What are the common side effects of Mesothelioma Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking rapidly dividing cells in the body, and it is this characteristic that makes them effective against cancer cells. But other cells in the body, such as those in the bone marrow, the lining of the mouth and intestines, and the hair follicles, also divide rapidly and are likely to be affected by chemotherapy leading to side effects. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and dose of drugs you are given and on how long they are used for. These side effects can include: -hair loss

-mouth sores

-loss of appetite

-nausea and vomiting

-increased chance of infections (due to low white blood cell counts) -easy bruising or bleeding (due to low blood platelet counts)

-fatigue (due to low red blood cell counts)

These side effects are usually temporary and go away after treatment is finished. There are often ways to lessen these side effects. For example, there are drugs that can be given to help prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. Be sure to ask your doctor about medicines to help reduce side effects, and let him or her know when you do have side effects so they can be managed effectively.

Some drugs can have other side effects. For example, cisplatin can lead to nerve damage . This can sometimes lead to hearing loss or symptoms in the hands and feet such as pain, burning or tingling sensations, sensitivity to cold or heat, or weakness. (This is called peripheral neuropathy.) In most cases this goes away once treatment is stopped, but it may last a long time in some people. You should report this, as well as any other side effects or changes you notice while getting chemotherapy, to your medical team so that you can get prompt treatment for them. In some cases, the doses of the chemotherapy drugs may need to be reduced or treatment may need to be delayed or stopped to prevent the effects from getting worse.




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