Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Cancer

What are the main types of cancer?

• Carcinomas - Skin or tissues that line organs

• Lymphomas - Cells of the immune system

• Leukaemia. -Blood

• Brain Tumours - Central Nervous System

• Sarcomas - Connective or supportive tissues such as bone, cartilage, fat and muscles

Describe Chemotherapy treatment and its side effects

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to treat and kill the cancer cells or to stop these cells from spreading further throughout body. Can be combined with radiotherapy

Side effects include:

• Feeling tired most of the time

• Feeling sick or vomiting

• Hair loss

• Increased risk of infections due to lower immune system

• Sore mouth

• Dry or itchy skin

• Diarrhoea or constipation

Describe Neutropenic Sepsis and its management

Potentially fatal complication of cancer treatment such as chemotherapy

Carries a mortality rate as high as 21%

Always suspect this when going to unwell patient who has had chemotherapy in last 6 weeks.

Management:

• Follow LAS sepsis screening and use NEWS2 tool

• Inform receiving hospital as they may need to put patient into isolation

Describe Radiotherapy treatment and its side effects and management of these side effects

• Use of radiation usually kills X-rays

• 50% of people with cancer have radiotherapy at some point during their treatment

• Works by damaging DNA of the cells, but also affects normal cells

Side effects

• Tiredness

• Sore, red or darker than normal skin

Management

• Manage their symptoms

• Talk to their care team

• Convey if needed