Coping With Chemo
NIH NEWS IN HEALTH
NIH News in Health · Source article
Cancer cells multiply in an uncontrolled way, making them difficult for your body to stop. Chemotherapy, or chemo for short, uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. These drugs usually target cells that are growing quickly. Normal body cells can also get caught in the crossfire of many chemotherapy drugs, causing unwanted side effects. Scientists are finding ways to lessen chemo’s impact on your body.
Most of the cells in your body divide and multiply into new cells. Your body needs new cells to replace old or damaged ones. Some of the body’s healthy cells multiply frequently, like those that line the intestines and those involved in hair growth. Chemotherapy drugs can kill these cells, too.
Chemo can have a range of unwanted side effects. Common ones include nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, fatigue, and hair loss. Which side effects a person with cancer has depends on many things. These include the type of cancer being treated and which chemotherapy drug is used.
Chemo can reduce your white blood cell count. These cells help your body fight off infections and disease. Fewer white blood cells can lead to a higher risk of infections. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause nerve damage called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This leads to pain, tingling, numbness, and loss of balance.
“Chemotherapy does work,” explains Dr. Ting Bao, a cancer specialist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “There are side effects, but they are becoming more and more manageable.”
Antinausea drugs can help with nausea and vomiting. Changes to your diet can help to manage nausea, fatigue, and mouth sores. Physical activity and healthy sleep habits can help combat fatigue. Medications may also be available for some kinds of pain caused by chemo. For CIPN pain, however, there are very few options. Your doctor can recommend what may work for you based on your symptoms.
Researchers are looking for new ways to reduce the side effects of chemo. Studies suggest that acupuncture may help relieve nausea and vomiting. This ancient practice uses thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body. Scientists are also testing herbal remedies, like ginger, to see if they help with nausea.
Bao is testing acupuncture and yoga for treating CIPN. Yoga combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation.
“These ancient modalities intrigue me because they don’t have much side effects,” Bao says. “For acupuncture, the most common side effects are a little bruising and bleeding. And for yoga, joint and muscle pain.”
Her recent studies suggest that these techniques could help ease some of the symptoms of CIPN. She now has larger trials ongoing.
Other research teams are trying to understand the molecular underpinnings of CIPN and testing drugs that target them.
If you’re preparing for chemo, ask about possible side effects. Your doctor can help you make a management plan. Most cancer centers offer treatment education sessions. These sessions provide information about expected side effects. Patient support groups are also available to help you navigate cancer treatment.
Further reading and research references
- Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer
- Chemotherapy and You
- Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
- Support for People with Cancer
- Acupuncture
- Health-related quality of life in cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.
- Yoga for cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: Health-related quality of life outcomes.
Illustrative archival photograph: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. The people or equipment shown are not identified as participants in the research or interviews described here.
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NIH News in Health · Source article Health Capsule Some medications affect your brain and nervous system. Side effects can include an increased risk of confusion, falls, and hospitalization. This risk is higher for people with dementia—a brain disorder that causes memory loss and difficulty thinking clearly. A new study showed that many people with dementia are taking medicines that may not be safe for them. Researchers studied medical records of about 4,800 people aged 65 and older. They looked at how many people took at least one medicine that can affect the brain and nervous system for at least 28 days. The medicines included certain drugs that treat depression, anxiety or panic attacks, and sleeping problems. They also looked at some drugs that cause drowsiness. The researchers wanted to understand who was taking these drugs and why. In people with dementia, 25% took at least one of these medicines. Only 17% of people without dementia took one of these medications. The findings show that many older adults may be taking medications that might not be safe for them. Many did not have a medical reason to use them. Lowering the use of these medications could lead to better, safer care. But prescriptions that affect the brain and nervous system may sometimes be needed. “It is important for older patients and their caregivers to work closely with their physicians to ensure that these medications are appropriate to their cases,” says Dr. Annie Yang of Yale University. Source: NIH News in Health. Originally published April 2026. Republished by Graymedy on 11 October 2026. This is a sourced NIH article, not a Graymedy interview or original study. Read the original article and its research references. NIH News in Health permits republication of its articles and illustrations with acknowledgement. Research findings retain their original study context. Further reading and research references Dealing With Dementia: When Thinking and Behavior Decline What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis Dementias Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias Forgetfulness: Knowing When to Ask for Help Understanding Alzheimer's Disease NIH's Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers Prescribing patterns of potentially inappropriate CNS-active medications in older adults Illustrative archival photograph: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. The people or equipment shown are not identified as participants in the research or interviews described here.
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NIH News in Health · Source article Health Capsule Scientists have found ways to fix faulty genes for some common genetic disorders. These include sickle cell disease, various blood disorders, and a severe skin condition. But treating rarer genetic conditions has been more challenging. A new NIH-funded study used a personalized gene-editing approach in a baby born with a rare, often deadly disorder. The baby had a disease called CPS1 deficiency. People with this disease don’t have the enzyme that removes harmful ammonia from the body. About half of babies with CPS1 deficiency die as infants. The research team had spent years creating personalized therapies for people with similar disorders. So they were ready when the newborn showed symptoms of CPS1 deficiency. The team quickly crafted an experimental gene therapy. The baby received two treatments around the time he was six months old. A few weeks later, he needed less medication to keep ammonia levels in check. And his diet could include more protein. Protein intake can lead to ammonia buildup in kids with untreated CPS1 deficiency. No serious side effects were seen. But follow-up will be needed to be sure the therapy remains safe and effective. With further study, this type of personalized gene therapy could help to treat a variety of disorders. “Years and years of progress in gene editing and collaboration between researchers and clinicians made this moment possible,” says Dr. Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who helped lead this study. Source: NIH News in Health. Originally published July 2025. Republished by Graymedy on 11 October 2026. This is a sourced NIH article, not a Graymedy interview or original study. Read the original article and its research references. NIH News in Health permits republication of its articles and illustrations with acknowledgement. Research findings retain their original study context. Further reading and research references Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 Deficiency Disease About Inborn Errors of Metabolism What Is Genome Editing? Patient-specific in vivo gene editing to treat a rare genetic disease. Illustrative archival photograph: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. The people or equipment shown are not identified as participants in the research or interviews described here.
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