Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (chemo for short) is a drug—or combination of drugs—that destroys cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of quickly growing cells. Unfortunately, chemo can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line the mouth and intestines or cells that cause hair to grow. It’s this damage to healthy cells that causes the common side effects of chemo, including nausea, vomiting and hair loss.
There are more than 50 different chemo drugs available that can be prescribed in countless combinations, doses and schedules. Most people receive chemo in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy treatment followed by a period of rest.
How can you help clients WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY?
| Side Effect | How You Can Help |
| Nausea & Vomiting |
Offer bland, easy-to-digest foods and drinks, such as plain crackers, toast, and gelatin. Have popsicles, fruit ices or ice chips available for your client to suck on. Serve 5 or 6 small meals and snacks instead of 3 larger meals a day. Report right away if your client vomits regularly for longer than 24 hours after receiving treatment. |
| Mouth and Throat Changes |
Check your client’s mouth and tongue every day for sores, white spots, or infections. Report any problems right away. Help your client keep her mouth moist by sipping water, sucking on ice chips or sugar-free hard candy, or chewing sugar-free gum. Perform mouth care after every meal with an extra soft toothbrush. Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol. |
| Changes in Appetite | Serve 5 to 6 small meals or snacks each day instead of 3 big meals. Milkshakes, smoothies, juice or soup are great when your client does not feel like eating solid foods like these can provide protein, vitamins and calories. Report to your supervisor if your client cannot eat at all or if he or she begins to lose weight without trying. |
| Fatigue | Help your client relax and decrease stress. Ways to do this include meditation, prayer and yoga. Light activity can also ease fatigue. Help your client take a 15-minute walk or do light housekeeping duties like folding laundry or dusting tables. Recommend your client take a planned, short nap during the day. Be sure the nap lasts less than one hour or it could interfere with nighttime sleep. |
| Anemia | Encourage clients with anemia to eat iron-rich foods, such as red meat, egg yolks, dark, leafy greens, dried fruit, and iron-enriched cereals and grains. Help your client stand up slowly to prevent dizziness. |
| Bleeding & Bruising |
Use a soft toothbrush for mouth care. Avoid flossing. If a cut or scrape happens, apply gentle pressure until the bleeding stops. Report right away if your client becomes constipated. A stool softener may be needed to prevent rectal bleeding. |
| Hair Loss | Reassure your client that her hair will likely begin to grow back 2 to 3 months after chemotherapy is over. Use a mild shampoo, such as a baby shampoo to wash hair and scalp. Gently pat hair dry with a soft towel. |
| Pain | Report any changes in pain right away. There are medications available to help with most types of pain. Before reporting your client’s pain, ask where it hurts, what it feels like, where the pain is on a scale of 1 to 10 and what he or she has tried to help relieve the pain. |
Reassure clients that most side effects of chemo are short-term and will go away after treatment is finished.
Remind clients to report any side effects they are having right away. There are often ways to decrease these unpleasant effects.