For Patients & Families
Supportive Care: Symptom Management
Cancer treatment can affect each person differently. Supportive care helps patients recognize symptoms early, use practical self-care strategies when appropriate, and know when to contact their healthcare team.
Side effects can vary depending on the type of treatment, the dose, the timing, and the individual. The goal of symptom management is not only to reduce discomfort, but also to help patients stay as strong and supported as possible during treatment.
Understanding Treatment-Related Side Effects
Different cancer treatments can cause different patterns of side effects. Knowing what is commonly associated with a treatment can help patients and families feel more prepared.
Chemotherapy
Common side effects may include fatigue, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, mouth sores, appetite changes, and low blood counts.
Immunotherapy
Common side effects may include fatigue, skin changes, diarrhea, cough, and inflammation-related symptoms that should be reported early.
Radiation Therapy
Side effects depend on the area treated and may include fatigue, skin irritation, swallowing difficulty, bowel changes, or bladder irritation.
Hormone Therapy
Common side effects may include hot flashes, sleep changes, joint discomfort, mood changes, and sexual health concerns.
Targeted Therapy
Depending on the drug, side effects may include rash, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, and skin or nail changes.
Common Symptoms and What May Help
Some symptoms can be managed with simple supportive care strategies at home. Others need medical advice sooner. If symptoms are new, worsening, or severe, contact your healthcare team.
Constipation
Constipation is common during cancer treatment and may be related to pain medicine, anti-nausea medicine, reduced activity, lower fluid intake, or changes in eating.
Gentle self-care may include drinking fluids regularly if appropriate for you, staying as active as you can, adding fibre gradually when tolerated, and using recommended bowel medications as directed by your care team.
Contact your care team if constipation lasts several days, becomes painful, or is associated with vomiting, bloating, or abdominal pain.
Nausea
Nausea may occur during or after treatment and can range from mild discomfort to difficulty eating and drinking.
Helpful strategies may include taking anti-nausea medication as prescribed, eating small frequent meals, choosing bland foods, drinking fluids in small amounts, and avoiding strong smells when possible.
Contact your care team if you cannot keep fluids down, are vomiting repeatedly, or feel dizzy or weak.
Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms during cancer treatment and may affect energy, concentration, and daily activities.
Supportive strategies may include balancing rest with gentle activity, conserving energy for important tasks, maintaining nutrition and hydration, and accepting help from others when needed.
Contact your care team if fatigue becomes sudden, severe, or is associated with shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or new weakness.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can happen with some chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibiotics, and targeted treatments.
Self-care may include drinking fluids to prevent dehydration, eating simple easy-to-digest foods, avoiding foods that worsen symptoms, and using medication only if recommended by your care team.
Contact your care team promptly if diarrhea is frequent, worsening, associated with cramping, fever, weakness, or signs of dehydration.
Mouth Sores
Some treatments can irritate the mouth and throat, making eating, drinking, and speaking uncomfortable.
Gentle mouth care may include frequent rinsing with recommended solutions, keeping the mouth moist, avoiding spicy or acidic foods, and using soft foods if chewing becomes painful.
Contact your care team if mouth pain is severe, you cannot eat or drink well, or you notice bleeding or signs of infection.
When to Contact Your Care Team Promptly
Seek medical advice promptly for symptoms such as fever, trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, uncontrolled vomiting, severe diarrhea, bleeding, or sudden worsening of your condition.
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