What to Expect

At Utah Cancer Specialists, we believe in the power of dependable information. The more you know about cancer and cancer treatment, the better you can confront your illness and manage your treatment.

We will be straightforward with you when it comes to your cancer treatment and everything it entails. We don’t want you to be in the dark about any aspect of your treatment, which is why we encourage you to ask all the questions you need to feel as comfortable and confident as possible about what lies ahead for you during treatment.

The following addresses concerns many patients have. This is just an overview. As always, we encourage you to consult with your physician and your care team for more information about what you can expect as you receive treatment.

I Have "Pins and Needles"

Everyone feels Peripheral Neuropathy differently. These signs and symptoms indicate injury to or changes in how your nerves work. Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy can be experienced as:

Pins and needles
Shards of ice
Numbness and tingling
Burning
Itching
Loss of function
Problems with balance

There are many ways to manage Peripheral Neuropathy:

Medication
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Changes in treatment
Ask your doctor or nurse about treatment options

I Am So Tired

Fatigue is one of the most common and difficult side effects of both cancer and cancer treatment. Researchers believe fatigue may be caused by a chronic inflammatory state as a result of cancer. Other contributing factors may include anemia, medications and/or depression. These changes can last for many months following treatment.

Not everyone experiences fatigue as a feeling of tiredness. It can also be felt in the following ways:

An inability to complete all the tasks and activities you need to get done
An inability to perform functions at work or at home
Depression/Sadness – A feeling of heaviness in your life
A continued sense of being ill
Feelings of isolation or not wanting to socialize with friends and loved ones

How Can You Help Yourself?

A supervised and individualized low-intensity exercise program can help to boost energy, increase your sense of well being and help you return to normal activities
Assure a restful night’s sleep
Avoid alcohol, caffeine and caffeinated beverages
Use your bedroom for sleep only – do not watch television in bed
Don’t exercise within 3-4 hours of bedtime
Don’t eat within 3-4 hours of bedtime
Make sure your other symptoms are managed
Talk to your doctor or nurse about your feelings

I Keep Hurting

Pain is a manageable side effect of cancer and its treatment. Pain is any discomfort that limits your ability to function. It has many causes, and there are many ways to treat cancer related pain. Everyone experiences pain differently. Pain may be experienced as:

Muscle, bone or joint aches
Lasting effects of surgery
Radiation or chemotherapy side effects
Swelling and lymphedema
Sense of loss, sadness or depression
Increased stress
Spiritual pain

There are Many Ways to Manage Pain. Your provider may recommend and prescribe different approaches to managing your pain:

Relaxation techniques and guided imagery
Exercise and physical therapy
Massage
Cold or heat treatments, vibration and or touch
Acupuncture
Medications including pills, patches and/or pumps

I Have Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as more than two loose or watery stools per day. It can be caused by your cancer, cancer treatments, antibiotics or other medications, stress and other gastrointestinal disorders. Diarrhea may be worse if you are also receiving radiation treatment over your abdomen, pelvis or lower spine.

Diarrhea may result in weakness, weight loss, skin soreness and poor nutrition. Left untreated, diarrhea can cause life threatening conditions. You must call your provider if diarrhea occurs more than 3 times per day for more than one day.

How Can You Help Yourself?

Drink 6-8 glasses of liquids per day
Drink fluids such as fruit juice, Gatorade and soups. Carbonated beverages may make diarrhea worse
Eat frequent small amounts of low residue foods instead of three large meals. Suggested foods are eggs, rice, yogurt, broth, applesauce, broiled or baked chicken and fish, pasta, canned fruit and cooked vegetables
Eat plenty of foods and liquids that contain salt including broths, soups, sports drinks, crackers and pretzels
Avoid milks and milk products, greasy and spicy foods, very sweet foods and foods high in fiber such as whole grain bread
Take your anti-diarrhea medication as prescribed

Call your provider if:

You develop a fever over 100.4 degrees
You experience dizziness, lightheadedness or weakness
You cannot urinate for 6 hours or your urine becomes very dark in color.
Diarrhea becomes bloody or you are not able to keep liquids down
Your diarrhea lasts for longer than 24 hours

I Am Constipated

Constipation is difficult or painful movement of the bowels caused by hard, dry stools. This may occur due to cancer, chemotherapy and/or anti-nausea medications. Pain medications can cause constipation. You should take a laxative while you are taking pain medications. Do not take a fiber supplement.

You should call your provider or nurse if:

You do not have a bowel movement for 2 days
You experience abdominal bloating or pain
You experience lower back pain in combination with the absence of bowel movements

Sometimes constipation presents with other symptoms. These may include:

Heartburn
Nausea
Hemorrhoid flare-ups

How Can You Help Yourself?

Drink plenty of fluids – about 2 liters (8 – 8 oz. glasses) a day is adequate – juice, Gatorade, water or any non-caffeinated beverage
If you do not have mouth sores, try warm and hot fluids (including water) which work especially well
Talk to your providers about a supervised and individualized low intensity exercise program
Eat a well-balanced diet complete with fruits, vegetables and high fiber foods
DO NOT use enemas or suppositories unless specifically told to do so by your provide.

I Have Unbearable Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are common and may result from cancer, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery. They reflect a change in your hormone level. You may experience:

Flushing
Sweating
Feeling of hot heat

What Can You Do?

Wear clothes in layers
Avoid alcohol
Avoid caffeine and caffeinated beverages
Medication may be helpful, including anti-depressants
Some symptoms may get better with time
Ask your doctor or nurse about treatment options

I Am Nauseated

Nausea is the unsettled feeling in the stomach that accompanies the urge to vomit. Many things can cause nausea and vomiting:

Cancer
Tumors
Medication
Radiation therapy
Anxiety
Reflux
Motion sickness
Constipation
Diarrhea
Mouth sores

Treatment varies by cause. It is important to talk to your provider about your nausea when it occurs. You may want to keep a brief record of you nausea patterns.

How can you help yourself?

Take your "as needed' medication as prescribed
If your "as needed" nausea medication is not working, call your provider
Drink plenty of fluids, a minimun of 2 liters (8-8 ox. glasses) per day is recommended
Eat small, frequent meals avoiding greasy, spicy or gaseous foods

If you cannot keep food or drink down for 24 hours or are experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness, please call your provider.

I Feel So Blue

A cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment will make you feel differently. You may not be able to cope with your daily activities, your cancer diagnosis or your treatment. You may feel:

Worthless
Like a burden to your loved ones
Low in spirits
Fatigued
A loss of appetite
Grouchy
A loss of pleasure in life
A need to be left alone
Sadness
Like crying
Like sleeping too much
Hungry
Negative
Angry
Self blame and self criticism
Death thoughts
Like hurting yourself

If you are feeling more than half of these symptoms, you may have a condition that needs to be treated. Ask for help.