Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Because treatment often damages healthy cells and tissues, unwanted side
effects are common. These side effects depend mainly on the location of the
tumor and the type and extent of the treatment. Side effects may not be the
same for each person, and they may even 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. Booklets such as
Radiation Therapy and You,
Chemotherapy and You,
and
Eating Hints for Cancer Patients may be viewed, downloaded, and ordered from
http://www.cancer.gov/publications. These materials also may be ordered by calling
the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) also
provides helpful materials. Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth,
Chemotherapy and Your Mouth, and other booklets are available from NIDCR. See
"National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Information Resources"
for a list of publications.
It takes time to heal after surgery, and the time needed to recover is
different for each person. You may be uncomfortable for the first few days
after surgery. However, medicine can usually control the pain. Before surgery,
you should discuss the plan for pain relief with your doctor or nurse. After
surgery, your doctor can adjust the plan if you need more pain relief.
It is common to feel tired or weak for a while. Also, surgery may cause tissues
in your face to swell. This swelling usually goes away within a few weeks.
However, removing lymph nodes can result in swelling that lasts a long time.
Surgery to remove a small tumor in the mouth may not cause any lasting
problems. For a larger tumor, however, the surgeon may remove part of the
palate, tongue, or jaw. This surgery may change your ability to chew, swallow,
or talk. Also, your face may look different after surgery. Reconstructive or
plastic surgery may be done to rebuild the bones or tissues of the mouth. (See
"Reconstruction.")
Almost all patients who have radiation therapy to the head and neck area
develop oral side effects. That is why it is important to get the mouth in good
condition before cancer treatment begins. Seeing a dentist two weeks before
cancer treatment begins gives the mouth time to heal after dental work.
The side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the amount of radiation
given. Some side effects in the mouth go away after radiation treatment ends,
while others last a long time. A few side effects (such as dry mouth) may never
go away.
Radiation therapy may cause some or all of these side effects:
-
Dry mouth: Dry mouth can make it hard for you to eat, talk, and swallow. It can
also lead to tooth decay. You may find it helpful to drink lots of water, suck
ice chips or sugar-free hard candy, and use a saliva substitute to moisten your
mouth.
-
Tooth decay: Radiation can cause major tooth decay problems. Good mouth care
can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy and can help you feel better.
-
Doctors usually suggest that people gently brush their teeth, gums, and tongue
with an extra-soft toothbrush and
fluoride
toothpaste after every meal and
before bed. If brushing hurts, you can soften the bristles in warm water.
-
Your dentist may suggest that you use fluoride gel before, during, and after
radiation treatment.
-
It also helps to rinse your mouth several times a day with a solution made from
1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt in one cup of warm water. After
you rinse with this solution, follow with a plain water rinse.
-
Sore throat or mouth: Radiation therapy can cause painful ulcers and
inflammation. Your doctor can suggest medicines to help control the pain. Your
doctor also may suggest special rinses to numb the throat and mouth to help
relieve the soreness. If your pain continues, you can ask your doctor about
stronger medicines.
-
Sore or bleeding gums: It is important to brush and floss teeth gently. You may
want to avoid areas that are sore or bleeding. To protect your gums from
damage, it is a good idea to avoid the use of toothpicks.
-
Infection: Dry mouth and damage to the lining of the mouth from radiation
therapy can cause infection to develop. It helps to check your mouth every day
for sores or other changes and to tell your doctor or nurse about any mouth
problems.
-
Delayed healing after dental care: Radiation treatment may make it hard for
tissues in the mouth to heal. It helps to have a thorough dental exam and
complete all needed dental treatment well before radiation therapy begins.
-
Jaw stiffness: Radiation can affect the chewing muscles and make it difficult
for you to open your mouth. You can prevent or reduce jaw stiffness by
exercising your jaw muscles. Health care providers often suggest opening and
closing the mouth as far as possible (without causing pain) 20 times in a row,
3 times a day.
-
Denture problems: Radiation therapy can change the tissues in your mouth so
that dentures do not fit anymore. Because of soreness and dry mouth, some
people may not be able to wear dentures for as long as one year after radiation
therapy. After the tissues heal completely and your mouth is no longer sore,
your dentist may need to refit or replace your dentures.
-
Changes in the sense of taste and smell: During radiation therapy, food may
taste or smell different.
-
Changes in voice quality: Your voice may be weak at the end of the day. It may
also be affected by changes in the weather. Radiation directed at the neck may
cause your
larynx
to swell, causing voice changes and the feeling of a lump in
your throat. Your doctor may suggest medicine to reduce this swelling.
-
Changes in the
thyroid:
Radiation treatment can affect your thyroid (an organ
in your neck beneath the voice box). If your thyroid does not make enough
thyroid hormone, you may feel tired, gain weight, feel cold, and have dry skin
and hair. Your doctor can check the level of thyroid hormone with a blood test.
If the level is low, you may need to take thyroid hormone pills.
-
Skin changes in the treated area: The skin in the treated area may become red
or dry. Good skin care is important at this time. It is helpful to expose this
area to the air while protecting it from the sun. Also, avoid wearing clothes
that rub the treated area, and do not shave the treated area. You should not
use lotions or creams in the treated area without your doctor's advice.
-
Fatigue: You may become very tired, especially in the later weeks of radiation
therapy. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise their patients to
stay as active as they can.
Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be distressing, your doctor
can usually treat or control them. It helps to report any problems that you are
having so that your doctor can work with you to relieve them.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause some of the same side effects,
including painful mouth and gums, dry mouth, infection, and changes in taste.
Some anticancer drugs can also cause bleeding in the mouth and a deep pain that
feels like a toothache. The problems you have depend on the type and amount of
anticancer drugs you receive, and how your body reacts to them. You may have
these problems only during treatment or for a short time after treatment ends.
Generally, anticancer drugs affect cells that divide rapidly. In addition to
cancer cells, these rapidly dividing cells include the following:
-
Blood cells: These cells fight infection, help your blood to clot, and carry
oxygen to all parts of the body. When drugs affect your blood cells, you are
more likely to get infections, bruise or bleed easily, and feel very weak and
tired.
-
Cells in hair roots: Chemotherapy can lead to hair loss. The hair grows back,
but sometimes the new hair is somewhat different in color and texture.
-
Cells that line the digestive tract: Chemotherapy can cause poor appetite,
nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores. Many of these side
effects can be controlled with drugs.
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