Anticancer Drug Therapy
Stem Cell Transplantation
Radiation Therapy

Because cancer treatment often damages healthy cells and tissues, unwanted side effects are common. Side effects depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next. Before treatment starts, your health care team will explain possible side effects and suggest ways to help you manage them.

The NCI provides helpful booklets about cancer treatments and coping with side effects, such as Chemotherapy and You, Radiation Therapy and You, and Eating Hints for Cancer Patients.

Anticancer Drug Therapy

The side effects of anticancer drugs depend mainly on the specific drugs and the dose. The drugs affect cancer cells and other cells that divide rapidly:

• Blood cells: When drugs affect your healthy blood cells, you are more likely to get infections, bruise or bleed easily, and feel very weak and tired.
• Cells in hair roots: Anticancer drugs can cause you to lose your hair. The hair will grow back, but it may be somewhat different in color and texture.
• Cells that line the digestive tract: Anticancer drugs can cause poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores.

The drugs used for myeloma also may cause skin rash, blisters, cramps, blurred vision, lung problems, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, and blood clots.

Your doctor can suggest ways to control many of these side effects.

Stem Cell Transplantation

People who have stem cell transplantation face an increased risk of infection, bleeding, and other side effects because of the large doses of chemotherapy or radiation they receive. In addition, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may occur in people who receive stem cells from a donor. In GVHD, the donated stem cells react against the patient's tissues. Most often, GVHD affects the liver, skin, or digestive tract. GVHD can be serious. It can occur any time after the transplant, even years later. Steroids or other drugs may help treat or control GVHD.

The NCI offers a fact sheet called "Bone Marrow Transplantation and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: Questions and Answers." You can read it on the Internet at http://www.cancer.gov/publications. Also, Information Specialists at the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can send you this fact sheet and answer questions about stem cell transplantation.

Radiation Therapy

The side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the dose of radiation and the part of the body that is treated. For example, your skin in the treated area may become red, dry, and tender. You also may lose your hair in the treated area.

You are likely to become very tired during radiation therapy, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to try to stay as active as they can.

Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be distressing, your doctor can usually relieve them.

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