A cancer therapy is a cancer therapy that zeroes in on cancer cells, and it’s pretty much a main form of therapy for treating a lot of cancers. But just like any drug, it’s not without its potential side effects—patient-relevant information. Well, this article talks about five big deals related to a cancer therapy’s potential side effects, sharing some useful info and tips on how to handle them.
1. Common Side Effects of Sorafenib
A cancer therapy is known for nailing down cancer cells, but it also impacts healthy cells, which can cause potential side effects. The usual potential side effects are things like exhaustion, a really itchy hand-foot syndrome, loose stools, and hypertension. Identifying these side effects can help both patients and doctors design therapeutic regimens to deal with them well.
2. Managing Fatigue
Exhaustion is pretty on a cancer therapy. It’s arduous to handle, but there are strategies patients can use reduce the severity of it.
Adequate sleep, gentle physical activity, and eating well can all help reduce fatigue. And if necessary, talking to your healthcare providertor about adjusting your medication or trying something else can help, too.
3. Hand-Foot Skin Reaction
HFSR, it’s a pretty typical side effect of the drug, where your hand palms and the foot soles can turn red, inflame, and be painful. There’s no definitive treatment for HFSR, but there are ways to make it more comfortable.
Keeping the itchy areas moisturized, avoiding prolonged standing or sitting, and wearing loose-fitting shoes can help make it feel better. And if things become too severe, your healthcare provider might give you some pain medication or the inflammation.
4. Diarrhea and Gastrointestinal Issues
Another common side effect is diarrhea, usually with abdominal pain and stomach cramps to go with it. To help with these, ensure proper hydration and adhere to a low-fiber diet.
There are over-the-counter medications medicines that can help with the diarrhea, but it’s key to consult with your physician before taking anything new. Sometimes, you might need to tweak your sorafenib dosage.
5. Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risks
Sorafenib can lead to high systolic/diastolic pressure, which can raise your chances of cardiovascular problems. Checking your systolic/diastolic pressure often is a must if you’re taking sorafenib.
Nutrition and physical activity are lifestyle modifications that can help control high systolic/diastolic pressure. And sometimes, you might need to take systolic/diastolic pressure medicines. You need to discuss with your healthcare provider about any worries and adhere to their recommendations to the letter.