Side effects of lung cancer chemoradiotherapy

Signs of an infection include headaches, aching muscles, a cough, a sore throat, pain passing urine, or feeling cold and shivery.

Chemotherapy reduces the number of white blood cells in the blood. This increases your risk of infections. White blood cells help fight infections.

When the level is very low it is called neutropenia (pronounced new-troh-pee-nee-ah).

You have antibiotics if you develop an infection. You might have them as tablets or as injections into the bloodstream (intravenously). To have them into your bloodstream you need to go into hospital.

You might notice you:

• bruise more easily

• have nosebleeds

• have bleeding gums when you brush your teeth

This is due to a drop in the number of platelets that help clot your blood.

If your platelets get very low you may have lots of tiny red spots or bruises on your arms or legs called petechiae.

You'll have a platelet transfusion if your platelet count is very low. It is a drip of a clear fluid containing platelets. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes. The new platelets start to work right away.

Feeling sick might be constant. It may be worse a few hours after chemotherapy treatment and you may be sick. Anti sickness injections and tablets can control it. Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel sick. You might need to try different anti sickness medicines to find one that works.

Tips 

• Avoid eating or preparing food when you feel sick.

• Avoid hot fried foods, fatty foods or foods with a strong smell.

• Eat several small meals and snacks each day.

• Relaxation techniques help control sickness for some people.

• Ginger can help – try it as crystallised stem ginger, ginger tea or ginger ale.

• Try fizzy drinks.

• Sip high calorie drinks if you can’t eat.

You have blood tests before your treatments, to check how well your kidneys are working.

To help prevent damage, it is important to drink plenty of water. You also have fluids into your vein before and after your treatment for several hours.

Your nurse might ask you to keep a record of how much you drink. And you may need to measure the amount of urine that you pass and keep a record of that.

Tell your nurse or doctor if you're not able to drink as much as you should – for example, if you feel sick. And tell them if the amount of urine you pass goes down.

You might have some hearing loss, especially with high pitched sounds. Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any changes.

Women might stop having periods (amenorrhoea) but this may be temporary.

Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes can make it difficult to do fiddly things such as doing up buttons. This starts within a few days or weeks and can last for a few months. Rarely, the numbness may be permanent.

Tips

• Keep your hands and feet warm.

• Wear well fitting, protective shoes.

• Take care when using hot water as you may not be able to feel how hot it is and could burn yourself.

• Use oven gloves when cooking and protective gloves when gardening.

• Moisturise your skin at least a couple of times a day.

• Take care when cutting your nails.

Changes in taste can make you go off certain foods. Many people go off tea and coffee, for example. You might also find that some foods taste different. Some people find that they prefer to eat spicier foods.

Your taste usually gradually goes back to normal when your treatment is over. It may take a few weeks.

Tips

• Choose foods that have strong flavours, such as herbs, spices, marinades and sauces if all your food tastes the same.

• Season your food with spices or herbs, such as rosemary, basil and mint.

• Garnish cold meat or cheese with pickle or chutney.

• Try lemon or green tea if tea or coffee taste strange.

• Sharp tasting fizzy drinks such as lemonade or ginger beer are refreshing.

• Some people find that cold foods taste better than hot foods.

Read more about soft diet meals and tips

Your hair may thin but you’re unlikely to lose all your hair. This usually starts after your first or second cycle of treatment. It is almost always temporary and your hair will grow back when you finish your treatment.

​Constipation​ is easier to sort out if you treat it early. Drink plenty and eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as you can. Try to take gentle exercise, such as walking. Tell your healthcare team if you think you are constipated. They can give you a laxative if needed.