×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

How chemo helps body fight cancer

A cancer patient undergoes chemotherapy - taking drugs to kill cancerous cells. Photo: ISTOCK
A cancer patient undergoes chemotherapy - taking drugs to kill cancerous cells. Photo: ISTOCK

The word "cancer" is enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

Once diagnosed, most people then have a fear of undergoing chemotherapy, as we have all heard some rather unfavourable things about it. Is it as gory as we saw in movies like My Sister's Keeper; vomiting blood, hair falling off and pale, patchy skin?

Well, not really.

Movies have been known to employ dramatic licence, so Pietermaritzburg-based oncologist Dr Shakira Khan explains what exactly chemotherapy is and the reality of how it actually works.

"Chemotherapy is just a fancy word for drugs that are used to kill the cancer cells in your body. These drugs are administered into the blood stream, and target the cancer-affected tissues and cells, killing them or slowing down the infection.

"The potency of the drugs does not only affect cancerous tissues, but other normal and healthy cells and tissues, which is why chemotherapy side effects occur," she says.

That said, Khan stresses that because people are different, the side effects of chemotherapy are not the same for everyone. Some people get the worst end of the stick, whereas some experience minimal symptoms. It all depends on the drugs being used, and exactly what cancer is being treated.

So how exactly is chemotherapy administered?

"The most common method is through an IV, or a drip.

"Other less common ways include chemotherapy being administered orally or through a cream, which is most common for the treatment of skin cancer," she says.

Khan gives us the A-Z of chemotherapy in these 20 interesting facts:

- Chemotherapy does not only cause hair loss on your scalp, but also your armpits, chest, eyebrows and even pubic area.

- Chemo can affect your sex life. Some women have reported experiencing vaginal dryness, whereas some men have reported erectile dysfunction.

- Chemo can send you into early menopause. Most women will experience irregular periods during chemotherapy, or have their periods completely stop.

- Chemo flushes toxins out of your body, which may be expelled through your stool. When using the toilet, it's important to flush the toilet properly, as the toxins can affect the next person who uses the toilet bowl.

- Your white blood cells may be affected through chemotherapy, which can result in your body's immune system being weakened.

- Chemo can cause temporary hearing loss, or affect your ability to hear certain sounds.

- Appetite loss during chemotherapy is normal. This is caused by the inability to taste certain foods, and sometimes the development of mouth sores, which can make the ingestion of food difficult.

- Some chemo medication can cause the loss of your toenails and fingernails. They will eventually grow back though.

- Not every chemo treatment results in hair loss. Some people shed a few locks, whereas some don't shed their hair at all.

- The sense of smell is distorted. Things that smelled pleasant to you may see you wanting to gag.

- You may have difficulty concentrating. This is because the brain cells can be affected by chemotherapy, however, this is temporary.

- Chemo throws your body's thermostat out of balance. Some people tend to feel cooler than normal, whereas some get hot flushes.

- Mood swings are among the possible chemo side effects.

- You can undergo chemotherapy while pregnant. Although very risky, doctors can monitor you very closely to avoid complications. Because chemotherapy affects one's immune system, chemo may be delayed in the weeks leading up to the birth.

This is done to avoid excessive bleeding or infections during labour.

- Drinking lots of fluids during chemotherapy helps the drugs navigate through the body effectively.

- You are not restrained to a chair or a bed during chemotherapy. You can move about freely.

- Some chemo side effects can be counteracted. A doctor can give you medication to curb nausea or constipation and irregular bowl movement, as well as dryness of the mouth.

- Hair loss during chemo is not immediate. Some people think that your hair will drop off your scalp the first day you have chemotherapy. It actually can take up to two weeks for you to experience any hair loss. Your hair usually grows back within six weeks.

- Chemotherapy can cause infertility. Some males have reported having a weak sperm count, which results in them having difficulty conceiving.

- There is generally no pain during the actual chemotherapy treatment. Apart from the initial needle insertion, there should not be any pain.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.