is constant bowel movement an affter effect of chemotheraphy?

Answer 1

Chemotherapy Side Effects

In the last 20 years, scientists have made a great deal of progress in developing therapies to help prevent and manage the side effects of chemotherapy. Newer supportive care treatments have led to vast improvements in the management of symptoms associated with cancer treatment. Many people don't experience side effects at all, and you are unlikely to experience all the side effects you read about below. All chemotherapy options are designed to treat cancer; unfortunately, they often affect parts of your body not directly affected by the cancer itself. This undesired result is referred to as a complication of treatment, or a side effect.

Side effects may be acute (short-term), chronic (long-term), or permanent. Side effects may cause inconvenience, discomfort, and even death.

Additionally, certain side effects may prevent doctors from delivering the prescribed dose of chemotherapy at the specific time and schedule of the treatment plan.3,11,12 Since the expected outcome from chemotherapy is based on delivering the full chemotherapy dose on schedule, it is important to understand chemotherapy cycles and schedules.

Side effects from chemotherapy can include pain, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, as well as blood-related side effects. In this section, you can learn more about the importance in diagnosing and monitoring blood-related side effects. These may include low white blood cell count (neutropenia), low red blood cell count (anemia), low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), and related fatigue.

CBC and Related Side Effects

The CBC, or complete blood count, helps your doctor look for side effects of chemotherapy, which include changes in the three types of cells in your blood. Because chemotherapy kills fast-growing blood cells as well as cancer cells, side effects involving your blood are an almost-to-be-expected result of chemotherapy. Your first step in managing blood-related side effects is understanding CBC, or your complete blood count.

Side effects involving blood include the following:

Neutropenia

Neutropenia (new-troh-PEE-nee-ah) is the scientific name for a low infection-fighting white blood cell count. A low white blood cell count may leave your body vulnerable to infection and too weak to receive chemotherapy at the full dose on schedule.3,11,12 This could lead your doctor to delay your current treatment or reduce your doses until your count reaches sufficient levels. If not properly treated, infection can lead to hospitalization. To help reduce the risk of treatment delays due to blood-related side effects, find out more about the risks associated with low white cell blood count.

Anemia

Anemia (ah-NEE-mee-ah) is the scientific name for a low red blood cell count. A low red blood cell count may cause you to feel fatigued or sluggish because there is not enough oxygen circulating in your body. This condition can be effectively managed with one of several treatments, including blood transfusion if necessary. There are also other ways to manage low red blood cell count.

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia (throm-boh-sy-toh-PEE-nee-ah) is the scientific name for a low platelet count. A low platelet count may cause you to experience bruising or excessive bleeding. Learn more about the risks of low platelet count.

All of these side effects may be related to your chemotherapy. All are diagnosed through your CBC test. You can manage them to help reduce the possibility that they will compromise your treatment. A journal provides a place for you to keep track of your blood counts throughout your chemotherapy, and is one of the Tools for Organizing Your Cancer Information.

Answer 2

Yes.

Answer 3

Yes- if it is really bothering you , talk to your Doctor.