Side Effects of Chemotherapy Treatment for GTD
It is hard to limit the effects of treatment so that only cancer cells are removed or destroyed. Treatment also damages healthy cells and tissues. As a result, it often causes unwanted, and sometimes serious, side effects. Your doctor or nurse can explain the possible side effects of your treatment. They can also suggest ways to help prevent or manage these side effects. It’s important that you let your doctor or nurse know if you experience any side effects.
Chemotherapy affects both cancer cells and normal cells. The side effects you might have depend on what kind of drug you take. Common side effects of methotrexate therapy include:
- sores in the mouth
- sores in the throat
- sores in other parts of the gastrointestinal system
You may also get:
- conjunctivitis—inflammation of the eye
- chest or abdomen pain
- irritation in the genital area
- skin rash
Hair loss and blood complications are less common side effects. Treatment with actinomycin-D or combination therapy is more likely to cause hair loss. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. The bone marrow may lose ability to produce blood cells. That, in turn, may lower the ability of the immune system to fight infection.
Depending on the type of chemotherapy drug used, other side effects may include:
- skin changes
- fever
- problems with the heart
- problems with the nervous system
- problems with the ears
- problems with the kidneys
There are treatments to reduce these side effects or make them more tolerable. Let your doctor know if you experience any of these side effects.