What tissue is affected by chemotherapy?
The “normal” cells most commonly affected by chemotherapy are the blood cells, the cells in the mouth, stomach and bowel, and the hair follicles; resulting in low blood counts, mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea, and/or hair loss. Different drugs may affect different parts of the body.
Does chemo permanently damage your body?
Sometimes the side effects can last a lifetime, such as when chemo causes long-term damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or reproductive organs. Certain types of chemo sometimes cause delayed effects, such as a second cancer that may show up many years later.
Can chemotherapy cause muscle damage?
Nontargeted tissues, such as striated muscle, are severely affected by oxidative stress during chemotherapy, leading to toxicity and dysfunction.
What happens if chemo leaks into tissue?
When chemotherapy leaks under the skin it can cause skin irritation, sores or deeper tissue injury. The medical term for this is extravasation.
What happens to dead cells after chemo?
Researchers from Harvard Medical School, Boston, and the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, have discovered that the remains of tumor cells killed by chemotherapy or other cancer treatments can actually stimulate tumor growth by inducing an inflammatory reaction.
How quickly do white blood cells regenerate after chemo?
The white cell count generally falls below the normal range about seven to ten days after a chemotherapy treatment and recovers within about a week after that.
Does chemo shorten your life expectancy?
During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased (from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999), and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years).
How long does it take to fully recover from chemotherapy?
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again. Read the resource Managing Cognitive Changes: Information for Cancer Survivors for more information about managing chemo brain.
Can nerve damage from chemotherapy be reversed?
A: Unfortunately, there is no clear cure or treatment that will repair nerve damage. In most cases, CIPN will go away. It will depend on upon the dose, but usually the symptoms will dissipate over time. Sometimes it takes a few months after treatment.
How do I regain muscle after chemo?
The following types of exercise can help cancer patients – and everyone else – get back in shape:
- Flexibility exercises (stretching). …
- Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, and swimming. …
- Resistance training (Iifting weights or isometric exercise), which builds muscle.
Why are my muscles sore after chemo?
Certain types of chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, may also cause myalgias. Other possible causes of myalgias are: Infections – Infection in the blood, which produces a fever, may cause muscle aches. You may also have an infection or inflammation in one of your muscle groups, that may have caused pain.