What are the side effects of treatment?
A. The methods used to treat Hodgkin’s disease are very powerful. The treatment often causes side effects, both short-term and permanent. Side effects depend on the type of treatment and on the part of the body being treated. Also, each patient may respond differently. During radiation therapy, patients may become unusually tired as therapy continues. Testing as much as possible is important. Skin reactions (redness or dryness) in the area being treated are also common. Patients should be gentle with the treated area of skin. Lotions and creams should not be used without the doctor’s advice. When the chest is treated, patients may have a dry, sore throat and may have trouble swallowing. Sometimes, they have shortness of breath or a dry cough. Radiation treatment to the lower abdomen may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Some patients have tingling or numbness in their arms, legs and lower back. These side effects gradually disappear when treatment is over.
A. It is hard to limit the effects of therapy so that only cancer cells are destroyed. Because treatment often damages healthy cells and tissues, it can cause unpleasant side effects. The side effects of cancer treatment vary, depending on the type of treatment. Also, each woman reacts differently. Doctors try to keep side effects to a minimum, but problems may occur. Surgery for ovarian cancer is a major operation. For several days after surgery, a woman may have difficulty emptying her bladder or having normal bowel movements. Doctors or nurses can administer medicine to relieve pain and/or prevent infection associated with ovarian cancer surgery. For a period of time after surgery, some normal activities are limited to encourage healing. Young women whose ovaries are removed begin experiencing the side effects of menopause because their body’s natural source of estrogen has been removed. Hormone-replacement therapy is commonly used to lessen these side effects. With chemotherapy, si
A. Surgery may damage normal brain tissue, and edema may occur. Seizures, weakness, coordination problems, personality changes and difficulty in speaking or thinking may result. Most side effects of surgery lessen or disappear with time. Radiation may cause fatigue and hair loss, which may be temporary or permanent. Skin reaction in the treated area is common. The scalp and ears may be red, itchy or dark; these areas may feel and look sunburned. Patients should not use lotions without doctor advice. Sometimes radiation may cause headache, memory loss or seizures because the brain cells killed by radiation may form a mass that causes pressure. Doctors may suggest surgery or steroids to relieve these problems. Patients may have fatigue and lose their appetite four to eight weeks after radiation; this may last for several weeks, but it will usually go away. Children who have radiation treatments may have learning problems and partial loss of eyesight, or they may not grow or develop norma
