Treatment Side Effects
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Treatments are intended to relieve the symptoms of your disease, but it is
often the side effects from such treatments that create discomfort and make
daily life challenging. Let your doctor know if you experience any of these
side effects from treatments:
• Skin irritation and inflammation
• Redness, rash, and itching
• Heat, tenderness, or burning sensation (like a sunburn)
• Fatigue or depression
• Flu-like symptoms
Many oral medications and IV chemotherapy can also cause change in
appetite or loss of appetite entirely. If you experience chronic nausea,
vomiting or weight loss, be sure to seek out a nutritionist to discuss
options for increasing nutrient intake in a way that your body can handle
and maintain. Other problematic side effects can occur in the GI tract –
diarrhea, constipation and the like. Try altering the time of day when you
take the medication, which may alleviate appetite or GI side effects.
Many cutaneous lymphoma patients experience extreme fatigue as a side
effect of treatment. Anticipate it and pace yourself, building rest periods
into your day as needed, and adjusting your work schedule wherever
possible. Reorganizing your life to accommodate the changes that come
from this disease and its treatments is important. It is also essential to focus
on eating right, getting enough sleep and being kind to yourself rather
than checking things off a regular to-do list and pleasing others. Self-care
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PART 3:
TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS
Chapter 10
Coping With Treatment Side Effects
