The science behind chemotherapy side effects: Why they happen

Chemotherapy side effects occur as this cancer treatment, which uses potent drugs to kill tumor cells that grow rapidly in the body, also kills healthy cells that divide quickly. The strong chemicals travel throughout the body, affecting swiftly multiplying cells, whether they're cancerous or healthy.

Given this adverse impact of chemotherapy, many patients experience issues like fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea, among others.

Indeed, a study published in PubMed Central found that of the chemo patients surveyed, 97.4% experienced at least one side effect. At least six adverse effects occurred in about two in three (66.7%) patients.

The above figures underscore the importance of understanding chemotherapy side effects and why they occur, as it can help patients and their families prepare and navigate the treatment journey better.

What Are the Worst Side Effects of Chemotherapy? 

The worst chemotherapy side effects can be life-threatening and often require immediate medical attention. Febrile neutropenia, venous thromboembolism, and severe dehydration are just some examples.

Febrile Neutropenia

Febrile neutropenia is fever with neutropenia.

Neutropenia is a blood disorder characterized by an extremely low level of neutrophil (a form of white blood cell critical for combating bacterial infections). According to BMJ Best Practice, it's an oncologic emergency and is the most common life-threatening complication of cancer therapy.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)

VTE is a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins, such as the legs. The clots can then travel to the lungs, where they can cause pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal blockage.

According to the U.S. CDC, having cancer or undergoing cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, increases one's risk for VTE.

Severe Dehydration

Chemotherapy can cause severe dehydration that occurs as a result of its diarrhea or vomiting side effects.

Severe dehydration is bad enough for anyone, but it can be riskier for cancer patients, as it can worsen side effects and cause seizures due to severe electrolyte imbalances. Over time, it may even lead to kidney failure.

What Is the Fastest Way to Recover From Chemo? 

While the worst side effects of chemotherapy can be life-threatening, they don't happen to everyone who undergoes this treatment. Minor to moderate side effects are more common, such as fatigue, appetite loss, and diarrhea.

However, even these less severe "ramifications" can still be highly unpleasant, which is why patients should consider chemotherapy side effects management and recovery strategies, such as:

• Engaging in daily gentle exercises (and resting as needed) to improve fatigue
• Having small but frequent meals (ideally cold and bland) to manage nausea
• Washing hands frequently and using mild skin care products to prevent infections
• Staying hydrated to combat dehydration

Maintaining open and regular communication with chemotherapy patient care providers is just as crucial. It allows patients and their loved ones to report any new or worsening side effects.

Medical teams can then respond promptly, providing immediate and proactive interventions that can help ease chemotherapy side effects and reduce complications and the risk of more hospitalizations.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy may also benefit from integrative services, including those they can get with personalized care from RCCA. Integrative services are a suite of solutions designed to promote and support various aspects of one's health, including physical, mental, and emotional.

Why Do Chemotherapy Side Effects Occur? 

The chief causes of chemotherapy side effects are the potent drugs used for this treatment.

There's no denying that the key benefit of chemo is that it can kill cancer cells. Unfortunately, the drugs involved are also so potent that they damage and destroy healthy cells, too.

Chemotherapy's primary mode of action is to kill rapidly growing cells, which is the top hallmark of cancer. The problem is that it's not selective, meaning it can destroy other cells in the body that multiply quickly, even if they're beneficial and not cancerous.

Some examples of healthy, non-cancerous cells with fast-growing rates are:

• Bone marrow stem cells
• Activated immune cells (T and B cells)
• Skin cells
• Hair follicle cells
• Gastrointestinal tract lining cells

The body-wide action of chemotherapy drugs (meaning it circulates throughout the entire body) allows them to hit healthy cells, too. The damage they do to these non-cancerous cells results in the unpleasant side effects of the treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do the Benefits of Having Chemotherapy Outweigh Its Side Effects?

Whether the benefits of chemotherapy outweigh its risks and side effects is a highly individualized decision that each cancer patient should make in close consultation with their oncologists and medical teams.

Many individuals with cancer can benefit from this treatment. However, it's not the same for others, and in some cases, it may do more harm than good. As Verywell Health explains, oncologists may suggest other treatments if they worry a patient's body isn't strong enough to withstand chemo.

Healthcare teams weigh many factors before recommending chemotherapy, such as the type and stage of cancer and the goal of the treatment.

They may, for instance, consider chemo for patients with advanced or aggressive cancers. In this case, the treatment could be one of the most effective options for slowing or curing the disease and improving quality of life.

What Are Other Treatments for Cancer? 

Surgery is one of the primary treatments that doesn't involve chemotherapy drugs. The goal of this procedure is the physical removal of cancerous tissue. Doctors often use it for localized cancers (cancer that hasn't spread and remains in the original site of formation).

Radiation therapy is another alternative to chemotherapy. In this case, healthcare professionals use high-energy beams to destroy the DNA in cancer cells. Doing so either kills the cancerous cells or stops them from growing any further.

Doctors may also recommend targeted therapy to some patients with cancer. The treatment uses drugs engineered to target specific genes or molecular changes. It aims to create an "environment" in the body that is less conducive for cancer cells to grow and survive.

Chemotherapy Side Effects Are Often Manageable

Chemotherapy side effects, from fatigue to diarrhea and dehydration, are usually highly unpleasant, even painful, and sometimes dangerous. However, with adequate recovery strategies and the help of a caring team of cancer care specialists, patients can better manage these adverse impacts.

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This article was prepared by an independent contributor and helps us continue to deliver quality news and information.