What Are Signs of Chemotherapy?

• It is important to follow your doctor's advice during any chemotherapy treatment. Young beautiful doctor in the x-ray laboratory image by Andrejs Pidjass from Fotolia.com

  There are many signs and side effects of chemotherapy. It is important to remember that everybody reacts differently to the treatment, and there is no sure way to predict what the signs of chemotherapy will be. Below you will find some of the more commonly reported signs of the therapy and ways that may help to alleviate some of these symptoms. Keep in mind that these signs and symptoms do not tell you if the treatment is or is not working; only your doctor can determine that.

Nausea and Vomiting

• Nausea and vomiting are two common reactions to chemotherapy. When these symptoms occur, switching from solid foods to clear liquids such as broth, juice or electrolyte drinks -- like Pedialyte or sports drinks -- can be helpful. Gradually add solid foods back into your diet as tolerated. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-nausea medicine for you. It is important to keep these symptoms under control to prevent dehydration.

Hair Loss

• Chemotherapy is designed to stop something known as a fast-turnover cell. These cells create tumors, but are also responsible for hair growth. This is why a chemotherapy patient may show signs of hair loss or thinning hair during treatment. This also depends on the dosage and type of medicine administered. It is common for these symptoms to stop and for hair growth to return after the patient has recovered from the chemotherapy treatment.

Depression

• Many patients experience signs of depression during chemotherapy treatments. This is very common, and can be caused by many different factors. This can be demonstrated through emotions such as fear, anger, loneliness, frustration and other negative feelings. Medical professionals recommend that patients experiencing this side effect attend support group meetings, get regular exercise, practice proper nutrition, and learn relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and yoga.