Depending on the level of your myeloma, you may receive several different kinds of chemotherapy drugs designed to kill your type of cancer cells. These medications will be given to you in the hospital through your intravenous (IV) line or port. The most common chemotherapy used before an autologous stem cell transplant to treat multiple myeloma is known as melphalan. 

Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy

The following are common side effects of the intense chemotherapy, usually melphalan, used as part of the stem cell transplant process: 

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Fatigue and hair loss
• Loss of appetite
• Mucositis (painful inflammation in the mouth and GI tract)

As a direct result of the chemotherapy, your blood counts will drop significantly, causing you to be immunocompromised and highly susceptible to infection. 

During this time you may need:

• Red blood cell transfusions
• Platelet transfusions
• Antibiotics for infection prevention

Your nurse will discuss all possible side effects with you and provide treatments to help lessen their impact. You should keep your mouth cold during the infusion with ice chips or popsicles to constrict the capillaries in the mucous membranes which will lessen the possibilities of developing mouth sores.

For more information on the chemotherapy used, watch the following video: