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Tags: health, wellness, medicine, chemotherapy side effects
 It is a grueling battle having to contend with a deadly disease, one of which is cancer. Incidences of cancer have increased throughout the years instigating more awareness towards the general populace to be mindful of their health. Medical science and technology on the other hand devised more means and measures for prevention and treatment.
Conventional medicine generally resorts to chemotherapy for treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy as a cancer treatment makes use of pills, catheter or injection to infuse drugs or certain substances in the body. The primary purpose of these drugs and substances is to attack cancer cells, and ultimately kill them. Cancer cells generally grow and reproduce rapidly.
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They are those causing havoc to a certain body part or parts. Chemotherapy drugs are chemically designed to hamper the growth and spread of cancer cells. The treatment can be carried out at home, a clinic or the hospital. As for the dosage and frequency, they are dependent on the extent of the illness or cancer stage and the patient’s response to the medication/s.
Therapy sessions can range from daily, weekly or monthly bases. Some on off schedules. A large number of cancer cases have had positive responses from chemotherapy. To a significant extent, it is an effective cancer treatment. But entailed of this measure is yet another battle- against chemotherapy side effects. Drug and chemical treatment does not only destroy cancer cells.
Normal and healthy cells in the body can be damaged as well. As a result, there is an offshoot of chemotherapy side effects, some of which are temporary, others permanent. What are common chemotherapy side effects and the means to relieve them? Fatigue is one. Chemotherapy side effects often differ from one patient to another, but tiredness is common among them.
The degree of fatigue as a side effect varies. Some patients may find it debilitating while others can manage with their lives normally. Nausea and vomiting are also two very common chemotherapy side effects. These symptoms may be controlled with an anti-sickness medication, but supervised by the doctor. Certain cancer drugs can cause mouth sores and ulcers to appear.
Washing the mouth regularly can be helpful pertaining to this symptom. One of the distressing chemotherapy side effects is hair thinning or hair loss. This can be avoided by covering around the scalp when undergoing treatment. This can prevent the dilemma to some extent. In most cases, however, hair grows back after the therapy.
Normal cells such as white blood cells may be diminished during chemotherapy causing a weakened immune system. Susceptibility to infections may then arise. Decrease in blood cell count may be experienced. As a result, one may become weak or even develop anemia. A useful measure is to have regular blood tests for monitoring and regulation.
Battling a disease is often distressing, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. It can also tremendously drain one’s financial resources. But perhaps everything is worth compromising for life to be spared. And a battle won over a disease may not necessarily mean having been freed from its grip.
But rather having the courage to go on and rise above the anguish.
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About the author
The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose recently published a step-by-step guide on how to lose weight the EASY way and become totally healthy and happy. More info on her life-changing eating habits plan HERE.
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