Chemotherapy is often considered a necessary step in cancer treatment. It’s one of the most common ways to treat various types of cancer and can be highly effective in helping a person recover or extend their life by preventing the cancer from spreading. For those undergoing treatment, providing proper cancer care at home services is crucial to support recovery and manage side effects.
While each chemotherapy treatment is tailored to the type and stage of cancer, the primary goal is to shrink or eliminate cancer cells. It works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, either by stopping them from reproducing or making them unable to function properly, ultimately causing the cells to die.
If your loved one is about to begin chemotherapy, understanding the potential symptoms and challenges ahead can help you and your support team provide the best possible cancer care at home during this critical time.
Seven Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Talk with your loved one’s doctor about which side effects are most likely with the type of chemotherapy they will be receiving, especially if you’re considering cancer care at home services.
While many people associate chemotherapy side effects with hair loss, it’s important to know that this is just one of many possible side effects and doesn’t affect everyone undergoing treatment.
- Chemobrain or cognitive struggles: Chemotherapy may make it difficult for your loved one to process information or solve a problem. Simple tasks like following a recipe or paying bills might be too difficult during chemo treatment.
- Nausea: This effect is often most strongly felt the day after the chemo is administered. Nausea can easily lead to vomiting and dehydration.
- Fatigue: It’s very common for those going through chemotherapy to become extremely fatigued and need to rest or sleep a lot. It can make managing a home very difficult if they don’t have help.
- Diarrhea or constipation: Chemotherapy can interfere with the body’s bowel functions.
- Hair loss: Some forms of chemotherapy will cause the hair to thin or fall out completely.
- Neuropathy: This symptom refers to nerve damage that occurs from chemotherapy, which causes sensations of burning, tingling, or numbness in the hands and feet.
- Low red blood cell count: This symptom could put your loved one at risk for infections or getting ill.
Helping Your Loved One Manage Chemotherapy Side Effects
Supporting a loved one during chemotherapy can be challenging, but there are many ways to provide effective cancer care at home with professional caregivers to help ease her symptoms and improve her comfort.
While you may not be able to eliminate her symptoms entirely, using thoughtful techniques to help her manage them can make her treatment more manageable and less stressful.
- Keep your loved one hydrated. Your loved one can easily become dehydrated if she is vomiting or has diarrhea. Encourage her to drink throughout the day, making sure to have at least 1 to 2 liters of water each day.
- Help her stay on top of her medication dosages. The doctor can prescribe medications to relieve nausea or to help with bowel changes.
- Hire home care providers as part of her cancer care at home team. Knowing that someone else will take care of household chores can provide your loved one with the ability to rest as needed.
- Provide meals and snacks that help reduce the risk of increasing nausea.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Cancer Care at Home in Campbell, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
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