Cancer

Cancer Treatment Side Effects See All Anemia and Infections See All Appetite Loss and Taste Changes See All Anxiety and Depression See All Bone Loss See All Constipation See All Diarrhea See All Fatigue See All Mouth Sores and Swallowing Issues See All Nausea and Vomiting See All Other Side Effects See All Pain Control See All Sexual Issues See All Skin Problems and Hair Loss See All Sleep and Neurological Issues See All  Anemia and Chemotherapy in Anemia and Infections Chemotherapy can damage your body’s ability to make red blood cells, so body tissues don't get enough oxygen. This is a condition called anemia. People who have anemia may feel very weak or tired, dizzy, faint, or short of breath, or may feel that their hearts are beating very fast. ...more  Bone Marrow Suppression and Chemotherapy in Anemia and Infections Nearly all chemo medicines suppress the bone marrow. And that, in turn, causes a reduction in the number of blood cells. This raises the risk for anemia, infection, bleeding, and bruising. Here's what you need to know. ...more  Appetite / Taste Changes and Chemotherapy in Appetite Loss and Taste Changes Treatment for cancer, as well as the cancer itself, can affect your sense of taste or smell. You may find that many foods seem to have less taste. Other foods, especially meat or other high-protein foods, may taste bitter or metallic. Read on to learn what you can do about it. ...more  Nutritional Management of Loss of Appetite During Cancer Treatment in Appetite Loss and Taste Changes Nausea, vomiting, or changes in food’s taste or smell all may contribute to you losing your appetite. Sometimes, the cancer treatment itself will make you feel like not eating. ...more  Anxiety with Cancer- Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery in Anxiety and Depression These skills take practice, and the more you practice them, the more helpful they are. Some people find it helpful to listen to soothing music as they practice. ...more  Taking Antidepressant Medicines in Anxiety and Depression You have come to the decision with your healthcare provider to try an antidepressant medicine for depression. To take antidepressant drugs medicine safely, you will need some information, which you can find here. ...more  Osteoporosis in Women with Cancer in Bone Loss If you have osteoporosis, your bones become porous and weak. As they lose strength, they are more likely to break. People with osteoporosis are particularly at risk for breaking these bones. ...more  Osteoporosis in Men with Cancer in Bone Loss Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become porous and weak. As they lose strength, they are more likely to break. Bones in the spine, hip, wrist, pelvis, and upper arm are particularly at risk of fracture in people with osteoporosis. ...more  Constipation and Chemotherapy in Constipation Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to help loosen the bowels. If you do not have mouth sores, try warm and hot fluids, including water, to help provide relief from constipation symptoms. ...more  Managing Constipation During Cancer Treatment in Constipation Check with your healthcare provider to see if you can increase the fiber in your diet. If you can, try foods such as whole-grain breads and cereals, dried fruits, wheat bran, and wheat germ; fresh fruits and vegetables; and dried beans and peas. ...more  Diarrhea and Chemotherapy in Diarrhea Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine to control your symptoms. Or if symptoms persist, you may need fluid replacement intravenously (IV). It is possible to replace these fluids intravenously on an outpatient basis. When you are having chemotherapy, you should not take any over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea without first talking with your healthcare provider. ...more  Cancer and Nutrition: Foods to Manage Diarrhea in Diarrhea During cancer treatment, you need enough calories and protein. But the foods you choose can also help you cope with side effects of cancer and its treatment. Here's what you need to know. ...more  Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Fatigue Fatigue can come and go or stay constant for a while. Fatigue from chemotherapy tends to happen a few days after the treatment, peaks, and then gets better before the next treatment. Fatigue from radiation may not happen right away. ...more  Fatigue: Definition in Fatigue Fatigue is a feeling of being tired, weak, or exhausted. It's the most common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment. ...more  Chewing and Swallowing Problems During Cancer Treatment in Mouth Sores and Swallowing Issues If you have mouth problems, eat soft, soothing foods (at cold or room temperature), and puree cooked foods in the blender to make them smoother and easier to eat. ...more  Chemotherapy-Related Mouth Mucositis in Children in Mouth Sores and Swallowing Issues Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to treat cancer. The medicines can cause an inflammation of the lining of the mouth. The mouth is lined with mucous membranes. When these are inflamed, it’s called mouth mucositis. ...more  Nausea and Vomiting with Chemotherapy in Nausea and Vomiting After getting a few treatments, some people feel nausea and begin vomiting in anticipation of the next treatment. The reaction is usually caused by something related to the treatment, like the smell of alcohol or the sight of a medical uniform. ...more  Nutritional Management of Nausea/Vomiting During Cancer Treatment in Nausea and Vomiting If you have nausea and vomiting, choose foods that are easy to chew, swallow, and digest, such as toast, crackers, and pretzels; yogurt; sherbet; skinned chicken; ice chips; and carbonated drinks. ...more  Hypercalcemia (High Calcium Level in the Blood) and Cancer in Other Side Effects Your calcium level can become too high if your cancer has spread to the bones, causing calcium to be released. Or your cancer may release certain hormones that affect the normal systems that control the calcium level in your blood. ...more  Lung Cancer: Managing Shortness of Breath in Other Side Effects Dyspnea is the technical word for difficulty breathing. It's a common symptom in people who have lung cancer or have cancer that has spread to the lungs. ...more  Cancer and Pain Management in Pain Control When you have cancer, it's important to talk about pain management with your healthcare provider. Even if pain can't be prevented, it can often be reduced or controlled. Here's what you need to know. ...more  Pain and Chemotherapy in Pain Control The goal of pain control is to prevent pain that can be prevented, and to treat pain that cannot be prevented. It is possible that you will not have pain from chemotherapy treatments. But if you do, you can take steps to relieve it. ...more  Life After Cancer: Changes in a Woman’s Sex Life in Sexual Issues Many women have changes in their sex life after cancer treatment. You may have both physical and emotional side effects. ...more  Prostate Cancer: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) after Treatment in Sexual Issues Erectile dysfunction is the inability for the penis to get or stay erect for sex. It's often a side effect of the treatments for prostate cancer. Read on to learn more. ...more  Skin/Nails and Chemotherapy in Skin Problems and Hair Loss Chemotherapy can affect both the skin and nails. It may cause an increased sensitivity to the sun as well as redness, rashes, itching, peeling, dryness, or acne. Nails may become darkened, yellow, brittle, or cracked, and may also develop vertical lines or ridges. ...more  Hair Loss and Chemotherapy in Skin Problems and Hair Loss People often choose to wear wigs, scarves, or hats while or after losing their hair. If this is what you would like to do, pick them out ahead of time and start wearing them before your hair is completely gone. ...more  Insomnia in Sleep and Neurological Issues One common problem in insomnia is that the bed has become connected with things other than sleep. This makes it hard to use the bed for sleep when you want. ...more  Hypersomnia in Sleep and Neurological Issues One side effect of cancer and cancer treatment is sleeping too much. This is called hypersomnia, meaning "too much sleep.'' ...more