What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer and some other conditions. It works by killing cancer cells by damaging them to stop them reproducing and spreading. It can be used if the cancer has spread of if there is a risk it may spread. Chemotherapy can be called curative chemo which is used to try and cure the cancer completely whilst other forms of chemo can be used to make other treatments such as radiotherapy more effective, reduce the risk of re-occurrence and to relieve symptoms. Chemotherapy can be given in a number of ways such as tablets or directly into a vein. Sadly, chemotherapy has number of side effects. Chemotherapy is unable to distinguish the good and bad cells and therefore destroys them all.
These cause the following side effects which patients may or may not experience :
- Fatigue Nausea & vomiting
- Hair loss Mouth ulcers
- Bleeding gums
- Nose bleeds
- Flu like symptoms
- High temperatures
- Constipation & Diarrhoea
- Dry & flaky skin
- Acne
- Shortness of breathe
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Increased risk of infection
- Lack of energy
- Easily bruised skin
- Chapped lips
- Loss of appetite
- Brittle nails
- Short term memory loss
Whilst there are many possible side effects you may find you only experience a few whilst others may sadly suffer from many of them. It is for this reason we want to offer Chemo Survival Kits. Chemo Survival Kits in no way want to take away funding from the charities that work so hard to find cures against this terrible disease. We only hope to provide a bag to each patient at the start of their treatment which is for them to let them know they are thought of and to hopefully make the journey just a little easier.
