What Chemo Does to Your Body

Chemo is a drug that interferes with the rapid growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy also interferes with the healthy growth of normal cells, causing it to affect many other parts of the body.

Hair Loss

Some types of chemo may damage the cells that cause your hair to grow. Hair loss can happen anywhere on the body. Some or all of your hair may be lost.

Nervous System

Your nervous system can be damaged during chemo. Chemotherapy may cause you to feel dizzy, tired, weak, sore, shaky or confused. You may also experience tingling or numbness in your hands or feet, have pain in your stomach or feel pain when you walk.

Sexual Problems

Women may have symptoms of menopause. Men may become impotent. Men and women may feel too tired, stressed and worried to want to have sex.

Eye Problems

Chemo may cause pain when you wear contacts. It can also cause your eyes to water and your vision to be blurred.

Urinary, Kidney and Bladder Changes

Chemotherapy may cause pain or burning before and after urination, the need to urinate more often, incontinence, blood in your urine or urine that is green, orange, red or dark yellow and has a strong smell of medicine.

References

• American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute
• Chemotherapy Side Effects At-A-Glance

Resources

• BreastCancer.org