How Does Chemotherapy Effect the Body?
About Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a form of treatment for people suffering from cancer. Chemo is different for everyone considering the type of cancer that is involved, the dosage of radiation administered, their chosen place of treatment and the place in which they receive treatment. Care and affordability vary state to state, but this article will cover the basic effects of chemotherapy on the mind and body.
Killing Cells
Anticancer treatments like chemo were produced to kill metastasizing cancer cells. While chemo does just that, it also kills normal, healthy cells. Chemotherapy targets fast-growing cells simply because cancer grows quickly. The chemotherapy inadvertently also attacks other fast-growing cells like digestive tract cells, blood cells, reproductive cells, and hair follicles. It can also affect the vital organs such as the heart, the lungs, kidneys, nerves, nervous system, bladder and lungs.
Nerves and Muscles
Nerve and muscle effects are all experienced differently depending on age, pain threshold, gender and body mass. Some common symptoms are weak muscles, trouble with coordination, constipation, painful tingling in feet, hearing deterioration, clumsiness, numbness, and dizziness.
Kidney and Bladder
Sometimes, chemo can affect the bladder and kidneys, changing the color of urination. Symptoms to note include: painful or frequent urination, chills with a fever or bloody urine.
Female Effects
Chemotherapy affects a woman's monthly cycle, ovaries, reproductive organs, the menopause cycle, and her fertility. Periods will stop during chemotherapy and afterwards the ovaries may have difficulties producing hormones. A woman may also become more prone to bladder and urinary tract infections. During and after chemotherapy the vagina tissue may become dry, making intercourse uncomfortable or painful without an outside lubricant.
Male Effects
Chemotherapy has long-lasting effects on fertility and sex in both men and women. Chemotherapy can damage chromosomes, leading to birth defects in children born after the procedure. Chemotherapy residue can be transferred through sperm, so the male undergoing chemotherapy must practice safe sex for some time after the radiation treatment stops. Some treatments strip men and women both of fertility, so it is useful to talk to your doctor about what kind of therapy you are undergoing.
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