Effect of Chemotherapy on various organs of the body:
Blood Health:
- Chemotherapy decreases red blood cells (anemia)[1]
- Chemotherapy decreases white blood cells (leukopenia)[2]
- Chemotherapy decreases blood platelets [3]
Bone Health:
- Chemotherapy causes bone death (osteonecrosis) [4]
- Chemotherapy causes loss of bone mineral density (osteopor-osis) [ 5-6]
Brain Health:
- Chemotherapy is toxic to the brain (neurotoxic) [7]
- Chemotherapy causes long-lasting impairment of concentration, forgetfulness and slower thinking; termed “chemobrain [8-9]
- Chemotherapy causes altered consciousness [10]
- Chemotherapy causes degeneration of white matter in the brain(leukoencephalopathy)[10]
- Chemotherapy causes damage(neuropathy) [10]
- Chemotherapy causes seizures [10]
- Chemotherapy causes paralysis[10]
- Chemotherapy causes stroke (cerebral infarction)[10]
Digestive Health:
- Chemotherapy causes diarrhoea[18]
- Chemotherapy causes painful inflammation and ulceration in the digestive tract (intestinal mucositis) [23]
- Chemotherapy causes “significant intestinal damage in both jejunum and colon” [19]
Exercise:
- Chemotherapy reduces grip strength [20]
- Chemotherapy causes muscle dysfunction and a loss of overall strength [21]
Eye Health:
- Chemotherapy causes severe vision loss and altered colorvision [22]
- Chemotherapy causes complete blindness [23]
Hair Health:
- Chemotherapy causes hair-loss [30]
Healing:
- Chemotherapy impairs wound healing [31]
Hearing:
- Chemotherapy causes “severe to profound hearing loss” [32]
- Chemotherapy causes chronic ringing of the ears (tinnitus) [32]
Heart Health:
- Chemotherapy damages the heart [33]
- Chemotherapy causes heart disease [34]
- Chemotherapy causes heart failure [35]
- Chemotherapy causes heart attacks (myocardial infarction) [36]
Immune System:
- Chemotherapy causes long-term immune system damage [37-38]
- Chemotherapy exacerbates existing hepatitis C infections [39]
- Chemotherapy reactivates hepatitis B virus [40]
- Chemotherapy impairs anti-tumor immune response [41]
Kidney Health:
- Chemotherapy causes kidney failure [42]
Liver Health:
- Chemotherapy causes liver injury [43]
Lung Health:
- Chemotherapy causes lung disease [44]
Mental Health:
- Chemotherapy “decreased emotional and social function and increased distress” [11]
- Chemotherapy causes depression [12]
- Chemotherapy causes anxiety [13]
Oral Health:
- Chemotherapy causes severe dental caries [14]
- Chemotherapy causes dry mouth (xerostomia), ulcers and mouth sores [45]
- Chemotherapy causes oral candida (fungal) infection [15]
- Chemotherapy causes painful inflammation and ulceration in the mouth (oral mucositis) [16]
- Chemotherapy causes “a diverse spectrum of oral changes that generally are attributed to im-munosuppression and bleeding tendencies” [17]
Pain:
- Chemotherapy causes neuropathic pain; burning or coldness, “pins and needles” sensations, numbness and itching [46]
- Chemotherapy pain remains one-year after treatment [47]
Quality of Life:
- Chemotherapy causes diffculty swallowing (dysphagia) [48]
- Chemotherapy causes nausea and vomiting (emesis) [49-50]
- Chemotherapy causes altered taste sensation [51]
- Chemotherapy causes migraine headaches.[52]
Sexual Health:
- Chemotherapy causes infertility and premature ovarian failure [24-25] in up to 66% of women [26]
- Chemotherapy causes absence of menstrual period (amenorrhea) [27]
- Chemotherapy causes menopausal symptoms [27]
- Chemotherapy damages sperm and testicular tissue [28-29]
- Chemotherapy reduces reproductive organ weight; sperm count and sperm motility [28]