What is a common side effect of chemotherapy that nurses should monitor for?

Hair loss is a well-documented side effect of chemotherapy, primarily due to the impact of these drugs on rapidly dividing cells, which include not only cancer cells but also healthy cells such as those in hair follicles. Chemotherapy agents target and destroy fast-growing cancer cells, but this action can also affect the hair follicles, leading to hair thinning or complete hair loss in some patients.

Monitoring for hair loss is important as it can significantly affect a patient’s emotional and psychological well-being, provoking feelings of loss or anxiety about their appearance throughout the treatment process. Nurses play a crucial role in assessing and supporting patients through these side effects, offering resources or counseling to help manage the psychosocial impact of such changes.

Other options, while related to patient experiences during chemotherapy, do not align with common side effects. Increased energy and improved appetite are typically not associated with chemotherapy, as these treatments often lead to fatigue and decreased appetite. Decreased oxygen demand is not generally linked to chemotherapy, as most patients do not exhibit a reduction in oxygen demand as a direct effect of treatment.