Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Cancer Therapy
Patient Receiving Chemotherapy
Today’s Class:
Chapter 16 Pg. 381-386
Goals of chemotherapy
Agents & drug classifications
Methods of administration
Side effects (assessment/management)
Nursing care, management &
interventions
Chemotherapy Class Objectives:
Discuss the goals of chemotherapy.
Describe the agents used in
chemotherapy, including classification,
methods of administration and side
effects.
Describe the nursing assessment and
management of side effects of
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Is the use of drugs (antineoplastic
agents) to kill tumor cells by interfering
with cellular functions and reproduction.
Type of cancer
Stage of Cancer (TNM System)
Patient’s Age
General State of Health
Other health problems (liver, renal )
Types of anticancer treatments in the
past
Methods to Administer Chemo:
Oral Intrapleural
Topical Intraperitoneal
IV Intravesical
IM Intralesional
SC
Intra-arterial
Intrathecal
Chemotherapeutic Agents
Chemotherapeutic agents are apt to impair or damage
cells in the marrow than other normal cells in the body
(myelosuppression).
myelosuppression is the depression of bone marrow
function; decreased production of blood cells
Only actively dividing cells in the bone
marrow are affected (i.e. stem cells). Cells
with shorter life span are more affected
(white vs. red blood cell)
The damage to the bone marrow is
directly porportional to the drug dosage.
Thus, the damage to these tissues is dose
limiting. (Monitor CBC regularly)
What would happen if the nurse didn’t
know what the acceptable limit was???
Chemotherapeutic Agents
Normal Cells
Affected:
– bone marrow
– mouth
– stomach
– intestine
– hair follicles
– reproductive
system
Side Effects of Chemo: RBC Decrease
Pilocarpine
administered orally
decreases the
chance of mucositis,
fungi, infections and
ulcers of the mouth.
Managing Peri-rectal
Complications
Scrupluous peri-care
Clean front to back(F)
Sitz baths
Stool softners
Alopecia