People react to treatment in different ways so not everyone having chemotherapy will have all the side effects caused by a drug.

Where do you get side effects?

Chemotherapy damages dividing cells, so the parts of your body where normal cells divide frequently are likely to be affected by chemotherapy.  For instance your

  • Mouth     
  • Digestive system    
  • Skin    
  • Hair   
  • Bone marrow (the spongy material that fills your bones and produces new blood cells)

Your hair is growing all the time.  Your skin is constantly renewing itself.  So is the lining of your mouth and digestive system.   Your blood cells also constantly replace themselves.  To do this, the cells of all these body tissues must constantly divide to produce a steady supply of new cells.  And chemotherapy works by attacking dividing cells, whether they are healthy cells or cancer cells. 

Different chemotherapy 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.  He or she will know the exact drugs you'll be taking.  They may be able to give you written information about the treatment.  It is important to remember that you probably won't get every side effect that is listed.  You may not have many side effects and for some people the effects are very mild.  Side effects may get worse or better as you go through your course of treatment.

Weigh up the benefits


The side effects of chemotherapy can be unpleasant.  But it can help to try to see the problems in relation to the benefits of the treatment.  Remember that almost all side effects are short term and will begin to go once the treatment has finished.

If you find the treatment or side effects are troublesome, make an appointment and tell your doctor.  You may be able to

  • Take medicines to help   
  • Have your treatment changed or the drug dose reduced to minimize the side effects

If you would like more information about anything to do with chemotherapy, contact one of the cancer information organizations.  They often have free fact sheets and booklets, which they can send to you.

Remember - everyone taking chemotherapy has

  • Different drugs   
  • Different doses   
  • Their own treatment plan