Table of Contents

Chapter 7: The Role of Chemotherapy

d. Dealing With the Side Effects of Chemotherapy

The benefits of using powerful drugs to kill your cancer are clear: the stronger the drug, the more likely it will do its job effectively. But there’s a downside to this as well: the stronger the drug, the more likely it will also kill normal, healthy cells in its quest to find your cancer cells. Fortunately, unlike the normal cells, which recover over time, the cancer cells have a much harder time growing back.

Each of the drugs available today works in a slightly different fashion, and it’s hard to predict what sorts of side effects any one person will experience. But there are a few rules of thumb when it comes to chemotherapy that you should always keep in mind.

1. Ignore what other men have told you about their reactions to the different drugs. The dosage that you get might be completely different than what they got, the combination of drugs that you get might be completely different than what they got, the way you respond to the drugs might be completely different—you get the picture. No two people are the same and no two cancers are the same, which means that no two people will react to the drugs in the same way.

2. Pay close attention to your reactions to the different drugs. Your doctors, nurses, and pharmacists will tell you what to look out for in general, but that doesn’t mean you won’t experience something that they didn’t anticipate. You’re the only one who really knows your own body, so you’re the only one who can know when something’s not right. Don’t worry about being a pest if you call with questions or concerns. It’s far better to be extra cautious than to ignore something that might be causing you harm.

3. Don’t be "macho." There are plenty of drugs available to help ward off or treat the different side effects. If your doctors and nurses give you prescriptions for anti-nausea pills, fill the prescription and use them. If you’re having trouble sleeping or are feeling weak and exhausted, work with your health care team to do something about it. All treatments work best when your body is at its strongest. It’s your doctor’s job to be sure the chemotherapy is fighting your cancer—and it’s your job to stay as healthy and strong as possible.

4. Focus on yourself. Chemotherapy drugs are powerful and can take a toll on your body. This is a time for you to focus on what you need to do to make you well. Find something that helps you relax—listening to music, doing yoga or stretching exercises, taking a walk in the woods or on the beach, or watching a movie marathon on television. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it can help you relieve stress and can help you with the most important part of your cancer treatment—getting well.

Finally, keep in mind that chemotherapy might not be appropriate for everyone. Although many of the side effects are temporary, it can take toll on your body, increasing your risk for infection and causing fatigue. Therefore, when deciding about whether chemotherapy is right for you, your doctors will evaluate how strong and healthy you are, and determine how well you are likely to tolerate the treatment regimen.