Chemotherapy side effects - Questions for your doctor

1. What side effects could the chemo cause?
2. How soon will the side effects start?
3. How severe might they be?
4. Are there any ways of reducing the side effects?
5. How to prepare for the side effects? (diet, exercise, emotional?)
6. Is my hair likely to fall out?
7. Would a 'cold cap' help to reduce or stop hair falling out?
8. Are there any risks from using a cold cap?
9. Who can help me manage the side effects?
10. Who should I phone if I get a high temperature or notice bleeding or bruising?
11. Is there anyone I can talk to about diet plan during the course of chemo?
12. Should I worry of weight loss during the course of chemo?
13. Can you give me anything to help keep my weight up?
14. Can I have diet supplements on prescription?

Hypoglycemia - What happens during a hypo? (Symptoms)

Some of the hypo symptoms are:
a. paleness
b. shaking
c. perspiration
d. feeling weak
e. rapid heartbeat
f. hunger
g. agitation
h. difficulty to concentrate
i. fatigue
j. blurred vision
k. irritability
l. confusion
m. convulsions
n. temporary loss of consciousness
o. coma


Most people do get some warning signs that hypo is happening. But for some, hypo may cause few or none of the milder symptoms before the start of sudden unconsciousness or convulsions, especially if you've had diabetes for years. What this means is that loss of consciousness can occur without warning.

Hypoglycemia - What can I do about it?

1. Be familiar with the warning symptoms - This way, you can get treatment quickly. When in doubt, measure your blood sugar levels.

2. Always carry sugar - preferably glucose in a rapidly-absorbed form such as glucose tablets.

3. Measure glucose levels regularly - Frequency depends on your lifestyle: it's soft of a combination of practical experiences and expert advice to determine. It can vary from 1 or 2 readings per week, to several readings per day. Knowing how your blood sugar levels change with various activities would help you to adjust your insulin level and minimise hypo risk.

4. Follow the dietician's advice and maintain regular eating habits - Some people experience symptoms of hypo just before a main meal. To avoid, have snacks between meals to prevent sugar levels from dropping drastically.

5. Take care when exercising - workout lowers glucose levels in blood. To counter this, you can take less insulin than usual beforehand or by eating more before/during/after workout.

6. Carry an identification card - to let others know you have diabetes.

Chemotherapy side effects (general)

Do understand that people react to treatment in different ways so not everyone going through chemotherapy will have all the side effects caused by the drug.

Chemotherapy damages diving cells (be it healthy or cancer cells), so the body parts where normal cells divide frequently are likely to be affected. These parts are: mouth, skin, hair, digestive system and bone marrow.

Different chemo drugs have different side effects. It is helpful to ask your doctor about the SPECIFIC side effects which may be caused by your own treatment. It is important to remember that you probably would not get every side effects listed by the doctor.

KEEP IN MIND, everyone taking chemotherapy has (a) different drugs, (b) different doses, and (c) their own treatment plan.