Getting the high dose chemotherapy
The high dose chemotherapy is used to treat your cancer. The chemotherapy drug(s) that is/are used will depend on the type of cancer that is being treated.
During your pre-transplant visit, you will be given a schedule for your pre-transplant “conditioning.” This is another name for the high dose chemotherapy. You will also receive information on the drugs you will be getting.
The chemotherapy will either be given as an inpatient on C7 or in the C7 Day Hospital as an outpatient. You will get chemotherapy through your PermCath or your Hickman central line. You may receive more fluids after the chemotherapy.
You will probably feel fine during the chemotherapy infusion(s). We will give you medications to prevent nausea. These medications can make you feel sleepy. If you do have nausea, we can give you extra medications. It is common to feel tired after high dose chemotherapy.
What are the possible side effects from high dose chemotherapy?
There are many side effects that can be split into short term, later term and long term.
Short term (those you can expect in the first one to two weeks after):
- Low white blood cells which increases your risk for infection
- Low platelet count which increases your risk of bleeding. This will be monitored and platelet transfusions given as needed.
- Fever and chills due to infections
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss (one to three weeks)
- Loss of appetite (don’t feel like eating)
- Mouth sores which may make it difficult for you to eat or drink.
- Diarrhea, skin rashes (from the chemotherapy or possibly antibiotics)
- Low energy
Later side effects (those that might last longer than two weeks):
- Feeling very tired
- Shortness of breath with physical activity - this will improve with gradual increases in simple exercises such as walking or use of a stationary bike
- Loss of taste for food
- Nausea or diarrhea
Longer term side effects (can last longer than six months)
- Feeling tired (fatigue)
- Changes in your ability to concentrate and short-term memory problems (this is called “chemo brain”)
- Infertility (not being able to have children)
- Low levels of some hormones in your body (such as thyroid hormone, testosterone in men, estrogen in women)
