This article, The Side Effect Roulette of Cancer Treatment discusses the benefits of frank talk with your care team about side effects. Many people don't realize their oncology team can mitigate many side effects and symptoms. We've come a long way from the days when cancer treatment didn't include pain management let alone side effect symptom managment.
We have a long way to go and social media is stoking the fire by sharing info with others new to the game, "Meanwhile, patients continue to crowdsource from others on social media, to supplement information from their clinicians and drug materials, Wall said. Cancer survivors also can offer reassurance to others, reminding them that everyone’s experience with side effects may be different and not to assume the worst, she said. “That is a major point of those forums existing to my mind,” she said. “We help each other with that information. People come in and say, “I was newly diagnosed. They want to give me this. Is anybody on it? What can you tell me about it?’’”"
Take care all,
Janine