What to Expect During your Cancer Treatments  View PDF version (Adobe® PDF)

Because no two people are alike, cancer treatments will affect people differently. For the most part, cancer and its treatment can cause a patient to feel more anxious, tired, emotional and self-conscious. Some side effects from treatments can include fatigue, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, and shortness or breath.

The type of drugs, dose of medications and timing of treatments will affect the way a person experiences cancer treatment. For some, there will be no negative side effects. For others, the side effects may be so severe that the person may wish to postpone or stop treatment prematurely. It is important that you communicate with your doctor about how you are feeling and which, if any, side effects you are experiencing. Unfortunately, sometimes the side effects of cancer treatments can make a patient feel worse than the disease itself. Maintaining open communication with your doctor will help you know what to expect and allow you to feel less anxious. And it will help you learn what you can do to avoid or reduce some of the side effects that often accompany chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Click here for a helpful guide on tips for talking with your doctor. Talking to others who have your type of cancer and have gone through treatment is a wonderful way to demystify the cancer experience. There are many supportive services available to people with cancer. Click here to visit our resource section for suggestions of supportive services available.

• Patient Education Brochure (Adobe® PDF)

• Read an excerpt from my Healing Companion

• Download Activity Sheets
  from Beverly Kirkhart's book