Is this normal?

Sick topic

"I feel sick, but I don’t actually throw up."
"I am always sick a few hours after chemo."
"Strange - I’m not sick at all."

Are we normal?
The drugs used in chemotherapy can make you feel, or be sick. But some people don’t get sick at all. If you suffer with this, ask the doctor for some anti-sickness drugs and/or check out our Top sickness tips.

Toilet issue

"I’m always in the loo with diarrhoea."
"That’s weird, I get the opposite problem."

Are we normal?
Sorry, both these things are normal. Chemotherapy drugs can affect the bowel, changing the way it works. But you can ask for laxatives or anti-diarrhoea drugs… don’t be shy, it may help. Top Tips: drink plenty of fluids, eat small amounts of food often.

Bad taste

"I’ve got a metallic taste in my mouth."
"I can’t really taste my food at all."

Are we normal?
Yes, quite of lot of people get this. It’s because chemotherapy drugs can causes changes in the mouth, which affect taste. The good news is that everything should return to normal at the end of treatment. Top Tips: try eating hard sweets or chew gum to cover up bad tastes, for a lack of taste flavour food with herbs, spices, sauces and marinades. Visit our eating right section for more information and ideas for how to combat taste problems.

Sore point

"I’ve got so many mouth ulcers, it’s agony"

Am I normal?
A number of chemotherapy drugs can cause a sore mouth, or mouth ulcers to develop. This can happen within a week of starting treatment. For most people they clear up within four weeks. Top Tips: look after your dental hygiene, report ulcers to the nurse or doctor choose soft foods or nutritional drinks if eating is really painful. Visit our eating right section for more information and ideas for how to cope wtih a sort mouth.

Skin deep

"I’ve got a bad rash, all over"
"My skin looks a weird colour!"

Are we normal?
Chemotherapy drugs can make skin very sensitive to the sun, so don’t worry -  but tell the doctor. Also chemicals such as chlorine in swimming pools can cause rashes and even colour changes to occur. Top Tips: cover up in the sun and wear high factor sun screen, maybe avoid swimming for a while.

Blood-y complex

"Help, my blood count has dropped!"
"I’ve been told I’ve got anaemia"
"My immunity is low"
"The doctor said I’m ‘Thrombocytopenic’"

Are we normal?
Yes – because chemotherapy can affect your blood, and all these things are to do with your blood.

Blood counts (number of blood cells) — this can drop because chemotherapy attacks rapidly reproducing cells. The blood count is usually at its lowest 10 days into treatment, but then steadily rises.

Anaemia (low number of red blood cells) — this happens if chemotherapy reduces the number of red blood cells. You could feel tired, breathless and dizzy. It is usually a short-term condition.

Low immunity (low number of white blood cells) — chemotherapy can reduce the number of white blood cells, making you more prone to infection. Treatment may be stopped so levels can rise, naturally.

Thrombocytopenic (low number of platelets in the blood) — again caused by chemotherapy drugs, causing you to bruise easily or bleed for longer if you cut yourself. If the platelets fall very low you may get a tranfusion.

You can find out more about blood here. (This link takes you through to the "side effects" section on the main CLIC Sargent website.)

Remember, once treatment stops, most side-effects stop too.