Brain Tumor Chemo Side Effects

This can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood and make you more likely to get an infection.

Brain tumor chemo side effects.

This type of chemotherapy causes slightly different side effects to capsules or intravenous chemotherapy. Damage to healthy brain tissue. One of the most frustrating long term side effects especially for adolescents and young adults is chemo brain. The most common early side effects are fatigue feeling tired and skin changes.

But a very small amount of carmustine will get into your blood. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop. Hormonal imbalances can cause problems with mood emotions body weight and sexual function. A brain tumor can form in the brain cells as shown or it can begin elsewhere and spread to the brain.

Although rare this side effect can cause headaches seizures or even death. Chemotherapy can help you fight cancer but side effects are almost certain. Despite this some healthy cells in the body also divide rapidly like those in the hair follicles the mouth stomach and bone marrow. Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cancer cells and aims to kill them.

Other drugs used as part of treatment such as steroids anti nausea or pain medicines. What is chemo brain. As the tumor grows it creates pressure on and changes the function of surrounding brain tissue which causes signs and symptoms such as headaches nausea and balance problems. Likewise pituitary tumors can have an effect on personality by causing the overproduction or underproduction of hormones.

Harm to the pituitary gland and other areas of the brain can happen which can affect hormone levels in the body including thyroid and sex hormones. It s common for you to have a cloudy mind called chemo brain during and after treatment. According to the american society of clinical oncology asco up to 75 of cancer patients have these cognition issues during chemo treatment and 35 continue long after treatment has ended. Some side effects are caused by the surgery itself.

However fast growing tumors such as glioblastomas put patients more at risk. When chemotherapy for brain tumor starts damages these healthy cells the following side effects may follow. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area. The cancer itself for example brain tumors.

Common side effects can include. Other conditions or illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure.