Diagnosed with Cancer? Your two greatest challenges are understanding cancer and understanding possible side effects from chemo and radiation. Knowledge is Power!
Learn about conventional, complementary, and integrative therapies.
Dealing with treatment side effects? Learn about evidence-based therapies to alleviate your symptoms.
Click the orange button to the right to learn more.
Women Suffer Chemo Side Effects More
Women suffer chemo side effects more, according to the study linked below. That’s the bad news. The good news is that women, on average, live longer and suffer fewer relapses than men do.
In my experience as a long-term cancer survivor, oncologists don’t study or talk about short-term and long-term side effects of the therapies that they prescribe. I’m not trying to be critical. I’m simply saying that oncology focuses on treating the newly diagnosed cancer patient.
But I have researched therapies to reduce possible side effects. These therapies break into two groups. The first is to prepare your body for the toxicity it will be dealing with during therapy and the second type of therapy are those that you can do during and after therapy.
Preparing your body for treatment-
- intravenous vitamin C therapy
- prehabilitation
- enhancing your gut microbiome
- healing your immune system after chemo and radiation
Remember that each side effect is linked to a page on PeopleBeatingCancer.org that is about that specific side effect.
I believe that if a newly diagnosed cancer patient understood what treatment was going to do to them, they would work harder to prevent side effects. If you have not begun therapy, please prepare your body for treatment. If you have already begun treatment, scroll down the page to learn more about evidence-based therapies shown to reduce side effects.
Scroll down the page and post a question or a comment if there’s anything you’d like to know about breast cancer.
Good luck,
David Emerson
10 Most Common Adverse Events Women Experience During Cancer Therapy
1. Cancer-Related Fatigue
Fatigue is the most frequently reported side effect of cancer treatment.
Symptoms
- Persistent exhaustion
- Low physical stamina
- Reduced motivation and mental energy
It can occur with chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31124358/
2. Nausea and Vomiting
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains one of the most common treatment toxicities.
High-risk drugs
- Cisplatin
- Anthracyclines
- Cyclophosphamide
Modern anti-nausea medications have improved control, but symptoms still affect many patients.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31568169/
3. Hair Loss (Alopecia)
Hair loss is extremely common with chemotherapy and certain targeted drugs.
Features
- scalp hair loss
- eyebrow and eyelash thinning
- body hair loss
Hair usually regrows after therapy but may have changes in texture or color.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31999363/
4. Anemia
Cancer therapy often suppresses bone marrow, leading to reduced red blood cells.
Symptoms
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- weakness
- dizziness
Anemia is especially common during chemotherapy.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33544943/
5. Pain
Pain may result from:
- tumor pressure
- surgery
- chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
- radiation injury
Pain management is a major component of oncology care.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31522570/
6. Peripheral Neuropathy
Certain chemotherapy drugs damage nerves.
Symptoms
- numbness in hands and feet
- tingling
- burning pain
- difficulty walking or handling objects
Drugs commonly responsible include taxanes and platinum chemotherapy.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30993793/
7. Sleep Disturbances
Many cancer patients develop insomnia during treatment.
Causes include:
- steroid medications
- anxiety
- pain
- hormone disruption
- treatment schedules
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29554424/
8. Appetite Loss and Weight Changes
Cancer therapy often alters appetite.
Women may experience:
- loss of appetite
- taste changes
- unintended weight loss
- or steroid-related weight gain
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30883368/
9. Hot Flashes and Hormonal Symptoms
Women treated with hormone-blocking therapies often develop menopausal symptoms.
Common examples:
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- vaginal dryness
- mood swings
These are especially common in breast cancer survivors receiving endocrine therapy.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29691516/
10. Cognitive Changes (“Chemo Brain”)
Many women report cognitive difficulties during and after treatment.
Symptoms include:
- memory lapses
- difficulty concentrating
- slower thinking
This effect can persist months or years after therapy.
Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30741680/
Evidence-Based Ways to Reduce Cancer Treatment Side Effects
- Exercise therapy
- Anti-inflammatory nutrition
- Sleep optimization
- Acupuncture for nausea and neuropathy
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Curcumin
- Medicinal mushrooms (AHCC, beta-glucans)
- Melatonin for sleep and immune support
Sex-based prognosis in industry-sponsored advanced solid tumour trials: an individual participant data meta-analysis of survival and adverse events
Abstract
Background
Sex is a recognised modifier of physiology, immunity, and social exposures, yet its
independent association with survival and adverse event (AE) prognosis in contemporary
anticancer therapy remains poorly defined. The aim of the present study was to assess the
participant data (IPD) meta-analysis.
Methods
IPD supporting FDA approval of anticancer medicines for solid tumours between 2011 and
2021 were accessed via the Vivli and YODA data sharing platforms. A two-stage random-
effects meta-analysis approach was employed, using Cox proportional hazards regression to
estimate sex-based prognostic differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival
(PFS), and grade ≥3 AEs. Analyses were adjusted for key baseline covariates.
Results
In a pooled cohort of 20,806 participants from 39 phase II–III trials supporting US FDA
approvals of anticancer medicines for advanced solid tumours, across 12 tumour types,
female sex was associated with significantly improved OS (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73-0.85;
P<0.001) and PFS (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79-0.89; P<0.001). Conversely, females experienced
a higher risk of grade ≥3 AEs (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.18; P<0.001).
Conclusions
In the largest analysis of IPD from trials supporting FDA drug approvals, we found that females
had a 21% lower risk of death and a 16% lower risk of progression, but a 12% higher risk of
severe adverse events. These findings highlight the value of the IPD sharing and the
importance of sex-stratified evidence for risk stratification, dose optimisation and patient
counselling.
In conclusion, this pooled IPD meta-analysis of oncology trials supporting recent anticancer
drug approvals found that female sex was associated with a 21% lower risk of death, a 16%
lower risk of disease progression and a 12% higher risk of grade ≥3 AEs. These associations
were largely consistent across 12 advanced solid tumour types and evaluated subgroups
Women suffer chemo side effects more Women suffer chemo side effects more Women suffer chemo side effects more