Navigating Lung Cancer Navigating Lung Cancer | Page 26

NAVIGATING LUNG CANCER
Side Effects
Lung cancer treatments have side effects. Not everyone has side
effects. Over the past decade or so, progress has been made in
chemotherapy that is less toxic. Many people have mild side effects.
Some have severe side effects. Common side effects include:
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fatigue
nausea
vomiting
loss of appetite
weakness
hair loss
mouth sores
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• sores at the site of radiation treatment
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• memory problems
decreased immunity (resistance to
other illness or disease)
pain and discomfort
diarrhea or constipation
skin rashes
Side effects will depend on what treatments you receive and how your body
responds.
Remember that side effects can be eased with medication before you even start
treatment. It’s common to give anti-nausea medication to lung cancer patients
before chemotherapy. This helps with vomiting. Ask your doctors about the
possible side effects. Ask what you can do to help manage them. Report ANY
side effects to your doctors throughout your treatment. They can’t help you feel
better if they don’t know what you are experiencing.
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