Side-effects vary from drug to drug. But there are some which are more commonly seen and these are as follows:
Weakness: This is one of the commonest side-effects with most of the anti-cancer drugs. If the patient shows improvement in cancer situation after treatment, this side-effect may be felt less and less as the treatment goes on.
Decreased Appetite: Decreased appetite or even loss of appetite may be observed for some days after the administration of the drug. The appetite may improve gradually.
Nausea and Vomiting: This is observed with most of the drugs. In some cases it may be so severe, as to make the doctor reconsider his decision to change to an other drug. Mild to moderate symptoms can be controlled with antiemetic drugs.
Sore Mouth: The lining cells of the mucous membrane in the mouth get damaged with chemotherapeutic agents and so there is sore mouth and difficulty in eating. Liquid diet taken with a straw proves helpful to the patient.
Diarrhoea: All along the lining of the intestinal tract, as with the mucous membrane in the mouth, there is damage and inflammation. That is why the food passes by quickly without being absorbed properly, leading on to diarrhoea. Easily digestible diet and drugs that can lead to formation of proper stools, help the patient.
Hair Loss: Many of the anti-cancer drugs cause loss of hair. This is because the hair cells divide rapidly (like those present in the mucous membrane of the intestine) and hence are more susceptible to the action of these drugs. This hair loss is a temporary process and after some time the hair re-grow as before.
Skin Rashes: Itchy rashes, red and raised above the surface of the skin are not uncommon with some drugs. They disturb the sleep of the patient and are generally very annoying. Soothing skin lotions provide some help.
Bone Marrow Suppression: The cells in the bone marrow are fast dividing ones—faster dividing than those of the intestinal lining or of the hair root. Anti-cancer drugs when they act on the fast dividing cancer cells, also act more or less similarly on the dividing bone marrow cells, killing them in the process. The result is that the RBC, WBC and platelets which are formed in the bone marrow, have their rate of formation much diminished, and so less of them come into the bloodstream. The result is anaemia due to less of RBC, granulocytopenia and subsequent danger of infection, and thrombocytopenia and bleeding from various sources. Utmost care is needed to prevent suppression of bone marrow, or to replace by blood transfusion the loss of blood cells.
Loss of Reproductive Function: In males, anti-cancer drugs diminish the number of spermatozoa being released from the testes, and in females they cause stoppage of menstrual cycles (amenorrhoea) leading on to infertility.
This infertility may not be permanent, and reproductive power may get restored after the stoppage of the drug. Chemotherapy is not given during pregnancy as it may lead to termination of pregnancy or malformation of the foetus.