CANCER + IMMUNE SYSTEM: CHEMOTHERAPY + SEs + DRUGS Flashcards
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled division of abnormal cells
Killed by cytotoxic drugs
What are 3 aims of cytotoxic drugs?
Curative
Prolong life
Palliate symptoms
What is neoadjuvant therapy?
Drugs given first to shrink tumour before other methods used.
e.g. chemo first, then surgery.
What types of tumours are best resolved using neoadjuvant therapy?
Local therapy- primary tumours
less destructive
What types of tumours are best resolved using adjuvant therapy?
high risk metastatic disease
What are 5 rules regarding handling chemotherapy?
Pregnant staff should avoid handling.
Wear protective gear- protect eyes
Monitor staff exposure
Reconstitution should be carried out in designated pharmacy areas.
Spills + waste disposure procedures in place
What are 4 safe system requirements?
Cytotoxic drugs for cancer = Given as part of a wider pathway of care coordinated by a MDT.
Cytotoxic drugs should be prescribed, dispensed, and administered only in the context of a written protocol or treatment plan
Injectable cytotoxic drugs should ONLY be dispensed if they are prepared for administration
Oral cytotoxic Meds - dispensed with clear directions.
What is 1 important safety information regarding administering ORAL cytotoxics + what 2 steps can be done to reduce errors?
Risk of incorrect dosing of oral cytotoxic drugs
Non-specialists who prescribe or administer should use written protocols/ treatment plan
When dispensing, confirm dose, NO repeat prescriptions, patient must have written information, pharmacists + dispensing staff must have access to cancer pharmacist.
What are 4 points to remember when dispensing oral cytotoxics?
Confirm dose
NO repeat prescriptions
Patient must have written information
Pharmacists + dispensing staff must have access to cancer pharmacist.
Can cytotoxic prescriptions be repeated?
NO- except in instruction of specialist
Where are cytotoxic side effects recorded?
Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)
What are 10 SEs of cytotoxics? (B-AUTOPEN)
Bone marrow suppression
Alopecia
Urothelial toxicity, hyperuricaemia
Tumour lysis syndrome, thromboembolism
Oral mucositis
Pregnancy + fertility
Extravasation
N + V
What is alopecia?
Reversible hair loss
What 3 cancer drugs are most likely to cause oral mucositis? (FAM)
fluorouracil, anthracyclines, methotrexate
What 2 cancer drugs/ classes can cause infertility?
Alkylating drugs
Procarbazine
What are 2 cancer drugs that do NOT cause bone marrow suppression?
Vincristine
Bleomycin
What patient counselling to prevent bone marrow suppression?
Report signs of infection or blood disorder
e.g. fever, sore throat, mouth ulcer, bleeding, bruising.
What is a contraindication of chemo drugs?
Infections - avoid live vaccines
What to avoid having when taking cytotoxic drugs?
Live vaccines
What is 2 treatment drugs for fever in neutropenic patients?
Broad spx abx + filgrastim
What is 2 treatment options for fever in symptomatic iron deficiency anaemia?
RBC transfusion OR erythropoietin
What 3 cancer drugs is bone marrow suppression delayed in?
carmustine, lomustine, + melphalan.
What should be checked to prevent bone marrow suppression?
Peripheral blood counts must be checked BEFORE each treatment.
Doses should be reduced if low bone marrow count.
In some patients how can neutropenia be reduced?
Using recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF)
What are 4 counselling points to prevent patient from getting oral mucositis?
Rinse mouth
saline mouthwash
Soft tooth brush
Suck ice cube
Overall good oral hygiene
What is the best way to fix oral mucositis?
Prevention better than cure
self limiting
What is given with methotrexate in overdose + methotrexate-induced mucositis/myelosuppression?
Folinic acid - quicker
What does NOT counteract antibacterial activity of folate antagonists?
Folinic acid