You will have frequent physical exams, blood tests, scans, and x-rays. While tests and exams can tell a lot about how chemotherapy is working, side effects tell very little. Sometimes people think that if they don't have side effects, the drugs aren't working, or that, if they do have side effects, the drugs are working well. Side effects vary so much from person to person and from drug to drug. Be sure to talk with your doctor and nurse about what side effects are possible with your chemotherapy protocol, how those side effects can be managed, and when to seek medical attention for them.
Cancer cells grow and divide rapidly.
However, you also have normal healthy cells that also grow and divide rapidly, and chemotherapy can affect normal, healthy cells, too. When it does, side effects are the result. The normal, healthy cells of your body that grow quickly are the blood cells in the bone marrow and cells in your digestive tract, reproductive system, and hair follicles. There are many options available to treat side effects. Discuss the side effects you experience with your doctor and nurse so that they can be managed effectively.