Chemotherapy’s Effects and You - A Guide to Expected Changes During Treatment
- Pink Project
- Feb 13, 2022
- 3 min read
The Pink Project
Breast cancer and any chronic illness are major stressors on your body, health, and wellbeing. It's no surprise that to accommodate for sudden changes relating to health, whether it be new medications or treatments, your body changes with it.
Topics
What Happens With Chemotherapy?
During chemotherapy, the use of some anti-cancer drugs and lower physical activity (due to low energy, nausea, or other factors) may all play a role in changes to weight during and after breast cancer treatment. Although it is common, this may be distressing for some who are experiencing changes to their body - but know that you are not alone! Changes to your body may create feelings of vulnerability, uncertainty, and be a stressful event.
Gastrointestinal Changes
Chemotherapy also has the chance to affect your body's normal digestive function. Chemotherapy may impact your taste and hunger, and cause nausea with or without a trigger. You may also experience bleeding gums and mouth sores which can further make eating uncomfortable - ultimately leading to unintentional weight loss. A good tip is to keep track of your symptoms (the frequency, duration, whether it happens alone or after doing something else, anything that relieves/makes it worse) and inform your health care provider.
Immunity and Hematic Changes
When undergoing chemotherapy, the treatment may lead to a lot of changes besides weight gain or loss. Often chemotherapy may lead to Thrombocytopenia, a condition that lowers the number of platelets in your bloodstream (cells that help clot your blood and form scars). This loss of platelets may cause easy bruising, nosebleeds, and a heavier than normal menstrual cycle.
Neurological Changes
In terms of neurological changes, some people may get “Chemo Brain”, this is caused by the drug interacting with your Central Nervous System. This is often not permanent, but it should be discussed with your health care provider if you experience it - this will allow you and your HCP to better manage the symptoms and side effects your experience.
Hair Loss
Of course, the main thing that the media and movies associated with cancer and chemotherapy is hair loss. Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, are created to target cells that rapidly reproduce and grow (aka proliferate). Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not know how to differentiate which cells are which, and blindly targets all cells that rapidly proliferate such as hair and skin cells. You may notice hair loss on your scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic region, or on your arms and legs. For those receiving radiation therapy to target brain cancer, the chances of losing hair on your head are much higher due to the specific location of the tumour and radiation.
Of course, not everyone will lose their hair, and if they do it will be at different rates and amounts based on your treatment regimen and type. Some who hold value and mourn the loss of their hair may choose to wear wigs if they notice changes to their hair. Others may choose to go bald or have a shaved head, sometimes opting to wear fun head-wraps and pieces.
Resources for Hair Loss, Wigs, and Mastectomy Organizations in Ontario
A list of resources for wigs and other solutions in Ontario is listed below if you’re interested in learning more:
Canada
Greater Toronto Area
Southwestern Ontario
Central Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario
You’re never alone in this battle. If you are having trouble coping with your diagnosis, need to speak to someone, or want more information, please see our Resources tab.
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References
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (2022, February 7). Hair loss and your cancer treatment. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/hair-loss-cancer-treatment
Pedersen, B., Groenkjaer, M., Falkmer, U., & Delmar, C. (2017). Understanding the essential meaning of measured changes in weight and body composition among women during and after adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 40(6), 433-444. https://doi.org/10.1097/ncc.0000000000000427
Vandergriendt, C. (2021, April 21). Long-term side effects of chemotherapy. Healthline. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/long-term-side-effects-of-chemotherapy#takeaway
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