Chemotherapy drugs commonly irritate all mucous membranes in the body, including vulvar and vaginal tissues. The irritation can cause burning and inflammation similar to the side effects a patient feels in the lining of the mouth, esophagus and digestive tract.
Mucositis is described as sores in the mouth, throat, stomach, rectum, or vagina due to inflammation of the mucous membranes. Mucositis can be caused by cancer therapy (chemotherapy or radiation).
Your cancer doctor and nurse will explain the side effects that your chemotherapy is likely to cause. The main areas of your body that may be affected by chemotherapy are areas where new cells are quickly made and replaced. This includes: bone marrow – where blood cells are made.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Some anticancer medicines may affect cells of vital organs, such as the heart, kidney, bladder, lungs, and nervous system. Chemo may have no serious long-term problems for many people. But in some cases, it can cause permanent changes or damage to the heart, lungs, nerves, kidneys, and reproductive or other organs.
Skin that becomes red, sore, or inflamed after contact with perfumes, detergents, fabric softeners, feminine sprays, ointments, creams, douches (contact dermatitis) Cysts or abscesses of the Bartholin or other glands. Trauma or scratches. Flu-type viruses that can cause genital sores or ulcers in some cases.
Chemotherapy can be administered a number of ways but common ways include orally and intravenously. The chemotherapy itself stays in the body within 2 -3 days of treatment but there are short-term and long-term side effects that patients may experience.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
Breast cancer: Women with breast cancer have an overall 30% chance of recurrence. Many cases happen within five years of completing the initial treatment. Cervical cancer: Of those with invasive cervical cancer, an estimated 35% will have a recurrence.
“All who have done chemo do finally get back to normal,” Patricia said. “Treatment for breast cancer can take a whole year, but six months after it ends, life comes back – incisions heal, hair grows back, chemo brain fog lifts.” Patricia often has survivors say they can't believe they got back to feeling 100% normal.
Chemotherapy can cause fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, bowel issues such as constipation or diarrhoea, hair loss, mouth sores, skin and nail problems. You may have trouble concentrating or remembering things. There can also be nerve and muscle effects and hearing changes. You will be at increased risk of infections.
Common bacterial infections include pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear infections. Virus: A very simple microorganism that may cause illness or disease. Viral infections are passed on from other people. Common viral infections include the common cold, herpes, and flu.
Signs chemo is not working
a tumor growing or not shrinking. cancer spreading to other areas of the body, a process called metastasis. cancer symptoms returning. additional symptoms appearing.
These include antibiotics for bacterial infections or antiviral medications for viral infections. Genital ulcer treatment may also include ointment you apply to the sores to promote healing. For genital ulcers not due to STIs, it may help to see a specialist for further evaluation.
Chemotherapy can cause nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting (throwing up). Whether you have these side effects, and how often, depends on the specific drugs and dose. There are medications that are given before and after each dose of chemotherapy that can usually prevent nausea and vomiting.
Infections. Chemotherapy can reduce your body's ability to fight infection. This makes you more likely to get infections that could make you seriously ill.
Breast cancer treatments don't directly cause urinary tract infections. But chemotherapy can dry out the vaginal tissues and reduce your body's ability to fight infection, both of which make it easier for you to get a UTI.
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
Nearly everyone who has chemotherapy has some tiredness. It can be due to the direct effect of chemotherapy on the body. But anaemia may also cause tiredness. This is because chemotherapy can stop your bone marrow from making red blood cells for a while.
In some cases, oncologists fail to tell patients how long they have to live. In others, patients are clearly told their prognosis, but are too overwhelmed to absorb the information.
Fatigue caused by chemotherapy may last for some weeks or months after a treatment cycle ends. Many people find that their energy levels return to normal within 6–12 months of treatment ending. While fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy, it can also be a symptom of depression.