How to Conquer Chemotherapy Side Effects
Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells to arrest them and prevent them from growing and duplicating. But in the process, many normal cells are also affected throughout the body. Read on to see some of the side effects of chemo and ways to prevent or treat these side effects. Note: these are only some side effects of chemotherapy, and these are not the only ways to deal with side effects. Discuss any concerns you have with your cancer care team regarding the side effects you experience from chemotherapy. None of the information you read here is to replace the advice you receive from your care team.
Problem: Anemia
Cause: Decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin
Prevention: Eat foods high in iron.
Iron is better absorbed with Vitamin C.
Some foods that are high in iron include tofu, citrus fruit/juice; dark berries like blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries; cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and more.
Meat and fish sources include beef and beef liver, clams, and oysters.
Eat foods containing folates like beans and greens.
Foods that contain vitamin B12 are also beneficial. These include salmon, shrimp, beef, yogurt, and others.
Avoid foods that can enhance anemia by blocking iron absorption. Some of these foods are tea, grapes, and corn because of the tannins they contain; foods that contain phytic acid like brown rice; and foods that contain oxalic acids like peanuts and chocolate.
Treatment: Despite your best efforts, sometimes anemia cannot be prevented during chemotherapy. Your oncologist will monitor your blood values frequently.
Your doctor may need to give you medicine that causes your body to make more red blood cells. They may need to give you an iron infusion or even a blood transfusion.
Be sure to let your care team know if you are unable to take transfusions due to religious or personal beliefs that prohibit you from receiving blood products.
Additional resource: https://pearlpoint.org/anemia-during-cancer-treatment/
Problem: Leukopenia or neutropenia
Cause: The purpose of white blood cells is to defend the body against invaders that can cause infection. Chemotherapy suppresses the bone marrow where these cells are made. When you do not have adequate WBCs, also called leukocytes, you are more prone to infection.
Prevention: Some ways to prevent infection while you are going through chemotherapy include:
Avoid crowds
Practice good body hygiene to remove potentially harmful bacteria from your skin
Another defense system the body has against infection is healthy, intact skin. Chemotherapy can cause skin changes including dry, cracked skin. When there is a break in the skin, this opens the door to allow infection-causing germs into your body. Use lotions and moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated which helps prevent your skin from being irritated.
Wash food appropriately before cooking or eating it
Drink plenty of fluids
Get plenty of rest
Treatment: Consult with your dietician to make sure you are getting the right nutrients in your diet to help you ward off infections.
Your doctor will monitor your blood values frequently. They may order medication to help boost your white count to either treat a low count or to help prevent it from going low.
Additional resources: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/infections/preventing-infections-in-people-with-cancer.html
https://www.verywellhealth.com/increase-white-blood-cells-during-chemotherapy-5203581
Problem: Thrombocytopenia
Cause: Chemotherapy can suppress the production of platelets in the bone marrow.
Prevention: There is a medication available that your oncologist may order to help prevent a low platelet count.
Avoid any contact sports or other activities that are likely to cause trauma or bruising.
Treatment: Your platelet count may go low to the point where a transfusion is necessary. As stated above, let your doctor know if you cannot receive blood products based on your religious beliefs or personal decision.
Additional resource: https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/side-effects/low-platelet-count
Problem: Bruising/bleeding
Cause: Platelets allow your blood to clot which is necessary to stop bleeding. Because chemo drugs suppress the bone marrow where platelets are formed, there may not be enough present in your blood and as a result, you may notice bruising or bleeding.
Prevention: There is a medication available that your oncologist may order to help prevent a low platelet count.
Avoid any contact sports or other activities that are likely to cause trauma or bruising.
Avoid medication or supplements that can increase the chance of bleeding like aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E.
Treatment: Your platelet count may go low to the point where a transfusion is necessary. As stated above, let your doctor know if you cannot receive blood products based on your religious beliefs or personal decision.
Additional resource: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/bleeding-bruising
Problem: Infections
Cause: An infection begins when bacteria, virus, fungus, or yeast overwhelms the body.
Typically, the white blood cells fight off these invaders. When taking chemotherapy, though, the white blood cells are decreased which can leave the body vulnerable to infection from these invaders.
Prevention: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Be careful with alcohol hand sanitizers which may be drying to the skin causing cracks which is a way for infection-causing organisms to enter your body.
Avoid any person who is ill to avoid catching any infection they may have.
If you are immunocompromised, wear a mask when around other persons.
Tell your doctor right away if you begin to show any signs of infection such as:
Fever > 100.5F or 38C
If you develop a sore throat or any other unusual aches or pains
Painful urination or an odor from your urine
Chills, cough, diarrhea, or any other sign of infection
Treatment: Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you get an infection.
Continue to do all the things you were doing to prevent an infection in the first place.
Get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Eat highly nutritious food.
Take supplements only if approved by your oncologist.
Additional resource: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/infection#:~:text=During%20chemotherapy%2C%20there%20will%20be,system%2C%20making%20infection%20more%20likely.
Problem: Change in sense of taste
Cause: Chemotherapy can affect cells of the entire gastrointestinal system. It may also affect the taste buds in the mouth.
Prevention: Not everyone notices the same taste change. Some notice milder changes while others notice the taste of food altered greatly.
Unfortunately, you may not be able to prevent altered taste in food.
Treatment: Foods you like may have an unbearable taste. Try different ways of preparing the foods you know you like.
For instance, if you typically eat fried eggs, but don’t like the way they now taste, see if scrambled eggs are more appealing to you.
Try foods that you wouldn’t normally eat for a variety of flavors.
Problem: Sore mouth
Cause: A sore mouth during chemotherapy treatment may be due to a lack of moisture in your mouth, a change in the lining of your mouth, or tooth decay.
Prevention: Aim to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. Brush your teeth several times per day to keep bacteria from causing sores.
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent further irritation.
Use moisturizing mouth lozenges.
Treatment: Inform your oncologist of any sores you develop, especially if this affects your ability to eat.
Eat soft foods.
Avoid warm or cold foods if either of these increases the discomfort in your mouth.
Drinking high-nutrition drinks may be easier to tolerate while your mouth is sore.
You may need to consult with your dietician to find ways to get adequate calories into your diet in a way that you can consume them.
Additional resource: https://www.healthline.com/health/mouth-sores-from-chemo#treatment
Problem: Dry mouth
Cause: Chemotherapy can disrupt the function of many parts of the body including the salivary glands. Damaged glands can result in a decrease in saliva leaving a dry mouth as a result.
Prevention: You may not be able to prevent dry mouth related to chemotherapy.
Treatment: You can manage a dry mouth by:
Take frequent sips of water to keep your mouth moist.
Suck on hard candy or a moisturizing mouth lozenge to add moisture to your mouth.
Rinse your mouth with a moisturizing mouth wash.
Avoid dehydration. If you have difficulty drinking enough fluids, let your oncologist know. They may need to give you IV fluids to help prevent you from becoming dehydrated.
Snack on moisture-rich foods like melon, cucumbers, soup, etc.
Problem: Loss of appetite
Cause: Chemotherapy can cause nausea, sore mouth or throat, and alter the taste of food. These factors can result in decreased appetite.
Your appetite may also be decreased due to a lack of energy which makes eating a greater effort.
Nausea will also make it more difficult to eat as you should.
Prevention: Eat small frequent meals. Digestion takes a lot of energy, so eating small amounts less frequently is more taxing on the body.
You may find the taste of foods changing throughout your chemotherapy treatment. If you find something that appeals to your appetite, nothing says you can’t eat it more than one time a day. Breakfast for breakfast, lunch, and supper? Go for it if that is what tastes good to you.
Treatment: If you find it difficult to eat, you may have an easier time taking in calories by drinking nutritional supplement drinks, smoothies, soups, or broth.
Altered taste of foods you normally like can make eating difficult. If you have a certain kind of food that sits well with you, try different varieties of that food. For instance, if you can eat pudding, experiment with different flavors or brands to see if one is more palatable than another.
Try different textures of food. Instead of a baked potato, mashed potatoes may be easier to eat, especially if a sore mouth is the cause of your lack of appetite.
Also, experiment with different temperatures of food and liquids. If cold foods are more soothing than warm ones, for instance, maybe try a cold soup like pea soup, carrot soup, or possibly beet soup. This is also a way to get essential nutrients into your diet. (See recipes in the additional resource of this section)
Additional resource: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/16138/soups-stews-and-chili/soup/cold-soups/
Problem: Nausea/vomiting
Cause: An over-simplified explanation for the cause of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy is that a reaction in your gut causes the vomiting center in your brain to be stimulated.
Yes, you have a vomiting center in your brain.
Once this area is stimulated, you experience nausea and/or vomiting.
Prevention: Your oncologist will order anti-nausea meds to be given during your chemotherapy session. They will also give you a prescription for pills you can take at home when you have nausea.
Avoid particularly upsetting smells. These may include certain fragrances like cologne or strong food smells like cabbage.
Fresh air can sometimes lessen the feeling of nausea.
Treatment: Take nausea medicine as prescribed.
If you are taking anti-nausea as needed, take it when you first notice nausea coming on to try to head it off.
Avoid eating overly spicy foods. This may irritate your stomach.
Eat small, frequent meals.
Sit up after eating to help your stomach empty better.
Inform your oncologist right away if nausea/vomiting is preventing you from getting enough calories each day.
Sometimes sipping on high-nutrition drinks is easier to tolerate than eating solid food. Consult with your nutritionist to help you get the right kind of nutrients in your diet.
Additional resource: https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2020/12/chemotherapy-nausea-vomiting
Problem: Diarrhea
Cause: Chemotherapy can cause diarrhea because it irritates the lining of the intestines.
If you already have irritable bowel syndrome, chemotherapy can make these symptoms worse.
Prevention: Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids. You should try to drink 8-10 eight-ounce cups of water or non-sugary fluids per day. Also, you should avoid caffeine as much as possible because it can increase dehydration.
Eat a low residue diet. Foods to avoid for this include fresh fruits and vegetables; foods such as cabbage, beans, and carbonated beverages which cause gas and bloating.
Foods that are recommended include cooked vegetables, bland foods because spices can irritate your gut, non-dairy products since dairy can be difficult to digest, white/potato bread, and more.
Consult your dietician to help you come up with a meal plan that takes into consideration any allergy or cultural restrictions regarding food that you may have while getting proper nutrition into you with foods that you can tolerate.
Treatment: Inform your oncologist if you develop diarrhea.
Take anti-diarrhea meds as recommended by your cancer care team.
Drink small amounts of fluids often. This can be difficult if your stomach is already upset. Try warm or cool fluids, whichever you are better able to tolerate, but avoid excessively hot or cold fluids.
If you become dehydrated, your doctor may order IV fluids for you to replace the excess fluids you are losing due to diarrhea.
Inform your doctor if you develop other signs associated with diarrhea including a fever over 100.5 F or 38 C, abdominal pain or bloating, or any other new symptoms. You may have something going on besides the side effect of chemotherapy.
Additional resource: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/diarrhea-and-chemotherapy.aspx
Problem: Constipation
Cause: Not sure why chemo causes constipation, but one possibility is that dehydration makes it more difficult to have a bowel movement. The longer stool sits in your colon, the more water is removed from it, making it even harder to pass.
Prevention: Try to avoid becoming constipated in the first place. Granted, this is not always easy to do.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Eat high-fiber foods. Ask your nutritionist how many grams of fiber you should eat each day.
Exercise.
OK, you’re exhausted from the chemo and there’s no way you are going to go to a gym.
Understood.
Try to move about as much as you can. When watching TV, stand up and walk around in the room during the commercials. This will not prepare you for your next marathon, but any movement is better than no movement at this point.
Take a stool softener which you can buy over the counter. Ask your care team if you should use one that has a laxative in it as well.
A stool softener works by pulling more fluid into your intestines, which makes the waste material softer and easier to pass.
A laxative increases the movement of your intestines which causes a bowel movement.
Laxatives can lead to other problems over time, so use them only on the advice of your doctor or care team.
Treatment: Inform your care team if you are experiencing constipation.
Your oncologist may need to order medication for you.
Take any medication the way your doctor prescribes it.
Continue using the preventive measures we have already discussed.
Problem: Heart problems
Cause: Chemotherapy can weaken your heart muscle so it does not pump as strong as it should. This condition is called cardiomyopathy, specifically dilated cardiomyopathy. Chemo drugs can also cause heart rhythm problems which you may feel as palpitations or a fluttering in your chest. Your blood vessels may also be affected by chemo which can cause blood clots, high or low blood pressure, or valve disease.
Prevention: Inform your oncologist of any heart conditions you have before starting chemotherapy.
Your cardiologist may do some additional testing on your heart before you start chemo.
Inform your doctor of any chest pain or other heart problems you experience right away. If you feel you are having a heart emergency, call 9-1-1.
Treatment: Monitor your heart rate and blood pressure daily. Report any increase or decrease you may notice.
Your doctor may order some medication to help improve your heart function.
Avoid smoking while you are taking chemotherapy.
Weigh yourself daily and inform your care team if you notice an increase of two pounds of weight in a day or an increase of four pounds in one week.
Avoid drugs and alcohol which can put excess stress on the heart.
Additional resource: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16828-cardiotoxicity-cancer-treatment--the-heart
Problem: Tiredness/fatigue
Cause: Chemotherapy causes a decrease in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells. Oxygen is necessary for the proper function of the cells. A decrease in red blood cells causes a decrease in the amount of oxygen in your blood which causes you to feel fatigued.
Also, the side effects of some of the medicine used to prevent nausea and other symptoms can cause fatigue and tiredness.
Prevention: Your oncologist will monitor your bloodwork to see if your red blood cells, and the hemoglobin part of the blood cells to which the oxygen attaches, is normal or decreased before your next chemo session.
Be sure to get plenty of rest. Even if you are not accustomed to taking breaks throughout the day, you will need to do so to keep your energy levels up while you are going through chemotherapy. The fatigue and tiredness caused by chemo are not something you can ignore and just push through. Doing this will only make you more fatigued.
Drink adequate fluids and eat a diet high in nutrients.
Treatment: If your tiredness/fatigue is caused by a low hemoglobin level, your doctor may add an iron supplement to be taken by mouth in a pill form. If your iron level is exceptionally low, you may need to receive extra iron through your IV.
Your oncologist may give you medication that helps your bone marrow produce more red blood cells.
Eat foods to help keep your iron levels adequate like red meat, beef liver, clams, or legumes (a variety of beans) if you don’t eat meat. You may choose these foods or choose from other foods that provide iron in your diet.
Additional resource: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/coping-fatigue#:~:text=Cancer%20treatments%2C%20specifically%20chemotherapy%2C%20can,oxygen%2C%20you%20can%20feel%20fatigue.
Problem: Weakness/ balance problems
Cause: Balance problems caused by chemotherapy may happen if the chemo disturbs the inner ear which helps maintain balance, or if the balance center of the brain is affected.
Chemotherapy drugs can also affect the muscles by causing a buildup of toxins that weaken your muscles.
Prevention: Eat nutritious foods while you are taking chemo.
Rest throughout the day.
Sleep is important to keep your energy levels up. Being overly tired can add to the feeling of weakness. Weakness can also contribute to balance problems if you are unable to catch yourself should you stumble.
If you find that you are having difficulty sleeping, let your oncologist know. You may need to take medication to help you sleep while you are on chemo.
Treatment: Sleep is important. If you find that you are having difficulty sleeping, let your oncologist know. You may need to take medication to help you sleep while you are on chemo.
Consider using an assistive device to help prevent you from falling. You might want to use a cane, or possibly a walker is more appropriate for you.
Your oncologist will monitor your lab values like your hemoglobin and your white blood cells to see if you are anemic or have signs of an infection that can contribute to you feeling weak.
Additional resources: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/weakness.aspx
Problem: Difficulty sleeping
Cause: Sleep problems can be caused by side effects from the chemotherapy medicine or some of the drugs used to treat the side effects of chemo.
Also, even though you need to rest frequently, the naps you take during the day can interfere with your sleep at night.
Prevention: Sometimes sleep disturbance is unavoidable while you are on chemo.
Avoid becoming overly tired which makes trying to fall asleep even more difficult.
Try to rest in a darkened room and limit distractions to sleep such as excess noise or uncomfortable temperature. You may need to use a fan to circulate the air if you find yourself having hot flashes.
Treatment: Inform your oncologist if you have significant difficulty sleeping.
Try winding down before you attempt to fall asleep. You may be able to do this by reading, but I would suggest a low-stimulating book instead of an action-packed novel. Think chemistry 101, not a good mystery.
Some other relaxation techniques include meditation, relaxation exercises, and aromatherapy. Lavender is said to help with relaxation if the fragrance does not cause you nausea.
Additional resource: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/sleep-problems
Problem: Emotional issues
Cause: There are many reasons why you may feel emotional while going through chemotherapy. Some common reasons include changes in body image like losing your hair, concern about how well the chemotherapy will treat or arrest the cancer progression, the stress your illness is putting on your family, and many more.
Prevention: Emotions, good and bad, are normal. You may experience a spectrum of feelings while you go through chemo treatments.
Instead of trying to prevent emotions, it is better to express and deal with your emotions.
Treatment: Ask for help.
If you have a trusted friend or family member, share your feelings with them. Don’t expect them to be able to change your situation, but sharing your feelings helps ease the burden you are feeling and can give you insight into how to deal with what you are feeling.
Tell your care team what you are feeling. Sometimes we imagine dire outcomes based on a symptom we are feeling. Your care team can tell you if your symptom is truly a cause for concern or, if not, reassure you. Also, by sharing your concerns, your team can act on anything possible to be treated.
You may benefit from talking with various members of your care team. For instance, if your emotions arise from your concern about how to pay for your treatment, your financial counselor may have ways to assist you.
Additional resource: https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2019/05/tips-for-managing-the-emotional-and-intellectual-side-effects-of-cancer
Problem: Memory/concentration problems
Cause: Memory or concentration problems that arise while you are going through chemotherapy may be referred to as chemo brain or chemobrain.
Its cause is not fully understood, and it can occur at any time while you are going through cancer treatments or after your treatments have been completed.
Prevention: Not everyone with cancer will experience chemobrain while others are quite affected by it.
Prevention of chemobrain may not be preventable.
Treatment: Chemobrain may need to be treated with cognitive therapy such as learning new ways to process information.
Some things that may help you deal with memory and concentration problems include:
Keep a notebook handy to write things down. Your mind is overly occupied while you are going through cancer, and it is easy to get distracted.
Ask for clarification if any instructions you receive are not completely understood.
Do your most mentally-taxing tasks earlier in the day when your mind is less fatigued like paying bills.
Try to get plenty of rest. Your brain uses sleep to reset itself.
Discuss your concentration issues with your cancer care providers and your family/support system.
Additional resource: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/changes-in-mood-or-thinking/chemo-brain.html
Problem: Hair loss
Cause: Hair follicles are structures in your scalp, and other places on your body, from which your hair grows. Chemotherapy destroys cells that divide rapidly, including hair cells.
Prevention: If the chemo drugs are not able to circulate to parts of the body, there should be less disruption to normal function in that area.
Cold caps and scalp cooling systems may help prevent some hair loss due to chemo. See the reference in the additional resource of this section to get more information on this system
Treatment: If hair loss cannot be completely prevented, there are some ways to deal with the body image lack of hair can cause.
Wear a wig. If you choose this option, you may want to go wig shopping before you lose your hair to get a wig that more closely matches your natural hair color and style. Or this may be a time to try a wig in a color or style you wouldn’t normally choose to wear.
Wear a hat, scarf, or turban to cover your head. This is especially important on sunny days to prevent sunburn to your head. Head coverings also prevent chilling from cool breezes, like air conditioning vents, blowing across your exposed scalp.
Additional resource: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment-side-effects/hair-loss
Problem: Muscle pain
Cause: Muscle pain can be caused by chemotherapy medicine.
Prevention: Pain can be fatiguing. Make opportunities to rest throughout the day. Muscles regenerate while we sleep.
Treatment: Inform your care team about any pain you are experiencing.
You may find assistive devices helpful to ease muscle pain. Using a walker, for example, can help you balance better by incorporating additional muscles and relieving stress on other muscles.
Consider getting an oncology massage. This is different from a “regular” massage because it uses light touch and steady movement to help the body relax. Check with your cancer care team to see if there is a therapist they recommend. Some cancer centers have an oncology massage therapist on staff.
Your oncologist may order medication for muscle pain if needed.
Additional resource: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/muscle-pain-myalgias.aspx#:~:text=Myalgias%20are%20often%20a%20result,factors%20(
Problem: Joint pain
Cause: Joint pain can be a side effect of chemotherapy. If you already have joint pain such as arthritis, it may become more noticeable while you are on chemo.
Prevention: Preventing joint pain may be difficult to do, especially if you already have an underlying joint issue.
Along with pain, you may notice some swelling and stiffness of your joints.
Do some gentle exercises to keep your joints limber.
Avoid excess sodium/salt in your diet to help prevent further swelling of your joints.
Treatment: If you are able, soak your joints in warm water and Epsom salt.
An ice pack or heating pad may be comforting to aching joints. Use caution with heat or cold if you have decreased sensation to avoid additional trauma such as burns.
Gentle exercises like yoga can help limber up stiff and aching joints.
Rest as necessary.
Consider using an assistive device to take the load off aching joints like a walker, sling, brace, etc.
Additional resource: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/joint-pain-arthralgias.aspx
Problem: Numbness
Cause: Chemotherapy can damage the nerves in your hands and feet. This causes your toes, feet, and/or fingers to feel numb or tingly.
Prevention: Numbness caused by chemotherapy may not be preventable.
Treatment: Inform your oncologist of any numbness you experience. You may need to interrupt your chemo schedule to prevent further damage to the nerves.
Use extreme caution when cooking or any other time you are around hot fluids or hot items. Because of the decreased sensation in your feet or hands, you may not feel it if you are being burned.
Your oncologist may have you take medication to manage the nerve discomfort.
Additional resource: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/numbness-tingling.aspx
Problem: Skin/nails changes
Cause: The effects of chemotherapy may cause damage to your fingernails and toenails.
Prevention: Your cancer care team may suggest that you place your feet/toes and hands/fingers on ice packs while you are receiving your chemo dose. This causes the small vessels in your fingers and toes to constrict and not allow the medicine to reach the tips which may help prevent damage to the nails.
Treatment: Inform your cancer care team of any changes you experience at any time while you are going through chemotherapy.
As the nails naturally grow out, the damaged nails will grow out and are replaced by healthy nails that grow back in their place.
If you notice any signs of infection in your nails, you may need to take antibiotics.
Additional resource: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/skin-reactions.aspx#nail
Comment below how you have you dealt with chemotherapy side effects.
Wishing you all the best,
Kelly
Are your cancer screenings up to date?
Yes, I am a nurse. No, I am not your nurse. The medical topics discussed in this, or any article on this site, are intended to be issues for you to discuss with your medical team if you feel they apply to you. None of the information you are about to read in this article is treatment advice for you from me. I do not have that authority.
Hi, I’m Kelly. I am here to help you and your loved ones navigate your cancer journey with information and encouragement.
I have been both a cancer patient and a cancer patient supporter. I get what you, the cancer patient, are going through. But I also get what you, the cancer patient supporters, are going through.
I wish I could take this nightmare you are experiencing and turn it into a pleasant dream.
But I can’t.
So, what I can do instead is infuse as much hope and determination as is possible into this website for you. Here you have a place to find inspiration and support. A place to turn the chaos of cancer care into clarity.
Yes, I am a nurse. No, I am not your nurse. The medical topics discussed in this article are intended to be issues for you to discuss with your medical team if you feel they apply to you. None of the information you read in this article is treatment advice for you from me. I do not have that authority.