FIGHT CANCER, NOT SIDE EFFECTS

Chemotherapy can be a powerful defense in a patient’s fight against cancer. But while it targets and destroys cancer cells, chemotherapy can also destroy healthy cells, causing patients to experience side effects. Visible side effects such as nausea, hair loss and fatigue are common, but there are lesser known and less visible side effects that can occur, and it’s important that patients are aware of all side effects as they begin their treatment journey.

Abnormally low levels of neutrophils – a type of white blood cell – is called neutropenia. Neutropenia is a very common and potentially serious side effect of chemotherapy that can put patients at an increased risk of infection. If accompanied by fever, this condition is known as febrile neutropenia (FN), and while it is manageable in most cases, it can also be life-threatening and can require hospitalization. In addition, FN may impact a person’s treatment plan, either by causing the need to reduce the chemotherapy dose or delaying treatment until the blood counts have returned closer to normal.

KNOW THE SIGNS OF FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA

“Side effects such as febrile neutropenia can develop quickly, so it’s important that patients are aware of potential side effects, and monitor for symptoms over the course of their treatment,” said Dr. Sandy Sehdev, a medical oncologist at William Osler Health Centre in Brampton, Ontario.“Throughout their treatment journey, a patient’s focus should be on fighting cancer, not managing side effects.”

Most recognizable by fever, other signs of FN can include:

Flu-like symptoms

Shaking chills

Severe night sweats

Nausea and vomiting, especially with fever

Tenderness, redness, swelling, pain or discharge at the site of a catheter

Headache or neck stiffness