Do side effects mean chemotherapy is working?

No. According to the National Cancer Institute, you cannot tell if chemotherapy is working based on its side effects. Some people think that severe side effects mean chemotherapy is working well, or that no side effects mean it is not working. The truth is that side effects have nothing to do with how well chemotherapy is fighting your cancer.

Instead, your doctor checks whether the treatment is working in other ways. You will see your doctor often, and during these visits they will ask how you feel, do a physical exam, and order medical tests and scans. Tests might include blood tests, and scans might include MRI, CT, or PET scans.

If you have questions about your progress, your healthcare team can explain what your test results mean and how they are tracking your response to treatment.