Early diagnosis of cancer goes a long way in ensuring effective treatment and cure of the disease, but patients also need to deal with the main side effects of cancer treatments.

Treatment for cancer uses strong medication to target and kill cancerous cells, but treatments also affect the healthy cells and tissues around the cancerous cells. Although people respond differently to treatments and the side effects also differ among people, some of them are common as they are visible externally.

It is best to consult a healthcare professional to understand the side effects in-depth, but here are some of the most common ones:

• Nausea and vomiting
  The earliest among the main side effects of cancer treatments are nausea and vomiting when one’s stomach is upset. People who have undergone or are undergoing treatment for cancer may also feel nauseous otherwise, but medicines can help alleviate this side effect. Apart from medication, drinking water and ginger ale can help, and relaxation techniques, hypnosis, or acupuncture may also help relieve this after-effect of cancer treatment.
• Pain
  The disease, as well as the treatment, are excruciating as it becomes challenging for the patient to carry on with their daily activities. Pain and discomfort might also affect the patient’s mental health and lead to an inability to lead a normal routine. Consulting the doctor and discussing the main side effects of cancer treatment for which one needs medications can help deal with pain and other side effects.
• Inability to concentrate and difficulty in remembering things
  The medication plays its role by destroying cancerous cells in the body, but some treatment methods for cancer are known to cause trouble in remembering things and an inability to focus, which makes it difficult for a patient to continue with their everyday life. This is one of the main side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the brain, but they can be managed by getting adequate sleep, preparing notes of one’s plans to follow them, setting reminders and using apps and other mediums to remember appointments and important things, and most importantly, concentrating on a single task at a time.
• Blood clotting
  Deep vein thrombosis or blood clotting in the veins of the pelvis, leg, or thigh is a common side effect of cancer treatment. Blood clots are considered the next leading cause of death among cancer patients, after the disease itself. These clots may also occur in the arms, which become worse when the veins break apart and the clot travels to the lungs.
• Hairfall
  A temporary side effect of chemotherapy, this is one of the main side effects of cancer treatments. Hair grows back normally within a few months of the completion of the treatment.

Other side effects of cancer treatment include visible signs like tiredness, depression, loss of appetite, weight loss, and such, and consulting one’s doctor is the most effective of overcoming them. Early detection surely helps one get rid of the disease quickly through timely and effective treatment, regular checkups, and medications as prescribed by the doctor.