About treatment-related side effects
Normal cells can be destroyed during chemotherapy and radiation. This destruction of normal cells can take place in the protective lining of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, which includes organs like your stomach and small intestine.
The damage to these areas can lead to side effects of treatment, such as nausea and vomiting, painful oral sores, oral thrush, and dry mouth.
These side effects can lead to:
About nausea and vomiting
Two of the most dreaded side effects of cancer therapy are nausea and vomiting. In fact, nausea and vomiting can affect up to 80% of people receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Nausea, which may occur before vomiting, comes and goes in waves of unpleasant feelings in the back of the throat and/or stomach.
Vomiting, also called emesis, or "throwing up," results when the contents of the stomach are ejected through the mouth. Emesis is a term that also includes retching, or "dry heaving," when there is nothing left to vomit.
Chemotherapy medicines are classified by how likely they are to cause vomiting (or how "emetogenic" they are).
Nausea and vomiting have caused some patients to delay or refuse treatment. Fortunately, with the right medications, these side effects can be prevented in the majority of patients.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription medical products to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch, or call Fortovia at 1-855-273-0468.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription medical products to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch, or call Fortovia at 1-855-273-0468.