay in hospital may have more complex side effects.Your cancer doctor and nurse specialist will explain the sideeffects that your chemotherapy is likely to cause.Always tell your doctor or nurse about any sideeffects. They can usually prescribe medicinesto reduce them or change medicines you’realready taking to more effective ones.The main areas of your body that may be affected bychemotherapy are where there’s a high turnover of normalcells, such as the:• bone marrow (where blood cells are made)• digestive system42