Chemotherapy is a well-known and frequently used way to treat cancer. Along with physical recovery, patients undergo some side effects. Not all patients experience the same side effects or severity. They undergo and respond in different ways.
Common side effects are –
- Hair loss (not only from the scalp but also from the eyebrows and other relevant parts of the body)
- Low Blood Cell Counts
- Damage in nerve
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Mouth sores (difficulty in swallowing)
- Digestive issues and eating problems
- Changes in nail and skin
- Fertility issues
- Cognitive issues
- Emotional changes
These side effects eventually lead to some emotional and psychological changes. Taking care of a cancer patient’s feelings is also a part of patient care, and it’s very essential. As a caregiver or closer one, we need to understand how a cancer patient feels during this time.
- Fatigue: This is very common, and after chemotherapy patients most often feel tired.
- Relief: Chemotherapy is done! That means you have overcome a challenging period. Patients feel relieved and thankful to all.
- Hope: Completion of chemotherapy gives a new hope to survive.
- Anxiety: Side effects and the possibility of recurrences cause anxiety and fear. “Uncertainty” is linked with cancer.
- Sadness: After receiving chemotherapy, cancer patients need to adjust a lot to physical and lifestyle changes. These cause sadness.
- Appearance concern: Many changes happen in physical appearance, and patients find it difficult to accept.
- Changes in Relationships: The cancer journey changes the dynamics of every relationship. Some relationships strengthen, and some break down.
- Finding the Meaning of Life: Uncertainty of life expectancy, changes in relationships, physical disturbances, and lifestyle changes altogether make a patient feel about “the meaning of life”.
