Treatment days can feel different depending on the treatment type, the medicines used, the cancer, the person’s baseline health, and what cycle or session they are on. This page gives a calm overview for New Zealand patients, carers and whānau.
Chemotherapy days
Chemotherapy works by damaging fast-growing cells. Because some healthy cells also divide quickly, chemotherapy can cause side effects. Not everyone gets every side effect, and some people have only a few.
Possible things people may notice include:
- Fatigue or heavy tiredness.
- Nausea, vomiting, appetite changes or food aversions.
- Metallic taste, altered taste, or smell sensitivity.
- Dry mouth, mouth ulcers or tender gums.
- Dry, itchy or sensitive-feeling skin.
- Hair loss, scalp tenderness, or hair changing colour/texture as it regrows.
- Constipation, diarrhoea or wind.
- Numbness, tingling or cold sensitivity with some medicines.
- Lower white blood cells, which can increase infection risk.
Radiation treatment days
Radiation side effects usually depend on the part of the body being treated, the dose, and whether treatment is combined with chemotherapy or other medicines.
Possible things people may notice include:
- Fatigue that builds over a course of treatment.
- Dry, red, itchy, tender, darker or irritated skin in the treatment area.
- Peeling, blistering or raw-feeling skin in some cases — report this to the treatment team.
- Trouble swallowing or throat irritation when the head, neck or chest area is treated.
- Bowel, bladder, pelvic, rectal or haemorrhoid-like irritation when the pelvis/abdomen is treated.
- Hair loss in the area being treated.
Do not apply creams, oils, balms, powders, deodorants or dressings to a radiation treatment area unless your radiation team has said it is okay.
Immunotherapy days
Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognise or attack cancer. Because it changes immune activity, side effects can be different from chemotherapy and can sometimes affect healthy cells or tissues.
Possible things people may notice include:
- Fatigue, flu-like feelings, feverishness or aches.
- Itchy skin, rash, dry skin or sensitivity.
- Diarrhoea or gut changes.
- Cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness or breathing changes.
- Headaches, dizziness or new weakness.
- Hormone/endocrine changes, which may show up as unusual thirst, weight changes, mood changes or temperature sensitivity.
- Inflammation affecting organs such as the lungs, liver, bowel, skin or glands.
With immunotherapy, report new or unusual symptoms early — even if they seem small. Do not wait for them to become severe.
Comfort kit for the day
- Water bottle, snacks, medication list and treatment team numbers.
- Soft layers, warm socks, blanket or scarf.
- Phone charger, notebook and pen.
- Fragrance-free lip balm, hand cream, tissues and soft cloth.
- Something quiet: headphones, book, playlist, photos, or a comfort item.
When to call for help
Contact your oncology team urgently, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, if you have a fever, chills, feel suddenly unwell, have shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhoea, signs of infection, severe pain, new bleeding, severe skin reaction, or any symptom your treatment team told you to watch for. Tell them you are receiving cancer treatment.
In a critical or life-threatening emergency in Aotearoa New Zealand, call 111. For non-emergency health advice, Healthline is available on 0800 611 116, but treatment-related warning signs should go through your oncology team or emergency care.
Helpful NZ support links
- Cancer Society NZ — chemotherapy
- Cancer Society NZ — radiation treatment
- Cancer Society NZ — immunotherapy
- Health New Zealand — medical oncology treatment
Last reviewed by Tonic & Thyme: September 2026. General support information only — always follow your oncology team’s advice first.