The neutrophils are a subset of white blood cells which are important in fighting bacterial infection. When patients are neutropenic, they are at increased risk of infection. This is the reason that oncologists, generally ask they're patients to call if they develop a fever while they are receiving chemotherapy. Along the same lines, patients can also have a decrease in the red blood cell count. When the red blood cells are low they're said to be anemic. Patients with anemia, often have fatigue and shortness of breath. Sometimes people will experience muscle cramps and muscle aches. Patients who are anemic are sometimes treated with blood transfusions. Often medications such as Procrit or Aranesp are used to stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Patients can also develop decreases in the platelet count. When the platelets are low people are at risk for bleeding.

Patients often develop fatigue while receiving chemotherapy. This is sometimes related to anemia, but often, it is indirectly related to the chemotherapy. Nausea and vomiting sometimes occur, however not all the chemotherapies are associated with severe nausea and vomiting. This varies highly from one drug to another. Diarrhea can develop. This is common with drugs such as irinotecan or fluorouracil, but can develop with many of the chemotherapies. Sometimes patients can develop abnormalities in the kidney function, and since the kidneys are involved in managing electrolytes, it is not uncommon to also have electrolytes abnormalities.