Lowered red blood cell counts can result in anemia, which leads to fatigue. You may be able to reduce the effects of fatigue by adjusting your schedule, getting plenty of sleep, and doing moderate exercise. A second group of normal cells that may be temporarily injured by chemotherapy is those in the lining of the gastrointestinal system. These effects usually occur 10-14 days after the chemo. As we eat our food and digest it, the mucosal cells lining the mouth, esophagus, and intestines are constantly shedding, up to 80 million cells a minute in some places.
Many patients say sucking on ice chips during the chemo administration reduces mouth sores.
It is also important to keep your mouth clean by rinsing it with solution made with salt or bicarbonate of soda. Prescription mouth- washes containing painkillers and other effective ingredients are available for serious cases of mouth sores. If you have diarrhea, you should let your nurse or doctor know. Some anti-diarrhea medicines available without prescription might be helpful. There are also some prescription drugs which are much stronger that might be an option - which is why you need to talk to your doctor.