What to Expect After Chemotherapy for Stomach Cancer

The side effects of chemotherapy are different for everyone. They depend on these factors:

• The type of drug you’re taking

• How often you take it

• How long your treatment lasts

Your medical oncologist and chemotherapy nurse will talk with you about possible side effects of your treatment. Here are some typical side effects for the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for stomach cancer. Talk with your health care team about which ones are most likely to happen to you:

• Anemia

• Bleeding

• Blood clots

• Bruising

• Diarrhea

• Dry skin

• Fatigue

• Fluid retention

• Hair loss

• Heart problems (rarely)

• Infections

• Infertility

• Mouth sores

• Nausea or vomiting

• Pain

• Thick and discolored nails

• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet

• Upset stomach

• Weight gain

These side effects will go away during rest periods between treatments and after your treatment ends. Ask your doctor or nurse for ways to ease these side effects. For instance, certain drugs can ease nausea and vomiting.