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Your doctor has explained that you have breast cancer and has recommended treatment with chemotherapy. The chemotherapy drugs you are going to have are called MITOMYCIN C, METHROTREXATE and MITROZANTRONE. The Methotrexate and Mitrozantrone treatment is given once every three weeks as slow injections into a vein, as an outpatient. The Mitomycin C is given every six weeks. Patients must not take Tamoxifen while they are taking Mitomycin C as this can damage the kidneys. Before each course of chemotherapy you will see a doctor and have a blood test. If your blood count is low then chemotherapy may be delayed a few days. The side-effects described below will not affect everyone. We have outlined
those that you may experience during treatment. Your Hospital staff will always
work with you to keep your side-effects to a minimum. It is important that you
feel free to ask questions so that you understand what is happening, what to do
and what to expect. Occasionally people have rare side-effects which are not
expected and mentioned on this sheet. If
in doubt ask! Side effects Nausea & sickness; Despite the anti-sickness medication given with your chemotherapy and for a few days afterwards, some nausea may occur. This is usually associated with reduced appetite and in some cases vomiting. If marked you should contact the cancer unit for help as its important you do not get dehydrated. Some cancer units prescribe anti-sickness suppository to take home and should be used if sickness occurs. In general, anti-sickness tablets should be taken regularly and are usually successful, but if you do have problems, different tablets can be prescribed for the next cycle. Some self help tips may also be useful. You may notice that the first time you pass urine after chemotherapy it is coloured blue. This is normal.If your blood counts falls you may experience the following:
Other advice on paracetamol; As mentioned above, if you have a temperature and feel unwell you may have an infection and may need treatment in hospital, we advise not to take paracetamol in this situation as it may mask your temperature, give false reassurance and delay you presenting to hospital for treatment. Taking paracetamol can otherwise be used with discretion. If for example you have a headache or a mild pain but otherwise feel well and your temperature is normal paracetamol can be used provided you check your temperature before each dose and allow a full six hours before each administration. Contact to chicken pox; If you can't remember whether you've had Chicken Pox as a child and you come in contact with a person who as it or shingles you should contact your oncology team. They will arrange a blood test to find out if you are immune to chicken pox (the varcella virus). If not a series of injections can be administered to offer you temporary immunity Fatigue; All chemotherapy can cause fatigue. As your treatment progresses you will experience this. You may find that gentle exercise such as a short walk each day (if you are not working) may help. Fatigue and malaise may last up to 2-3 months (or longer) after the end of chemotherapy. Weight gain; Over the entire course of chemotherapy many patients complain of weight gain. This is caused by a combination of the steroids increasing the appetite, the fatigue causing lack of mobility and the mild nausea often encouraging to nibble rather than eating correct meals - In order to prevent this we recommend regular light exercise and be aware of your calorie intake. Weight loss may also be experienced by some patients during their course of chemotherapy particularly if there is more advances disease or other medical problems, in these cases dietary advice should be sought. Sore
mouth; You may have a sore
mouth after chemotherapy and it is important that you maintain good
oral hygiene. A soft, baby toothbrush may help and you may be given a mouthwash.
If you develop mouth ulcers
you should contact your clinic and they can prescribe special mouthwashes to
help. Hair loss; This chemotherapy does not usually cause hair loss. You may experience some thinning towards the end of the treatment. Fertility may be affected by chemotherapy, in both men and women. It is important to discuss fertility with your doctor before starting treatment. For pre-menopausal women, chemotherapy may affect your periods. They may become heavier, lighter or may stop. In some women this may be permanent causing menopausal symptoms. You should not become pregnant during chemotherapy, as chemotherapy will damage a growing baby. You should still take contraceptive precautions even if your periods have stopped, as you could still become pregnant. Men must also use a barrier contraceptive whilst receiving chemotherapy as sperm is damaged by chemotherapy. Constipation; Some patients experience constipation which may be due to the anti-sickness tablets. You should drink plenty of fluids, eat a high fibre diet and take gentle exercise. If this is severe you should contact your clinic or GP. Your
veins
Increase
risk of blood clots - during chemotherapy there is an increased risk of
blood clots, most commonly in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or more seriously
to the lungs (pulmonary embolus). If you get unexplained swelling and discomfort
in the calf report this to the oncology unit. Likewise if you start experiencing
unexplained breathlessness, cough up any blood or have a pain in the chest
particularly when you breath contact the clinic as soon as possible. To avoid
clots its important to stay as active as possible and (exercise
& chemotherapy) taking light walks two to three times a day and avoid
sitting around for long periods of time. If you are required to sit (for example
while receiving the chemotherapy drugs) try to move your legs and ankles
regularly. Occasionally, if your doctor feels you are at high risk of developing
clots you may be started on drugs to thin your blood during chemotherapy. Sore eyes; The front of the eyes (cornea) can occasionally feel dry and sticky, especially first thing in the morning. This usually comes on later in the course and can cause some redness and discomfort. Eye drops such artificial tears can be bought over the counter or prescribed by your medical team. Nails; The grow of the nails can be impaired by chemotherapy. The amount of damage can vary but in most case there will be some slight discolouration and indentation seen in ridges across the nail beds - a bit like the rings of a tree, each representing an individual chemotherapy cycle. Occasionally the damage can be more troublesome, causing pain and breakdown of the nail bed causing it to lift and separate, possibly even leading to a total loss of the nail. Eventually after chemotherapy has finished the nail will grow back normally. Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey. |