There are many health concerns that stem from lung cancer. One concern a lung cancer patient may have are the side effects of their treatment. In addition to treating the disease, there are side effects that some patients may experience. According to CancerCare, “cancer treatments can cause side effects”. As with many treatments for any health issue, there are side effects that come along while healing. Although these side effects can be temporary, they can also last during the treatment and sometimes after. However, “the body’s reaction to chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted treatments depends on a number of factors such as length of treatment, dosage prescribed, and a person’s health history” (CancerCare, n.d.).
The side effects of lung cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment and, of course, may be different for …show more content…
The side effects of chemotherapy, for instance, can include hair loss, mouth sores, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, increased chance of infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and fatigue. As stated above, these side effects “depend on the type and dose of drugs given and the length of time they are taken” (American Cancer Society, 2015). According to the American Cancer Society, to prevent any side effects from getting worse, while getting chemotherapy you should report any side effects you have noticed to your medical team so that they can be treated promptly. In addition to preventing the effects from getting worse, the dosage of the chemo drugs may need to be reduced or treatment may have to be postponed or stopped. Moreover, the side effects of radiation therapy depend primarily on the part of the body that is being treated. According to the American Cancer Society, “radiation therapy can affect the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow”,