Q. What is it like to experience chemotherapy?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Experience chemotherapy can be a difficult and emotionally trying experience. The effects of this treatments vary greatly depending on the individual, the type of cancer being treated, and the dosage that is administered. For many patients, some common physical side effects experienced include nausea, vomiting, hair loss/thinning, low energy levels/fatigue, anemia or low blood counts which can cause difficulty with activities such as walking or climbing stairs due to lack of oxygen in the blood; mouth sores; digestive issues including poor appetite and constipation; muscle cramps or aches; changes in taste buds making food less desirable; increased risk for infection due to immunity suppression from chemo medications; skin changes from chemo drugs applied topically such as redness or swelling around where it was applied.
However beyond these more tangible physical symptoms there are also psychological impacts felt by many patients going through chemotherapy. Anxiety over uncertain outcomes associated with treatment decisions made during critical moments are likely to create feelings of fear and worry among most individuals receiving chemo treatment and their support systems as well. Uncertainty about how long remission will last after chemotherapy ends will lead some to become anxious about recurrence even months after completing therapy. Depression may set in during long periods of hospitalization when strength is waning due to fatigue-inducing treatments causing isolation from family members or friends causing further deterioration mental health state leading individuals feeling powerless against their illnesses trajectory creating a sense hopelessness that needs medical intervention
It should be noted that while there are many difficulties associated with experiencing chemotherapy: There have been vast improvements in success rates thanks years research into optimizing treatment protocols & increasing understanding underlying cellular mechanisms responsible for certain cancers allowing doctors develop more effective interventions which increase survival & quality life those recovering from cancer diagnoses thus reducing burden suffering so often inflicted upon recent generations afflicted by disease.