What common problems are associated with chemotherapy?

Nausea and vomiting are well-documented side effects of chemotherapy due to the drugs' effects on rapidly dividing cells, which include both cancer cells and healthy cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Chemotherapy can stimulate the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the brain, leading to feelings of nausea and resulting in vomiting. These symptoms can occur shortly after treatment or may be delayed, affecting patients in various degrees depending on the specific chemotherapeutic agents used and individual responses.

While headaches, fatigue, and skin rashes can also occur with chemotherapy, they are not as universally recognized or common as nausea and vomiting, making the latter the most prominent concern among the side effects associated with chemotherapy treatments.