Treating The Side Effects
Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy on May 19, 2020
Video Transcript
SPEAKER: While everyone's experience is
different,
there are some common side
effects to HER2-negative breast
cancer treatment.
But there are ways to ease
your discomfort.
To help manage nausea, eat small meals throughout the day. Being less full can make symptoms better. Dry foods are less likely to upset your stomach, like crackers, toast, and cereal. And if strong smells and tastes make you queasy, stick to bland foods.
After you eat, rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any tastes that could make you feel sick.
Try sipping on ginger tea, ginger ale, or crystallized ginger. To manage dry skin, start in the shower. Make sure the water is warm, not hot, don't use scrubs or scented soaps, and keep showers short. When you're done, gently pat your skin dry.
Use creams and ointments immediately after you shower, and reapply them at least once more throughout the day. Avoid the ones with alcohol or high amounts of lanolin. Protect your skin from the sun or extreme heat and cold. It's common to feel fatigue and weakness while having treatment. Gentle exercise can boost energy, even when you're feeling tired. Holistic techniques like acupuncture, reiki, yoga, tai chi, and meditation may help.
To boost your strength make sure you're getting enough sleep, at least 8 hours each night. Treatment can temporarily mimic or speed up menopause in some women. To combat hot flashes, wear layers so that you can take them off if you get too warm. Cotton is better than wool and synthetic fabrics. Stay hydrated with ice water to cool off on the inside.
For vaginal dryness, use over-the-counter moisturizers and lubricants. And just because you may be skipping periods, you can still get pregnant, so talk to your doctor about birth control options. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you're having. Together you can come up with the right steps to help you feel better.
To help manage nausea, eat small meals throughout the day. Being less full can make symptoms better. Dry foods are less likely to upset your stomach, like crackers, toast, and cereal. And if strong smells and tastes make you queasy, stick to bland foods.
After you eat, rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any tastes that could make you feel sick.
Try sipping on ginger tea, ginger ale, or crystallized ginger. To manage dry skin, start in the shower. Make sure the water is warm, not hot, don't use scrubs or scented soaps, and keep showers short. When you're done, gently pat your skin dry.
Use creams and ointments immediately after you shower, and reapply them at least once more throughout the day. Avoid the ones with alcohol or high amounts of lanolin. Protect your skin from the sun or extreme heat and cold. It's common to feel fatigue and weakness while having treatment. Gentle exercise can boost energy, even when you're feeling tired. Holistic techniques like acupuncture, reiki, yoga, tai chi, and meditation may help.
To boost your strength make sure you're getting enough sleep, at least 8 hours each night. Treatment can temporarily mimic or speed up menopause in some women. To combat hot flashes, wear layers so that you can take them off if you get too warm. Cotton is better than wool and synthetic fabrics. Stay hydrated with ice water to cool off on the inside.
For vaginal dryness, use over-the-counter moisturizers and lubricants. And just because you may be skipping periods, you can still get pregnant, so talk to your doctor about birth control options. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you're having. Together you can come up with the right steps to help you feel better.
