The 5 A’s of chemotherapy are a commonly used framework to describe the potential side effects or adverse events associated with chemotherapy treatment. They are as follows:
- Alopecia: Alopecia refers to hair loss, which is a common side effect of many chemotherapy drugs. Hair loss can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair.
- Anemia: Chemotherapy can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to a condition called anemia. Anemia can result in fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
- Appetite changes: Chemotherapy can affect a person’s appetite and taste buds, leading to changes in food preferences, decreased appetite, or even loss of appetite. This can result in weight loss and nutritional deficiencies.
- Nausea and vomiting: Many chemotherapy drugs can cause nausea and vomiting as side effects. This can range from mild to severe and may require the use of anti-nausea medications to manage the symptoms.
- Altered blood counts: Chemotherapy drugs can affect the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. This can lead to changes in blood cell counts, including a decrease in white blood cells (increasing the risk of infections), a decrease in platelets (increasing the risk of bleeding), or both.
It’s important to note that not all chemotherapy drugs cause the same side effects, and individuals may experience different combinations and severities of these side effects based on the specific drugs and treatment regimen they receive. The healthcare team will closely monitor patients undergoing chemotherapy and provide supportive care to manage these side effects as effectively as possible.
Make Chemo Bearable (MCB) exists to provide awareness, education, support and hope to individuals during their cancer journey, specifically targeting those from under resourced, underrepresented and underserved communities.