Oncowin Cancer Center

Nausea and vomiting

How to manage

• Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking anti-nausea medication.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of liquids on a daily basis to avoid dehydration. Choose water, diluted juices, or electrolyte-containing drinks like Pedialyte.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks such as dark coffee, tea, and soda.
• Eat small meals frequently throughout the day.
• Stay away from greasy foods like fried and junk foods.
• Consider trying acupressure treatment for nausea and vomiting relief. Acupressure involves applying pressure to particular points on your body and is based on traditional Chinese medicine principles.

Consult your doctor if you:

• Vomit 3 to 5 times in a day
• Experience ongoing nausea even after taking anti-nausea meds
• Can’t keep liquids down without vomiting
• Feel dizzy or lightheaded
• Have stomach pain or heartburn

2 Fatigue

How to manage

• Take rest breaks when feeling tired.
  • Short naps and bedtimes of 15 to 20 minutes can help.
  • Shorter naps improve daytime fatigue and nighttime sleep quality.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help from family and friends with tiring tasks.
• Stay hydrated. Drink 8 to 10 glasses (8 ounces each) of non-caffeinated liquids daily.
• Plan your activities and tasks on days and during times when you feel more energized.

Consult your doctor if you:

• Feel extremely tired despite resting
• Experience persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
• Feel weak or unable to perform daily activities
• Notice unusual bruising or bleeding
• Develop a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Notice changes in vision or hearing

3 Hair loss or hair thinning

How to manage

• Consider cutting your hair short before getting treatment if it’s long.
• Wash and condition your hair every 3 to 4 days using gentle baby shampoo or mild products.
• Look for shampoos and conditioners with sunscreen to protect your scalp from sun damage.
• Keep your head covered in the summer to shield it from the sun.
• During winter, wear a hat, scarf, turban, or wig to keep your head warm and contain any hair that falls out.
• Sleep on a silk pillow to reduce hair tangles.
• Ask your healthcare provider about scalp cooling treatment (using a cold cap) to see if it’s right for you.

4 Diarrhea

How to manage

• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of liquids on a daily basis, including water and drinks with electrolytes like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
• Take an anti-diarrheal like Imodium unless your doctor says no.
• Wait 12 hours after diarrhea stops before using stool softeners or laxatives.
• Avoid spicy, high-fiber, high-fat, and caffeinated foods and drinks.
• Eat small portions of soft, bland foods like white bread, pasta, rice, and yogurt at room temperature.
• Follow the BRATY diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and yogurt.

Consult your doctor if:

• You have 3-4 or more loose, watery bowel movements that don’t improve with medication.
• Experience belly pain and cramping along with diarrhea.
• Diarrhea persists even after following the diet for 2 days.
• You notice irritation around your anus or rectum that doesn’t disappear.
• There’s blood in your bowel movements.

5 Skin and nail changes

How to manage

• Keep your hands and feet moisturized using scent-free creams like Eucerin®, CeraVe®, or Aquaphor®.
• Stay out of direct sunlight. Cover up with hats, light-colored pants, and long-sleeved shirts.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher in a day.
• Trim your nails short and keep them smooth.
• Wear gloves for tasks like gardening, cleaning, or washing dishes.
• Ask your doctor about nail cooling treatment, where ice packs are used to reduce nail changes during chemotherapy.

Consult your doctor if:

• Your skin is peeling or blistering.
• You develop a rash or new bumps on your skin.
• Your cuticles are red and painful.
• Your nails are peeling or leaking fluid underneath.

6 Neuropathy  

How to manage

• Make it a habit to move your body often.
• If you smoke, kick the habit for better health.
• Keep alcohol intake in check.
• Wear gloves and warm socks when it’s cold outside.
• Avoid burns by being extra careful around stoves, ovens, and irons.
• If your feet feel tingly or numb, wear sturdy shoes and walk carefully.
• Try acupuncture, a traditional Chinese treatment involving thin needles placed on specific parts of your body.

Call your doctor if you experience:

• Worsening tingling and numbness
• Difficulty with small tasks like holding a pen or buttoning clothes
• Tingling or burning and Pain in your fingers or toes
• Trouble walking or feeling the ground beneath your feet.

7 Weakened immune system

How to manage

• Stay away from sick people to avoid getting sick yourself.
• Wash your hands with good soap and water for at least 20 to 30 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, covering all parts of your hands, and rub until dry.
• Remember to clean your hands before meals and after touching anything that might have germs.
• Take a shower with a 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution antiseptic skin cleaner as directed by your healthcare provider.

Consult your doctor if:

• You have a fever of 100.4° F (38° C).
• You’re shaking or have chills.
• You notice infection signs like swelling, redness, or pus at a wound site, sore throat, a new cough, or a burning sensation when urinating.

8 Increased risk of bleeding

How to manage

• Use a soft toothbrush for your teeth and gums.
• Be careful not to get cuts, scratches, or bumps.
• Watch out to avoid tripping or falling.
• If you need to shave, use an electric razor.
• Avoid activities that could cause injury.

Avoid

• Don’t use rectal suppositories or enemas.
• Avoid activities that could result in injury.

Consult your doctor if you have:

• Blood in urine, bowel movements, vomit, or when coughing
• Very dark or black bowel movements
• Bruising or bleeding from the nose or gums
• Changes in vision
• Severe headaches or signs of a stroke, like weakness on one side of the body