1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) 48 Ways to manage side effects Other side effects Flu-like symptoms Some types of chemotherapy can make you feel like you have the flu. This is more likely to happen if you get chemotherapy along with immunotherapy. Flu-like symptoms may include: Î muscle and joint aches Î headache Î fatigue Î nausea Î fever Î chills Î appetite loss These symptoms may last from one to three days. An infection or the cancer itself can also cause them. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any of these symptoms. Fluid retention Fluid retention is a buildup of fluid in your body caused by chemotherapy, hormone changes caused by treatment, or your cancer. It can cause your face, hands, feet, or stomach to feel swollen and puffy. Sometimes fluid builds up around your lungs and heart, causing coughing, shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat. Fluid can also build up in the lower part of your belly, which can cause bloating. Ways to manage fluid retention include: Î Weighing yourself at the same time each day, using the same scale. Tell your doctor or nurse if you gain weight quickly. Î Avoiding table salt or salty foods. Î Limiting the liquids you drink. Î If you retain a lot of fluid, your doctor may prescribe medicine to get rid of the extra fluid. Eye changes Trouble wearing contact lenses. Some types of chemotherapy can bother your eyes and make wearing contact lenses painful. Ask your doctor or nurse if you can wear contact lenses while getting chemotherapy. Blurry vision. Some types of chemotherapy can clog your tear ducts, which can cause blurry vision and watery eyes. If your vision gets blurry or your eyes water more than usual, tell your doctor or nurse.
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