Cancer Chemotherapy

Side Effect of Cancer Chemotherapy

Treatment of Cancer generally, devided into 2 groups, there is local therapy, such as surgery and radiation, and systemic therapy.Systemic therapy could be chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs, hormonal therapy, and biologic therapy. Nowdays, we also know the therapy called Therapy with molecular target.

In here, we will discuss about Cancer Chemotherapy, especially the bad effect would be rised.

Chemotherapy cytotoxic drugs attack cancer cells which is quick split. but sometimes these drugs give effect to the normal cells such as hair, mucosal , bone marrow, skin and sperm, which are have quick split,too. These drugs can also be toxic in some organs such as heart, liver, kidney, and nervous system.

Side Effect that is usually found in patient with Drugs Chemotherapy could be bone marrow suppression, mucositis, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, Alopecia, Infertility.

Bone Marrow Suppression

Trombocytopenia, anemia, and leucopenia are the side effect occur in chemotherapy drugs.

Mucositic

Mucositis can occur in oral cavity (called stomatitis), tongue (called Glossitis) , throat (called Esofagitis), enteric (called Enteritis) and rectum (called proctitis). Usually,mucositis occur in day 5 until 7 after chemotherapy. Mucositis can cause secondary infection, poor nutrision, dehydration, long time treatment  and also increasing that cost.

Oral hygiene sould be maintained, to prevent from secondary infection due mucositis.

Nausea and Vomiting 

Inflammation from mucosal cells (mucositis) that line the digestive tract causing Nausea and Vomiting. Nausea  can occur acutely, within 0-24 hours after chemotherapy, or 24-96 hours (1-4 days) after chemotherapy. Instead drug therapy, environment around patient and foods should be given attention,too. Avoiding spicy foods and foul-smelling, eating and drinking in small portion but frequent. Avoiding eat 1-2 hours before and after chemotherapy. Relaxing with watching TV, or Playing game, reading,etc, Sleeping during the period of nausea, Oral hygiene, also doing exercise.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea caused by the damage of gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells, causing inadequate absorption.Patients are encouraged to eat low-fiber, high protein, and drink enough fluids & electrolyte.As well as diarrhea due to other reasons, the replacement of fluids and electrolyte must be done.

Alopecia (hair lost)

Hair lost always occurs in chemotherapy due to the lethal effects of chemotherapy drugs to cells of the hair follicles. Total recovery would occur after therapy is stopped. In some patients, the hair can grow back during the therapy of anti-cancer drugs. It can reflect compensatory proliferative process -increasing the number of stem cells- or the development of drug resistance in normal tissue.

Infertility

Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis are vurnerable to the toxic effects of anti-cancer drugs.This is because the drugs effect to the rapid proliferatif cells. we know that Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis devide rapidly. In men with chemotherapy cancer, are often found the decrease in amount of sperm production.

Source: Translated from Text Book "Buku Ajar Ilmu Penyakit Dalam Jilid II forth Edition page 843"