Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

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Possible side effectsHelpful hints – avoiding injuriesIf your platelets are low you’ll need to be careful toavoid injuries.• Wear protective gloves when doing anything aroundthe house or in the garden.• Be careful to avoid bumping into things or tripping.• Use a soft toothbrush to protect your gums from bleedingand don’t floss.Some people may need a platelet transfusion. This is given bydrip (infusion) as a day patient. The platelets will start workingimmediately to prevent bruising and bleeding.We can send you a fact sheet aboutplatelet transfusions.Increased risk of blood clotsCancer can increase your risk of developing a blood clot(thrombosis), and having chemotherapy may increase thisrisk further. A blood clot may cause symptoms such as pain,redness and swelling in a leg, or breathlessness and chest pain.Blood clots can be very serious so it’s important to tell yourdoctor straight away if you have any of these symptoms.However, most clots can usually be successfully treated withdrugs to thin the blood. Your doctor or nurse can give youmore information about blood clots.47
Understanding chemotherapyYour hairYour doctor or specialist nurse will tell you if the chemotherapyis likely to cause hair loss. Knowing what to expect gives youtime to prepare and find ways of coping.Some drugs don’t make your hair fall out but can make itthinner. You might notice your hair becomes dry and brittleand breaks easily. Looking after the condition of your haircan make it less likely to break off.Helpful hints – looking after your hair• Use gentle hair products, pat hair dry after washing itand gently brush with a wide-toothed comb.• Avoid using hairdryers, straighteners, tongs or curlers.• Don’t perm or colour your hair if it’s brittle or your scalpis dry – if you do want to do this, make sure you getprofessional advice first.• If you want to colour your hair, use a mild vegetable-basedcolourant (do a strand test first), and ask your hairdresserfor advice.Scalp coolingSome people having certain types of chemotherapy may beable to prevent hair loss by using a ‘cold cap’. This works bytemporarily reducing the blood flow and the amount of thedrug reaching the scalp. But the cold cap only works withcertain drugs and doesn’t always prevent hair loss. You canask your doctor or nurse whether one would be useful for you.48
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Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

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