chemotherapy agents

Common adverse effect of cytotoxic chemo agents

N/V

Myelosupression

Alopecia

What can cytotoxic agents cause

They are vesicants and can cause severe damage if there is a leakage into the tissue

#1 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

Reproductive toxicity

#2 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

Alopecia

What should you do for a patient with Alopecia

Put on a cold cap as it causes vasoconstriction and less of the chemo drugs goes into the scalp and prevent hair loss

#3 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

Hepatotoxicity (liver)

#4 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

Bone marrow suppression

#5 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

Nephrotoxicity (renal)

#6 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

Tumor lysis syndrome (breakdown of cancer cells leads to nephrotoxicity)

#7 side effect of chemotherapy drugs

GI (N/V, anorexia, ulcerative stomatitis)

What should you give a pt before chemo

3 antiemitics

Ice chips (causes vasoconstriction and less chemo to the mouth)

Complications of methotrexate

Gastric ulcers

Renal damage (due to hyperuricemia)

What do u monitor for with renal damage

BUN/Creatinine

Give allopurinol if uric acid is elevated

What do you admin to reduce toxicity to healthy cells

Leucovorin

What is leucovorin

It is a folic acid derivative

It is a chemotherapy protective drug that enters healthy cells and blocks methotrxate

Complications of cytarabine

Pulmonary edema

Arachnoiditis

What do you give if a pt develops pulmonary edema

Lasix

What do you give a pt if they develop arachnoiditis

Dexamethasone

What do you monitor for with cytarabine

Nystagmus

Complications of mercaptopurine

Liver toxicity

What do you monitor for when a pt is taking mercaptopurine

Liver enzymes (ALT/AST)

Jaundice

GI bleeding

Complications of anthracyclines

Cardiac and ECG changes

Dexrazonxane

Use of ace inhibitors

Red color to urine and sweat (this is not harmful)

What is dexrazonxane used for

It prevent or decrease the thickening of the heart muscles

Complications of nonanthracyclines

Stomatitis

Severe tissue damage

What happens if tissue damage occurs with nonanthracyclines

Stops chemotherapy meds if extravastion

Use a central line for infusion

Complications of nitrogen mustards

Acute hemorrhagic cystitis

What is given if a pt is experiencing Acute hemorrhagic cystitis

Mensa (unprotectant agent)

Complication of nitrosoureas

Pulmonary fibrosis

What do you treat Pulmonary fibrosis

Glucocorticoids

Complications of cisplatin

Highly emetogenic (extreme n/v)

Hearing loss (Monitor for tinnitus and hearing loss)

What do you assess for before giving cisplatin

Hearing before treatment

Complications of asparaginase

Hypersensitivity reaction