It helps to learn more about the side effects from your treatment(s) before you begin, so you will know what to expect. When you know more, you can work with your health care team to manage your quality of life during and after treatment.
There are effective and readily available medications to address traditional side effects from cancer treatment (such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation and mouth sores.) Also, as newer 'targeted therapies' become available, they tend to leave people with fewer traditional side effects.
Keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to treatment and experiences side effects differently. There are coping mechanisms and strategies that can help.
Side Effects from Multiple Myeloma Treatments
Side effects experienced for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma vary.
Following are the most common symptoms:
Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Steroids
Side effects depend on the drug and dosage and can include infections, bruising or bleeding easily, weakness, fatigue, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, mouth and lip sores, drowsiness or low blood pressure.
Stem Cell Transplant
Side effects of stem cell transplants include infections and bleeding due to the large doses of chemotherapy or radiation, and other side effects of those treatments.