How Do I Manage Lung Cancer Side Effects?

• Fatigue is the lingering feeling of tiredness

Strategies for Coping

• Get plenty of rest with short naps
• Engage in light to moderate physical activity
• Ask others to help with tasks
• Ensure good nutrition

• Shortness of breath may be an emergency. Call your doctor right away if you have tightness in your chest, pain, fever or trouble breathing.
• Shortness of breath can be caused by the cancer, infection or treatment.

Strategies for Coping

• Call your doctor
• Follow instructions for taking your medication
• Practice your relaxation exercises
• Practice breathing techniques

• Skin reactions might include rash, dryness, scaling, pain, redness and peeling.

Strategies for Coping

• Use gentle skincare products that contain lanolin or aloe
• Do not use any skin products immediately before radiation treatment
• Protect yourself from the sun
• Call your doctor if you have a rash or anything else that concerns you

• Throat and mouth problems may include difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and mouth sores.

Strategies for Coping

• Eat soft, moist foods
• Avoid spicy, greasy and sharp foods
• Suck on hard candy or popsicles
• Ask your doctor about sucking on ice chips before and after chemotherapy
• Gargle with one teaspoon of table salt or baking soda dissolved in one cup of warm water to clean your mouth

• Cancer treatment can make you more prone to infections and bleeding.
• Call your doctor immediately if you suspect an infection or you can't stop bleeding.

Strategies for Coping

• Wash your hands well
• Avoid crowds or people that are sick
• Keep your mouth very clean (gargle with baking soda and warm water)
• Avoid flowers and plants (because they may carry mold) or handling animal waste (such as cleaning litter boxes)
• Use a soft toothbrush
• Use an electric shaver instead of a razor

• Cancer treatment may cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.
• Learn more about what to eat in the nutrition section.

Strategies for Coping

• For loss of appetite:
  • Eat several small meals throughout the day if you aren’t hungry for big meals
  • Add olive oil, milk or yogurt to increase calories and protein in a meal
  • Take a walk before you eat
• For nausea or vomiting:
  • Utilize prescription medication to ease nausea
  • Eat bland foods
  • Drink peppermint tea, ginger tea or ginger ale
• For diarrhea:
  • Avoid high fiber foods that are hard to digest (such as beans or raw vegetables)
  • Eat bland foods
  • Eat small meals, and drink plenty of water between meals
• For constipation:
  • Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids
  • Eat high-fiber foods
  • Exercise

• Hair loss is common after radiation and chemotherapy.

Strategies for Coping

• Use mild shampoos, soft hairbrushes and low heat on your hair
• Buy a wig (sometimes called a scalp prosthesis and covered under some insurance policies)
• Sometimes cutting your hair short or buzzing it off is easier to deal with than watching your hair fall out
• Wear a hat or scarf

• Some chemotherapy drugs can cause pain, tingling, burning, weakness or numbness in the hands and feet (called peripheral neuropathy).
• Some people experience what many patients call “chemobrain” which includes forgetfulness, lack of concentration, difficulty finding the right word and difficulty multitasking.

Strategies for Coping

• Be careful when grabbing sharp or hot objects
• Use handrails
• Wear shoes with rubber soles and remove throw rugs to prevent falls
• Get a gentle massage
• Take notes during appointments (or have a support person with you)
• Do brain puzzles
• Make lists

Signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression may include: 

• Ongoing sad mood for most of the day
• Loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities most of the time
• Uncontrolled worry
• Trouble solving problems and focusing thoughts
• Irritability (grouchy or short-tempered)

Strategies for Coping

• Call your doctor immediately if you have thoughts of suicide
• Try exercising
• Speak with a mental health professional such as a social worker or psychologist. Some specialize in treating people with cancer.
• Spend time with family and friends
• Try deep breathing and relaxation exercises
• Use prayer or other types of spiritual support if it helps