What are the side effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapies?

What are the side effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapies?

Traditional chemotherapy

The side effects of traditional chemotherapy depend upon the drug, its dosage, how long the treatment lasts and the patient. Because traditional chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cancer cells, they also kill other rapidly dividing healthy cells in the lining of the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract, the hair follicles, and the bone marrow. The side effects of chemotherapy come from damage to these normal cells. (Although hair loss is not common to most chemotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer, some people may experience hair thinning.)

The side effects of traditional chemotherapy can include:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Loss of appetite.
• Hair loss.
• Mouth sores.
• Rashes.
• Diarrhea.

Since chemotherapy affects the bone marrow, there may also be a greater risk of infection (because of low white blood cell counts), bleeding or bruising from minor injuries (because of low blood platelet counts), and anemia-related fatigue (because of low red blood cell counts).

Although it may take some time, most side effects related to chemotherapy will go away when the chemotherapy is stopped.

Monoclonal antibodies

The side effects of monoclonal antibodies depend on the drug. Many of these side effects are similar to those of traditional chemotherapy medications.

Ask your doctor about the side effects of any medications before you start to take them. If you are having any side effects, tell your doctor. In many cases, they can be treated or prevented with medications or a change in diet.