Managing Physical Effects
Manage the physical symptoms of cancer and the side effects from chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatment; learn how to maintain proper nutrition during treatment. To learn more, see Palliative Care in Cancer.
On this page:
Fatigue
- Fatigue (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about fatigue, a condition marked by extreme tiredness and inability to function because of lack of energy, often seen as a complication of cancer or its treatment. - Fatigue (Feeling Weak and Very Tired): Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical tips to help people with cancer make a plan to feel less tired and fatigued during chemotherapy. Learn what problems you should call your doctor about and read questions to ask your doctor. - What To Do When You Feel Weak or Tired (Fatigue)
Practical tips to help people with cancer deal with fatigue, feel better during radiation treatment, and talk with their doctor or nurse. - Sleep Disorders (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about causes and management of sleep disorders in people with cancer.
Back to TopPain
- Pain (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about pain as a complication of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management and treatment of cancer-associated pain are discussed. - Pain: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical advice to help people with cancer prevent or manage pain during chemotherapy treatment. Tips to help you track your pain, get the most from your pain medicine, and know when to call your doctor. - Pain Control: Support for People with Cancer
A booklet for cancer patients that addresses pain control medicines and methods, as well as the physical and emotional effects of pain. - Many Patients with Cancer Need Better Treatments for Pain
Inadequate pain treatment in patients with cancer remains a significant problem and appears to be more frequent among minorities, according to a new study published online April 16, 2012, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. - Nerve Changes
Practical information about nerve changes (also called peripheral neuropathy) and tips that have helped others during chemotherapy. Learn what changes to call your doctor about and questions to ask your doctor.
Nausea and Vomiting
- Nausea and Vomiting (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about nausea and vomiting as complications of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management of nausea and vomiting are discussed. - Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about the use of Cannabis and cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer-related side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. - Nausea and Vomiting: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical tips and advice to help people with cancer prevent nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. Learn what foods and drinks are easy on your stomach. Read questions to ask your doctor. - What To Do About Feeling Sick to Your Stomach and Throwing Up (Nausea and Vomiting)
Practical tips to help people with cancer manage nausea and vomiting, feel better during radiation treatment, and talk with your doctor or nurse.
Constipation and Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal Complications (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about constipation, impaction, bowel obstruction, and diarrhea as complications of cancer or its treatment. The management of these problems is discussed. - Constipation
Practical tips to help people with cancer prevent or relieve constipation and feel better during chemotherapy. Learn what foods can help and key questions to ask your doctor. - Diarrhea: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical information to help people with cancer prevent or relieve diarrhea and feel better during chemotherapy. Learn what foods and drinks may help you feel better and what problems to call your doctor about. - What To Do When You Have Loose Stools (Diarrhea)
Practical tips to help people with cancer manage diarrhea, feel better during radiation treatment, and talk with your doctor or nurse.
Nutrition and Eating Problems
- Nutrition in Cancer Care (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about the causes and management of nutritional problems that occur in patients with cancer. - Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
Information and recipes to help people with cancer meet their needs for good nutrition before, during, and after treatment. - Appetite Changes
Practical tips to help people with cancer make eating easier, stay strong during chemotherapy and manage appetite changes. Read questions to ask your doctor. - Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about oral complications, such as mucositis and salivary gland dysfunction, that occur in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck. - Mouth and Throat Changes: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical steps that people with cancer can take if their mouth or throat hurts during chemotherapy. Learn about a mouth rinse that can help, what foods to avoid, and questions to ask your doctor.
Anemia and Bleeding Problems
- Anemia
Practical advice about anemia, tips to help people with cancer feel less tired, and signs to call your doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor. - Bleeding Problems
Practical steps to help people with cancer prevent bleeding problems during chemotherapy and know what problems to call your doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Fever and Infection
- Fever, Sweats, and Hot Flashes (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about causes and treatment of fever, sweats, and hot flashes in cancer patients. - Infection
Practical advice to help people with cancer lower their chances of getting infections during chemotherapy and problems to call their doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor.
Hair Loss
- Hair Loss (Alopecia)
Practical tips on how others have coped with hair loss (also called alopecia) during chemotherapy. Read questions to ask your doctor. - What To Do About Hair Loss (Alopecia): Managing Radiation Side Effects
Practical tips to help patients with cancer deal with hair loss, feel better during radiation treatment, and talk with their doctor or nurse.
Confusion and Memory Problems
- Cognitive Disorders and Delirium (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about cognitive disorders and delirium as complications of cancer or its treatment. Supportive care and pharmacologic approaches to the management of cognitive disorders and delirium are discussed. - Memory Changes
Practical information about what causes memory changes during chemotherapy. Get helpful tips and learn what questions to ask your doctor.
Lymphedema
- Lymphedema (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about the anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer-related lymphedema. - Swelling (Fluid Retention): Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical information for people with cancer about what causes swelling (fluid retention) during chemotherapy, steps to take to prevent it, and when to call their doctor. Learn what questions to ask your doctor.
Skin Changes
- Pruritus (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about pruritus (itching of the skin) as a complication of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management and treatment of pruritus are discussed. - Skin and Nail Changes: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical information to help people with cancer care for their skin and nails during chemotherapy and problems to call their doctor about. Read questions to ask your doctor. - What To Do About Mild Skin Changes
Practical tips to help people with cancer manage mild skin changes, feel better during radiation treatment, and talk with their doctor or nurse.
Sexuality and Fertility
- Sexuality and Reproductive Issues (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about factors that may affect sexual functioning in people with cancer. Fertility issues related to cancer treatment are also discussed. - Preserving Fertility While Battling Cancer
Information about the potential impact of cancer treatment on the fertility of cancer patients and ways to address issues related to fertility preservation decisions. - Sexual and Fertility Changes in Men: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical information and answers to questions from men about sexual problems or fertility changes due to chemotherapy. Learn what questions to ask your doctor before treatment starts. - What Men Can Do About Changes in Sexuality and Fertility
Practical tips to help men manage changes in sexuality and fertility, feel better during radiation treatment, and talk with their doctor or nurse. - Sexual and Fertility Changes in Women: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical information and answers to questions from women about sexual problems or fertility changes due to chemotherapy. Learn what questions to ask your doctor before treatment starts.
Other Physical Effects
- Hypercalcemia (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels) as a complication of cancer. Approaches to the treatment of hypercalcemia are discussed. - Cardiopulmonary Syndromes (PDQ®)
[ patient ] [ health professional ]
Expert-reviewed information summary about common conditions that produce chest symptoms. The cardiopulmonary syndromes addressed in this summary are cancer-related dyspnea, malignant pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and superior vena cava syndrome. - Nerve Changes
Practical information about nerve changes (also called peripheral neuropathy) and tips that have helped others during chemotherapy. Learn what changes to call your doctor about and questions to ask your doctor. - Urination Changes: Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
Practical information about how to prevent or manage changes in urination during chemotherapy, problems to call your doctor about, and questions to ask your doctor.
Understanding Chemotherapy
- Understanding Chemotherapy
What chemotherapy is and how it can help people with cancer. Use this when you talk with your doctor to get the information you need before and during treatment. - Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer
Information about what to expect during chemotherapy and what patients can do to take care of themselves during and after treatment.
Understanding Radiation Therapy
- Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer
Information about what to expect during radiation therapy, including the general effects of treatment and how to deal with specific side effects. - What To Know About Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal Radiation Therapy)
An easy-to-read fact sheet that helps radiation therapy patients understand brachytherapy, a type of internal radiation therapy. - What To Know About External Beam Radiation Therapy
An easy-to-read fact sheet that helps radiation therapy patients understand external beam radiation therapy.
