Patient Guide to Chemotherapy - Part 4

Skin - Muscle - Nerve

Occasionally rashes may develop during the course of your chemotherapy (eg. Bleomycin). These should be reported to your doctor. Some patients also develop tender fingertips. Your skin may become dry and flaky. Lotion or oil applied to the skin daily may help decrease this problem. Do not apply lotion to the area being treated with radiation. Your nails may develop ridges but these will disappear as the nails grow.

Some drugs may make you sensitive to the sun. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. It may be necessary to limit your exposure to sunlight and use a sunscreen.

Some of the drugs (eg. Vincristine and Cisplatin) affect the nerves and muscles in your hands and feet. You may notice a tingling sensation (pins and needles) or numbness. This may be progressive or serious and generally recovers spontaneously after chemotherapy is stopped. However, it frequently takes many months to recover. The way you walk is rarely affected. You may experience muscle weakness (eg. prolonged high dose steroids such as Prednisone or Decadron). It is reversible when treatment stops. Report these changes to your doctor on your next visit. These sensations gradually will improve after your drugs are stopped, but it may take several months for you to recover fully.

Can I Drink Alcohol?

Alcohol may interfere with your chemotherapy treatment. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about drinking alcoholic beverages or using them in cooking. With some drugs you may have to limit the amount of alcohol consumed or avoid it altogether.

Living With Chemotherapy

You may wonder when you should call your doctor about new symptoms. Any symptom or complaint that lasts for more than a few days or any symptom that is of concern to you should be reported. You should not hesitate to call your Institute doctor, your family physician or nurse under the following circumstances:

• Development of any new rash or lump (lesion)
• Fever of 38 C or higher
• Chills, shaking (rigors)
• Any unusual pain, especially strong or new pain
• Abnormal bleeding
• Bruising that appears for no reason or small purple or red spots called petechiae
• Unrelieved shortness of breath or inability to get breath
• Mouth sores and/or pain when swallowing
• Marked pain or soreness at the injection site
• Severe constipation or diarrhea

While chemotherapy may cause any, or all, of the side effects discussed above, they are usually quite treatable. Rarely the side effects may be life threatening and may require hospitalization to treat. The underlying cancer or other treatment may also cause similar symptoms or occasionally an unrelated disease may be responsible. Therefore discuss any new symptoms with your doctor or nurse.

A video tape presentation on chemotherapy is available for viewing within the Institute. Arrangements can be made for you to view this at your convenience by asking your nurse. You may borrow a video for home viewing from the Cancer Information Centre.

Will There Be Changes In My Emotions?

Many patients on chemotherapy continue to live normal lives although they may have to make some adjustments in their routines.

During the time you are being treated for cancer you may experience a wide range of emotions. Some days you may be happy and in control. Other times you may feel very angry that this could be happening to you.

Unintentionally this anger may be taken out on those closest to you such as family, friends or even your pet. Some days you may feel very depressed and feel like crying. Generally, with improvement from treatment, anger and depression usually lessen and spirits improve. You will feel in control of your life once more.

You may wish to see a staff psychologist to have the opportunity to fully discuss your feelings and receive some comfort. Your doctor or nurse can make an appointment for you or you can make your own appointment by calling 432-8703 during business hours.

Should I Change My Eating Patterns?

While you are receiving chemotherapy there are some things you can do to help yourself. One way is eating nutritious foods. While you are on therapy you need a diet that is high in protein and calories. Your body needs protein to replace the normal cells which have been damaged by the drugs. It needs an adequate supply of calories to give your body the extra energy it needs to rebuild the cells.

Our nutrition handouts supplement the information in this booklet. Please call 432-8575 (CCI) and request a copy of our nutrition brochure "Good Nutrition During Your Cancer Treatment" or a handout on a specific side effect, such as diarrhea. For further assistance, call 432-8782 (CCI) to arrange an appointment with a dietitian.

Generally . . . It is important to keep in touch with your family doctor.

If you need to call the Cross Cancer Institute between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. please call the number on the card your nurse has given you.

If you are unable to reach your nurse, the following telephone numbers can be called:

• Outpatient Department (CCI) 432-8568 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Daycare Unit (CCI) 432-8715 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

If it should be after clinic hours please have the nursing supervisor who is on duty paged through the Main Switchboard (CCI) 432-8771.

You will be given a patient I.D. card. Please examine this card carefully and keep it handy when calling or visiting the Institute.

It is to your advantage to carry this card with you at all times, but you must have it with you while at the Cross Cancer Institute.

You may wish to wear a Medic Alert bracelet if you are undergoing chemotherapy. Bracelets are preferred to necklaces as paramedics check wrists for pulse rates while they might miss seeing a necklace.

APPLICATIONS FOR MEDIC ALERT REGISTRATION are available at ANY PHARMACY. If the form is filled out you are registered in a central data bank and emergency health personnel can get this specific information quickly.

Information sheets on specific drugs and side effects are available at the CCI. Ask a nurse or a pharmacist for a copy.

CANCER WORD LIST