1. Health
2. Cancer

Help me manage cancer treatment side effects

• Article - Cancer and Mouth Sores

  Mouth sores are one of the most common side effects of cancer and chemotherapy. Learn how to prevent, treat and reduce the pain of chemo mouth sores.

• Article - Understanding Low White Blood Cell Counts

  Understanding a Low White Blood Cell Count: What a low white blood cell count means for your parent’s health and how their doctor might treat it.

• Article - Managing Treatment for Low Platelets

  Find out how to protect your parent from the dangers of uncontrolled bleeding caused by a low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia).

• Checklist - Preparing for Hair Loss: A To-Do List

  A list of 18 items that will come in handy when you expect your parent's cancer treatment to result in hair loss.

• Article - Coping With the Psychological Issues of Hair Loss

  Hair loss from cancer treatment is a difficult issue for aging parents. This article offers guidance to help them cope.

• Article - How Blood Test Results Can Affect a Chemotherapy Session

  Blood Test Results and Chemotherapy. When undergoing chemotherapy, a lot hinges on the blood test results that precede each chemotherapy session.

• Article - Understanding Low Platelets

  Why chemotherapy, radiation, and some cancers lower your elderly parent's platelet count, and how a low platelet count might affect her treatment.

• Article - Understanding Low Red Blood Counts

  Chemotherapy can cause low red blood cell (RBC) counts. Understand the RBC tests, low red blood count symptoms and what to do about them.

• Article - Managing Low Red Blood Counts

  How to help your parent cope with fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and other symptoms when he has anemia due to a low red blood cell count.

• Article - Neuropathy and Chemotherapy: What You Can Do

  Chemotherapy can cause neuropathy, the medical term for nerve damage. Here's what you can do to prevent and minimize neuropathy and nerve damage.

• Article - Nausea and Cancer Treatment: What You Can Do

  Chemotherapy is the number one cause of nausea in cancer patients. The first step to preventing nausea is to take the threat of nausea seriously.

• Checklist - 15 Questions to Ask About Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

  These fifteen questions about radiation therapy for breast cancer will help you make good decisions about your parent's treatment.

• Article - Nausea: Helping Your Parent Keep Up His Appetite

  An action plan for helping your parent with cancer boost his appetite so he can get the nutrition he needs.

• Article - Hair Loss: All Is Not Lost

  Find out which chemotherapy drugs cause complete hair loss and how to use wigs and scarves to help you cope with chemo drug induced hair loss.

• Article - 12 Ways to Cope with "Chemo Brain"

  Strategies for helping your parent who's being treated for cancer with issues of memory, concentration, and organization.

• Article - How to Deal With Hair Loss From Chemotherapy or Radiation

  How to Deal With Hair Loss From Chemotherapy. Take care of your scalp, shave, use sunscreen, treat hair gently and protect eyebrows and eyelashes.

• Article - Managing Treatment for Low White Blood Cell Count

  When your parent's immune system is weak due to a low white blood cell count (neutropenia), follow these precautions to lower the risk of infection.

Questions & Answers

• Question - What can be done about sores on my head from chemotherapy?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What can be done about the swelling of the legs and feet from chemo?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Does chemotherapy change the scent of a person's skin?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Can low hemoglobin be causing my father's fatigue, and, if so, what can I do to help him feel better?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How long does it take for hair loss to return after chemp?

  This question has been answered by three Community Members

• Question - How long does chemo stay in the body?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is there any way to help my mother, who's losing her hair, decrease the itching on her scalp?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I give my father a diuretic to help with the swelling in his feet caused by liver cancer?

  When swollen feet are caused by liver cancer, will a diuretic help relieve the swelling? Or is the cause of the swelling more complicated than that?

• Question - Does chemotherapy make you more prone to muscle tears?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Which systems in the body are affected by chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can we prevent bruising due to low platelets?

  Bruising from low platelets is a common side effect in chemotherapy patients. Find out what you can do to reduce low platelet bruising.

• Question - What can help neck pain after chemo treatments?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are the side effects of Ixempra?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I comfort my mother when she feels distressed about losing her hair?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can we do for kidney pain during chemo and radiation?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Exactly which chemotherapy drugs are cardiotoxic?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Where can I get a bracelet that helps with nausea due to chemo?

  This question has been answered by three Community Members

• Question - Why doesn't my mother's doctor want to perform a red blood cell transfusion, just because she's never had one before?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What Questions Should I ask my Mother's Doctor if she Wants to Stop Chemo?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my Grandfather with his chemo treatments received via catheter?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I prevent frequent nosebleeds caused by low platelets?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is one of the side effects of chemo a tendency to fall down?...

  When someone is weak from chemo, is falling a side effect? Do falls from chemo treatment caused by numbness or weakness require medical attention?

• Question - Why won't my parent's doctor order a blood transfusion to boost his platelets?

  When platelets are low, should doctors do a platelet transfusion? Most doctors hold off transfusing unless a patient with low platelets is bleeding.

• Question - How can I help my parent control nausea while he's on chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is shaking as a side effect for chemo for non-hodgkins lymphoma serious?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there anything to help my dad with stomach pains and diarrhea while taking chemo?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Using VP160 on a 79 year old father for his lung cancer

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - I am on follow up chemo for colorectal cancer, also...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How careful of germs do we need to be when my father's white blood count is low?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can Taxol cause severe ankle, leg, knee and hip pain?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is it true that temporary blindness is a side effect of chemo?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why does Chemo kill white blood cells? Does it deplete...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I get the doctor to be more responsive when my mother has side effects from chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is blurred vision a common chemo side effect?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I convince my father to stop chemotherapy that's no longer working?

  When is it time to stop chemotherapy? My father wants to continue chemo, even though it's stopped working, because he wants to "keep on fighting."

• Question - Sex and chemo: Is it safe for the woman?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Use a Satin Pillowcase to Minimize Hair Loss

  If your parent is undergoing chemotherapy and losing...

• Tip - Serve Small Portions on Large Plates to Control Nausea

  If dealing with nausea is a daily battle for your parent...

• Tip - Cut the Pain of Mouth Sores With Antacid Solutions

  Antacids can help reduce mouth sore pain as a result of chemotherapy or radiation. Learn how to alleviate mouth sore pain by using common antacids.

• Tip - Sticky Wig Pads for Sensitive Skin

  If your parent's scalp is sensitive or itchy after...

• Tip - Use a Child-Size Spoon for Swallowing Problems

  People with cancer often have problems swallowing,...

• Tip - Protect dry nails caused by cancer treatment

  Protect dry nails during cancer treatment with chemical-free nail polish and polish remover.

• Tip - Reduce Tingling and Numbness from Neuropathy With Powdered L-Glutamine

  The drugs used for chemotherapy have the unfortunate...

• Tip - Suck on Zinc Lozenges to Combat a Bad Taste in the Mouth

  It's common among cancer patients to complain of a...

• Tip - Put a Foam Pad Under a Scarf for a More Natural Look

  If your mother is losing her hair from chemo treatments...

• Tip - Baby Brushes Reduce Hair Loss

  When your parent's hair is falling out as a result...

• Tip - Give Liquids Before Meals to Prevent Nausea

  Cancer patients battling nausea often find they start...

• Tip - Balance Your Parent's B Vitamins to Prevent and Treat Neuropathy

  Doctors typically suggest taking vitamin B6 -- sometimes...

• Tip - Be Wary of Consuming Too Much Ginger to Combat Nausea

  Ginger is often recommended for nausea. Too much ginger may raise the risk of internal bleeding in chemotherapy patients with low platelet counts.

• Tip - Butterscotch Candies Help with "Tinny" Mouth

  Sucking on flavored candies can help rid your mouth of the metallic taste that comes with some chemotherapy drugs.

• Tip - Vitamin B6 Can Prevent and Treat Hand-Foot Syndrome

  Taking high-dose vitamin B6 may ease hand-foot syndrome caused by chemotherapy.

• Tip - Use a Heating Pad to Relieve Leg Cramps

  Severe leg cramps can accompany some chemotherapy regimens...

• Tip - Crystal Light Helps Cancer Patients Drink Up

  Adding flavor to water can help cancer patients drink more, which helps cope with dry mouth, nausea, and other side effects of cancer treatment.

• Tip - Wear Socks to Bed to Prevent Leg Cramps

  Many cancer patients find that keeping their feet warm...

• Tip - Keep Your Parent Well Hydrated to Combat Nausea

  To keep nausea in check, make sure your parent starts...

• Tip - Use a Bed Cradle to Prevent Leg Cramps

  When your parent suffers from leg cramps and spends...

• Tip - Put on Support Hose First Thing in the Morning to Prevent Edema

  An ongoing problem for cancer patients is swelling...

• Tip - Use a Personal Fan to Combat Nausea

  Nausea, which affects about half of those who undergo...