Cancer Institute
URL COPIED!
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is typically most effective when two or more drugs are used together. These can cause a variety of side effects, depending on the drug or drug combinations and the dose.
Our goal is to provide you with the best care while helping you maintain your lifestyle. Sometimes you may be asked to follow certain precautions during your cancer treatments. These precautions will help keep your treatments on schedule and reduce the risk or severity of side effects.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about the side effects associated with your chemotherapy medicines. Make sure to discuss any side effects that you feel are becoming unmanageable. Many can be prevented or relieved. Some possible side effects include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Pain
- Diarrhea/constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Low blood cell counts
- Premature menopause
- Lowered resistance to infections
- Increased bleeding
Cancer Institute
- Types of Cancer
- Find a Physician by Specialty
- Schedule an Appointment at the Lifespan Cancer Institute
- Clinical and Research Excellence
-
Treatments and Specialists
-
Chemotherapy
- Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Anemia
- Mouth Care
- Skin and Nail Care
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Pain
- Hair Loss
- Fatigue
- Peripheral Nervous System Changes
- Loss of Appetite
- Taste and Smell Changes
- Weight Loss
- Chemotherapy and Nutrition
- Increasing Calorie Intake
- Food Safety
- Chemotherapy and Menopause
- Interventional Oncology
-
Chemotherapy
- Living With and After Cancer
- Patient and Family Advisory Council
- Lifespan Cancer Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- WomanCare
- The Lifespan Cancer Institute In the News
- Patient Stories
- Giving to the Lifespan Cancer Institute