Side effects
Drugs used for chemotherapy are known to cause side effects. This is because some healthy and viable blood cells are affected during the process. Some of these side effects are constipation, extreme or mild hair loss, loss of appetite, severe mouth sores, Nausea…
Low blood count can arise after the treatment. This is caused by the destruction of normal cells in the bone marrow. Low blood count can lead to the following symptoms such as fatigue, easy bruising, and an increased risk of infections…
Tumour lysis syndrome is also a very severe side effect that can occur in patients with AML. It is majorly seen in patients with an extremely high number of leukemia cells in the body. This syndrome occurs during the induction step of treatment.
When the chemo drugs destroy the cancerous cells, they undergo lysis and release their content into the bloodstream. The kidney then filters it out and passes it out in the urine. The kidneys might become overwhelmed and not function properly.
You can prevent this syndrome by giving extra fluids and drugs during treatment.
Also, some drugs have some side effects specific to them. For example;
- Anthracyclines can lead to damage to the heart. Patients with existing heart problems are usually not given this drug because it can aggravate their condition.
- High doses of cytarabine [5] can lead to severe dryness of the eyes; it can also affect some parts of the brain, which can cause problems with balance and coordination. Your doctor may reduce or stop the dose if you develop these symptoms.
Always inform your doctor or nurse if you have any of the above symptoms. This is because some side effects can be treated if detected early. For example, you can give some drugs to prevent the patient from vomiting.
Most side effects disappear after a few weeks, but the side effects caused by low blood count may last longer than expected. However, they will return to normal after a while.
Note that chemo drugs can damage other significant organs in the body. Examples of such organs are; the liver, kidney, ovaries, testicles and the lungs [6]. Healthcare providers closely monitor patients undergoing treatment to limit the risk of side effects as much as possible.
Chemo treatment may be reduced or stopped if severe side effects occur. It is often continued after a while.
Conclusion
Acute myeloid Leukemia Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for AML. Some side effects are expected during and after treatment, but they can be controlled effectively if treated on time. Always inform your doctor of any side effects and always complete your dosage; only stop when your doctor instructs you to stop.
References
[1] https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/bone-marrow
[2] https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-mosaic-trisomy-8#:~:text=Mosaic%20trisomy%208%20is%20a,It’s%20a%20spontaneously%20occurring%20condition.
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/petechiae/basics/definition/sym-20050724#:~:text=Petechiae%20are%20pinpoint%2C%20round%20spots,when%20you%20press%20on%20them.
[4] https://www.healthline.com/health/anthracycline-drugs#:~:text=Anthracyclines%20are%20widely%20used%20chemotherapy,%2C%20and%20lung%2C%20among%20others.
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytarabine#:~:text=Cytarabine%2C%20also%20known%20as%20cytosine,or%20into%20the%20cerebrospinal%20fluid.
[6] https://training.seer.cancer.gov/lung/anatomy/#:~:text=The%20lungs%20are%20the%20major,esophagus%2C%20and%20many%20lymph%20nodes.