Side effects of myeloma treatment

The point at which your white blood cell count is at its lowest is called the nadir. This is usually expected 10-14 days after having your chemotherapy. During this time you will be at a higher risk of developing an infection. At this stage you will also be neutropenic, which means that your neutrophil count is low.

Neutrophils are important white blood cells that help us to fight infection. While your white blood cell count is low you should take sensible precautions to help prevent infection. These include avoiding crowds, avoiding close contact with people with contagious infections (e.g. colds, flu, chicken pox) and only eating food that has been properly prepared and cooked.

If you do develop an infection you may experience a fever, which may or may not be accompanied by an episode of shivering where you shake uncontrollably. Infections while you are neutropenic can be quite serious and need to be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible. Sometimes your doctor may decide to use a drug to help the recovery of your neutrophil count. This drug works by stimulating the bone marrow to increase the production of neutrophils and is usually given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous).

Nausea and vomiting are often associated with chemotherapy and some forms of radiotherapy. These days however, thanks to significant improvements in anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs, nausea and vomiting are generally very well controlled. You will be given anti-sickness drugs before and for a few days after your chemotherapy treatment. Be sure to tell the nurses and doctors if the anti-emetics are not working for you and you still feel sick. Some people find that eating smaller meals more frequently during the day, rather than a few large meals, helps to reduce nausea and vomiting. Many find that eating cool or cold food is more palatable, for example jelly or custard. Drinking ginger ale or soda water and eating dry toast may also help if you are feeling sick.

Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause changes to your sense of taste and smell. This is usually temporary but in some cases it lasts up to several months.

Mucositis, or inflammation of the lining of the mouth, throat or gut is a common and uncomfortable side effect of chemotherapy and some forms of radiotherapy. It usually starts about a week after the treatment has finished and goes away once your blood count recovers, usually a couple of weeks later. During this time your mouth and throat could get quite sore. Soluble pain medication and other topical drugs (ones which can be applied to the sore area) can help. If the pain becomes more severe, stronger pain killers might be needed. It is important to keep your mouth as clean as possible while you are having treatment to help prevent infection. Avoid commercial mouthwashes as these are often too strong or they may contain alcohol, which will hurt your mouth.

Chemotherapy can cause some damage to the lining of your bowel wall. This can lead to cramping, wind, abdominal swelling and diarrhoea. Be sure to tell the nurses and doctors if you experience any of these symptoms. If you develop diarrhoea, a specimen will be required from you to ensure that the diarrhoea is not the result of an infection. After this you will be given some medication to help stop the diarrhoea and/or the discomfort you may be feeling. It is also important to tell the nurse or doctor if you are constipated or if you are feeling any discomfort or tenderness around your anus when you are trying to move your bowels. You may need a gentle laxative to help soften your bowel motion.

Hair loss is unfortunately a very common side effect of chemotherapy and some forms of radiotherapy, although it is usually only temporary. The hair starts to fall out within a couple of weeks of treatment and tends to grow back three to six months later. Avoiding the use of heat or chemicals and only using a soft hairbrush and a mild baby shampoo can help reduce the itchiness and scalp tenderness that can occur while you are losing your hair. You need to avoid direct sunlight on your exposed head (wear a hat) because chemotherapy and radiotherapy make your skin even more vulnerable to the damaging effects of the sun (sunburn and skin cancers). Remember that without your hair your head can get quite cold so a beanie might be useful. Hair can also be lost from your eyebrows, eyelashes, arms and legs.

Most people experience some degree of tiredness in the days and weeks following chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Having plenty of rest and a little light exercise each day may help to make you feel better during this time. It is important to listen to your body and rest when you are tired.

Some types of chemotherapy and radiotherapy maycause a temporary or permanent reduction in your fertility. It is very important that you discuss any questions or concerns you might have regarding your future fertility with your doctor if possible beforeyou commence treatment. In women, some types of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause varying degrees of damage to the normal functioning of the ovaries.

In men, sperm production can be impaired for a while but the production of new sperm may become normal again in the future. There are some options for preserving your fertility, if necessary, while you are having treatment for myeloma.

Some cancer treatments can affect the normal functioning of the ovaries. This can sometimes lead to infertility and an earlier than expected onset of menopause, even at a young age. The onset of menopause in these circumstances can be sudden and understandably very distressing. Hormone changes can lead to many of the classic symptoms of menopause. Some women experience decreased sexual drive, anxiety and even depressive symptoms during this time. It is important that you discuss any changes to your periods with your doctor or nurse.

Hair loss, skin changes and fatigue can all interfere with how you feel about yourself as a man or a woman and as a “sexual being”. During treatment you may experience a decrease in libido and it may take some time for things to return to “normal”. It is perfectly reasonable and safe to have sex while you are on treatment or shortly afterwards, but there are some precautions you need to take. It is usually recommended that you or your partner do not become pregnant as some of the treatments given might harm the developing baby. As such, you need to ensure that you or your partner use a suitable form of contraception. Partners are sometimes afraid that sex might in some way harm the patient. This is not likely as long as the partner is free from any infections and the sex is relatively gentle. Finally, if you are experiencing vaginal dryness, a lubricant can be helpful.

Parotitis is an inflammation of the saliva-producing glands in the mouth, which can occur if these glands are within the treatment field used. These include the parotid or submandibular glands, which are situated at the top of the jaw line, in front of the ears. Parotitis causes dryness of the mouth and jaw pain, which usually settles down within a few days, once the inflammation subsides.

Cortico-steroids are hormones that are produced naturally by the body in the adrenal glands. Man-made cortico-steroids such as prednisone, dexamethasone and methylprednisolone are very important in the treatment of myeloma and are commonly used alone or in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of myeloma.  The types of side effects seen with cortico-steroids depend largely on how long they are used for, and the dose given. If you are using them for a short time you may notice that your appetite increases or you may feel more restless than usual. Some people find it more difficult to get to sleep at night and sleeping tablets or natural therapies are sometimes recommended.

Cortico-steroids can cause a rise in the blood sugar. Diabetics may find they need more of their diabetes medication while they are taking these drugs. Some people who are not normally diabetic may require treatment to keep their blood sugar at acceptable levels. It is important to keep a check on the blood sugar and keep a diary of the levels and the amount of diabetic medication being taken. Diabetics will already know how to do this. People whose blood sugar only goes up when they are on cortico-steroids will be given information on diet and taught how to measure their blood sugar and adjust their medication.

Many of the side effects of cortico-steroids are temporary and should pass once you finish taking them. Long-term use may cause some other effects such as fluid retention and an increased susceptibility to infections. Aching joints such as the knees and hips have also been reported. Remember to tell your doctor and nurses about any side effects you are experiencing as they can usually suggest ways to help you.

Although strictly speaking thalidomide is not a chemotherapy drug, it does have side effects which have to be carefully monitored. It can cause several side effects including drowsiness, lack of concentration, dizziness, constipation, skin rash and, in some cases, heart problems and nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). Due to its sedative effects it is recommended that you take thalidomide in the evening. Regular laxatives and a high fibre diet can help prevent the risk of constipation.

Nerve damage is usually felt as a tingling and loss of sensation in the hands and feet. It is important that you tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of nerve damage, as the dose of thalidomide may need to be reduced or stopped. Thalidomide can increase the risk of developing a clot in the veins (thrombosis). Your doctor may prescribe a blood-thinning medication while you are taking thalidomide. Thalidomide is harmful to babies developing in the womb and should never be taken by pregnant women. It is important to avoid becoming pregnant and to use a suitable form of contraception, if necessary, while taking thalidomide and for some time afterwards. There are special government regulations relating to prescribing and dispensing thalidomide that you and your doctor have to abide by. Your doctor will explain these regulations to you.

The main side effects of bortezomib are peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy and thrombocytopenia. It also lowers immunity to certain viruses, especially herpes zoster which increases the risk of shingles. Antiviral preventative therapy is often used with bortezomib.

Lenalidomide’s main side effect is depression of blood counts (causing anaemia and risk of infection) and an increased risk of blood clots. Therapy with a blood-thinning agent may be used to help reduce the risk. Lenalidomide may be harmful to babies developing in the womb and should never be taken by pregnant women. It is important to avoid becoming pregnant and to use a suitable form of contraception, if necessary, while taking lenalidomide, and for some time afterwards. There are special government regulations relating to prescribing and dispensing lenalidomide which you and your doctor have to abide by. The doctor will explain this to you.