The immune system is pivotal in protecting the body from “enemies.” It would, therefore, be appropriate to see a person’s immune system as a strong army. The immune system protects the body from both domestic and foreign enemies. Domestic enemies include a disease such as cancer. On the other hand, foreign enemies include bacteria and viruses. When a person is immunocompromised, their immune systems are significantly low, affecting their ability to fight diseases and infections. Examples of people with weakened immune systems include cancer patients, those with HIV/AIDS, transplant patients under immunosuppressive drugs, and people with hereditary diseases affecting the immune system. The state can be temporary or permanent, depending on why the immune system is compromised. The immune system can be compromised due to factors such as smoking, age, bone marrow or organ transplant, medical treatments, and chronic diseases. For instance, HIV/AIDS is one condition with the ability to destroy immune cells. This leaves the body vulnerable to other numerous attacks. Medical treatments are also responsible for weakening the immune system. For instance, the immune system is adversely weakened by some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, as they destroy cancer cells. This paper will focus on the consequences of chemotherapy in an immunocompromised patient.
Consequences
Before looking at the consequences, it is essential to note that cancer patients already have a weakened immune system. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are at greater risk of getting infections due to a weakened immune system. Chemotherapy stops or slows the growth of cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells grow and divide at an alarming rate. Fast-growing cancer cells in the body are, therefore, killed by chemotherapy. According to Truong et al. (2021), chemotherapy induces an immediate depletion of leukocytes. Leukocytes are white blood cells. This makes it more challenging for the body to repel infections.
The first consequence of chemotherapy in an immunocompromised patient is infections. Chemotherapy reduces the body’s ability to fight infections. As explained by Dunbar et al. (2014), low white blood cell count is a common and highly dangerous side effects in people receiving chemotherapy treatments. This means a person is more likely to be infected and become seriously ill. Precautions can be taken to protect oneself against infections by having the annual flu jab, avoiding close contact with individuals with infections, and washing hands thoroughly and regularly with soap. The risk of infections can also be reduced using antibiotics.
The second consequence of chemotherapy in an immunocompromised patient is breathing problems. Chemotherapy damages the lungs, making it harder to take in oxygen. Some types of cancer can also lead to breathing issues. It is recommended to stay calm, sit and prop up the upper body with a pillow, and practice pursed lip breathing to help with the breathing problems. Medication can also be prescribed if the breathing problems persist. Local emergency services should be contacted if a person has difficulty speaking, weakness or dizziness, chest pain, or breathing problems that start immediately with no improvement.
The third consequence is blood disorders. According to Del Fattore et al. (2010), the bone marrow is found in the medullary cavity of a person’s bones. The bone marrow is responsible for making new blood cells. This process is affected by chemotherapy, so there might be consequences from having reduced blood cells. It is essential to note that a patient’s blood cells usually go back to the normal level after completing sessions. However, treatment is characterized by low numbers of blood cells, which might lead to problems. When undergoing chemotherapy, the doctor routinely checks the blood counts using platelet count and complete blood count. A complete blood test will show the total number of red and white blood cells in the blood. Anemia results if the red blood cells are not enough. Symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Leukopenia results when white blood cells are not sufficient. This increases the risk of getting infections. Infections can be severe if the red blood cells are low. A platelet count will measure the number in a person’s blood. These platelets are responsible for stopping bleeding. The bleeding stops through the formation of blood clots. Thrombocytopenia results when the platelets are not enough.
The fourth consequence is nausea and vomiting, which can start immediately. As explained by Karthaus et al. (2016), chemotherapy-induced nausea and subsequent vomiting are some adverse effects of cancer treatment. Such issues might happen immediately after each chemotherapy session or much later. Dietary changes might be helpful, such as avoiding certain foods, eating smaller, high-calorie meals, and eating a balanced diet. A person can also take anti-nausea medications, especially if they experience the side effects at predictable periods, for example, right after chemotherapy.
Another consequence is constipation and diarrhea. Chemotherapy triggers digestion problems because it damages cells essential for digestion. Other side effects of a chemotherapy session, for example, nausea, can force a person to change their diet. However, such changes might also cause or worsen diarrhea or constipation if they are sudden. Avoiding foods that irritate the stomach and eating plain, well-tolerated foods can help a patient. The bowel movements can be made less painful using over-the-counter remedies for constipation, such as a fiber supplement or a stool softener.
In conclusion, it is evident that chemotherapy has adverse effects in an immunocompromised patient. Chemotherapy has been proven to treat various cancer types. However, similar to other cancer treatments, chemotherapy comes with severe consequences. It is essential to know the possible consequences of chemotherapy. Specifically, cancer patients should be aware of what chemotherapy causes because they fall in the category of immunocompromised patients. The term immunocompromised means their immune system has already been weakened by cancer. The situation is worsened by a treatment such as chemotherapy.
References
Del Fattore, A., Capannolo, M., & Rucci, N. (2010). Bone and bone marrow: the same organ. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics, 503(1), 28-34.
Dunbar, A., Tai, E., Nielsen, D. B., Shropshire, S., & Richardson, L. C. (2014). Preventing infections during cancer treatment: development of an interactive patient education website. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 18(4), 426.
Karthaus, M., Klare, P., Heilmann, V., Klausmann, G., & Schilling, J. (2016). Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)-First Results of a German Non-Interventional Study with NEPA-a Netupitant/Palonosetron Fixed Dose Combination. Blood, 128(22), 3614.
Truong, N. T., Gargett, T., Brown, M. P., & Ebert, L. M. (2021). Effects of chemotherapy agents on circulating leukocyte populations: Potential implications for the success of CAR-T cell therapies. Cancers, 13(9), 2225.
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