Myeloma Center

Side effects

Chemotherapy tablets for myeloma often cause very few unwanted side effects. If it is necessary to have chemotherapy by injection to treat the myeloma, more side effects are usually experienced. However, as not all the drugs cause the same effects and some people will be more affected than others, it is best to ask your doctor what to expect.

CancerBACUP has a series of chemotherapy drug factsheets with information about individual drugs and their side effects. Contact the Cancer Support Service if you would like to know more.

Infections
While the chemotherapy drugs are acting on the myeloma cells in your body, they may also reduce temporarily the number of normal cells in your blood. When these cells are reduced, you are more likely to get an infection and you may tire easily.

Feelings of sickness
Although the oral chemotherapy drugs usually cause very little feeling of sickness (nausea), some of the injected drugs may cause this, and even cause vomiting. There are now very effective anti-sickness drugs to prevent or greatly reduce these effects. If nausea does happen, it may begin a few hours after the treatment is given and last for up to a day. If it is not controlled, or continues, tell your doctor. They can prescribe other drugs which may be more effective.

Sore mouth
Chemotherapy drugs can also make your mouth sore, so regular mouthwashes are important and the nurse will show you how to do these properly. If you don’t feel like eating at any time during your treatment, you could replace some meals with nutritious drinks or a soft diet — CancerBACUP’s booklet, Diet and the cancer patient, has some useful tips on coping with eating problems.

Hair loss
Hair loss happens more often with chemotherapy given into a vein than if it is given by mouth. If you do lose your hair, it usually grows back about three months after the treatment ends. CancerBACUP has a booklet called Coping with hair loss.

Fatigue
Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. Some are able to lead a fairly normal life during their treatment, while others find they become very tired and have to take things more slowly. Just do as much as you feel like and try not to overdo it. For some people, the fatigue continues for quite some time after their treatment has ended. CancerBACUP has a booklet Coping with fatigue.

Side effects with stem cell treatment
If high doses of chemotherapy with stem cell (or bone marrow) support are used, it will be necessary for you to stay in hospital for about four weeks. This is because the treatment will cause the number of white blood cells and platelets in your blood to drop to very low levels for a few weeks. During this time, people often need antibiotics to guard against infections and to be given transfusions of platelets to prevent any bleeding.

Steroid therapy

Steroids are drugs which are often given with chemotherapy to help destroy the myeloma cells.

Side effects
Steroids for myeloma are usually only given for a few days at a time. Depending on the dose prescribed, they may have some side effects. These could include increased appetite, feeling more energetic, and difficulty in getting to sleep.

If you are taking steroids for some time, you may have other temporary side effects which can include water retention, high blood pressure and a slightly greater risk of getting infections. You may also develop an increased level of sugar in the blood. If this does happen to you, your doctor will prescribe treatment, which will need to be taken daily to bring your blood sugar level back to normal.

You may need to do a simple daily test to check for sugar in your urine. The nurse will show you how to do this properly.

It is unusual for people with myeloma to have to take steroids for a long time, but if you do you may notice you put on weight, especially on your face, waist and shoulders.

These side effects may seem hard to bear at the time, but it is important to remember that they are all temporary and will disappear as the steroid dose is reduced.