Chemotherapy: cancer survivor Bobby Were shares tips for coping
Cancer treatment, and chemotherapy, in particular, can be rough. But some advance planning — and knowing what to do if these side effects occur — can help.
POLOKWANE – Be sure to talk to your doctor. Together, you can come up with a plan of action for any effects of your chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy (taking medications designed to rid your body of cancer cells) is an important cancer treatment for many people with the disease. Your doctor can choose from more than 100 chemotherapy drugs to fight your cancer, and you will probably be treated with a cocktail of these drugs.
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Review spoke to Bobby Were, a breast cancer survivor and Cansa TLC Coordinator, who has first-hand experienced the woes of chemotherapy and could give good advice on how to cope.
Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, anaemia, fatigue, infections, hair loss and mouth sores.
Nausea and vomiting
About 70 to 80 percent of patients on chemotherapy will have nausea and vomiting.
Chemo therapy treatment kills cancer cells all over your body — but it can damage many healthy tissues in the process. The healthy cells that are most often affected by chemotherapy drugs include those in your bone marrow that make blood cells, cells in your hair follicles, and cells in your mouth and other parts of your digestive system.
Not everyone has side effects, and in some people who do, they’re mild.
If you have cancer, chemotherapy may help save or prolong your life.
Some chemotherapy drugs are known to cause this side effect more severely than others. Your doctor can give you drugs to reduce nausea and vomiting. Research has also found that electroacupuncture (which uses needles that are stimulated by a continuous electric pulse) can help treat these symptoms. Ask your doctor for help in finding a practitioner who is trained to do electroacupuncture.
In addition, avoid greasy or strong-flavoured foods if they make you feel ill. If cooking smells bother you, try having someone else cook and stay away from the kitchen. Were said it helps if meals be eaten at room temperature, and small servings are often less off-putting than a large plate full. “More frequent meals are better than two to three meals a day,” he said. “Listen to your body with regard its needs: Some people crave salt and sweetness. Each person is an individual and will react differently.”
Anaemia and fatigue
Chemotherapy can cause you to have too few blood cells (anaemia). As a result, your tissues don’t get as much oxygen, and you can become extremely tired. Fatigue can have other causes besides chemotherapy in people with cancer — in fact, up to 96 percent of people with cancer will experience fatigue, especially during and just after cancer treatment.
Your doctor may treat anaemia with medications or a blood transfusion. Exercise may be good for improving fatigue, if your doctor thinks it’s OK. Even 15 minutes a day may help. If you must take naps during the day, keep them short. Pace yourself and try not to take on too many responsibilities. Reserve your energy for the most important needs, and be sure to ask others for help.
Infections
Your chemotherapy may cause you to produce fewer white blood cells, which leaves you at higher risk of infections. An important way to help prevent infections is to practice good hygiene, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). To avoid germs, both the NCI and the ACS recommend that you wash your hands often, especially after restroom trips and before you eat, and try to stay away from big crowds of people. You should also avoid biting or picking at your nails, and treat your skin with lotion before it gets dry and cracked.
Tell your doctor promptly if you see signs of an infection.
Mouth sores
Be sure to brush your teeth for 90 seconds twice a day with a soft toothbrush. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and spicy and acidic foods. Rinse four times daily with a simple mouthwash containing a cup of water, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Were advised that a few drops of Tee Tree oil added to the mouth wash also helps a lot and said individual taste will determine strength of the addition.
Taking cancer treatment orally, you can help prevent mouth problems by holding ice or very cold water in your mouth for five minutes before the treatment until 30 minutes afterward.
Hair loss
Our hair is a unique part of our identity. Suddenly losing it as a result of cancer treatment can be distressing for both men and women.
Appearance-related concerns are normal and to be expected throughout the cancer experience. Understanding this can be a key component in how you cope, now and even years into survivorship.
If you haven’t yet started your treatment, ask your oncologist whether it is known to cause hair loss, and if so, how quickly that will happen. Certain types of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant can cause you to lose the hair on your head as well as on other areas of your body. Long-term use of some targeted therapies and hormonal therapies may lead to hair thinning, bald patches, or complete hair loss.
Radiation therapy can cause hair loss at the site being treated. There are no proven methods that can prevent hair loss, however, patient feedback suggests that treating your scalp gently, using mild hair-care products and a soft-bristle brush and sleeping on a satin pillowcase can help reduce the amount of hair you lose and protect what remains.
Being proactive before you lose your hair may make it less upsetting and improve your self confidence. Get a shorter haircut before you start treatment — it will make your hair look thicker and may help hair loss seem less noticeable to others later on. You may even want to consider a close crop. Many find it less traumatic to shave their hair prior to chemotherapy than to watch it fall out in clumps.
If you plan to wear a wig, try to get fitted for one before you experience any hair loss. You may select a wig that looks as similar to your hair as possible or decide on a different hairstyle or color.
Anticipating questions from family, friends, and co-workers who may ask you about your hair loss can help, too. Give a simple response that creates boundaries and people will follow your lead: ‘This is a tough subject for me to talk about. I will let you know if and when I’m ready to do so.’”
Getting perspective and coping strategies from people who have walked in your shoes is comforting because they understand the impact of cancer in a way that others don’t. Participate in a support group. “It can be validating to know that the emotions you are having are normal,” Meeting other people whose hair is growing back after completing treatment is a reminder that you can get through this, too.”
Children tend to cope better if they receive honest, age-appropriate information about what’s going on, so it’s a good idea to prepare them for the physical changes you expect to have before starting treatment,”
Consult with a Dermatologist: A dermatologist can help address issues around skin sensitivity that may result from losing hair on your scalp and other areas of the body. They can also suggest topical drug formulations for the scalp and the eyelashes that may be used to speed up the regrowth of hair post-treatment.
Hair thinning that persists well beyond the completion of chemotherapy occurs in less than 2% of patients. In these cases, a dermatologist can run blood tests to determine if the cause is due to a thyroid problem or low levels of iron, zinc, or vitamin D, which can be replenished to stimulate hair growth.
Remember, Your Hair Will Grow Back
Hair loss often begins 10 to 14 days after starting chemotherapy, though this can vary and begins to regrow 4 to 6 weeks after completing chemotherapy. Your hair may come back in a different colour or texture than before chemotherapy. Seeking emotional support from a support group or counselor may help you cope and get the support you need and deserve.
Humor
Adding a bit of humor can sometimes ease the transition to complete hair loss. From partial shaving to create a temporary Mohawk, to borrowing temporary tattoos from a child to apply to your scalp, some people have eased this transition with humor.
“Throughout cancer treatment always look for the funny side, humour produces endorphins that assist in fighting cancer,” Were concluded.
