You may be given steroids alongside chemotherapy to treat lymphoma. They may help you to feel better and feel less sick during chemotherapy.
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What are steroids?
Steroids are drugs that are often given with chemotherapy to help treat lymphoma. They may also help you feel better and feel less sick during chemotherapy. The steroids most commonly used to treat lymphoma are called prednisolone and dexamethaone.
Side effects of steroids
Your treatment for lymphoma may involve taking steroids for a few days at a time during every cycle of chemotherapy.
Possible side effects include:
- indigestion
- increased appetite and weight gain
- swollen ankles
- having more energy or feeling restless
- difficulty sleeping
- skin rash or acne.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that are causing you trouble.
If you have indigestion, it can help to take your steroids with food. Your doctor may also prescribe drugs to prevent indigestion. Tell your doctor if you have stomach pains while taking steroids.
Taking your steroids in the morning may help reduce sleeping problems.
Sometimes, steroids may cause a temporary increase in your blood sugar level. You may have regular blood or urine tests to check this. During treatment, tell your doctor if you get very thirsty or if you are passing more urine than usual. If you have diabetes, tell your doctor before you start taking steroids.
Side effects usually get better when you finish taking steroids. But some people feel tired, have aches and pains, or have low moods when they stop taking them. This usually gets better within 2 to 3 days as your body adjusts to the change in steroid levels.