Cellular Regulation Medications

Question 1

Need to Knows

Answer 1

-Neutropenic Precautions: No Fresh flowers, fruits, or veggies. No sick visitors. Private Room.

-Chemo Clients with myelosuppression get:
Serum Labs Minimum Needle Sticks
Protect them from bruises/watch for bleeding
Isolate from others with infections

Question 2

Fluorouracil (5FU)

Answer 2

• Chemo drug used for breast, prostate, and colon cancer
• s/e: inc risk of infection, bruising/bleeding, diarrhea, heart problems
  * Stomatitis can develop
  * No Flossing
  * Use Lidocaine Mouthwash

Question 3

Breast Cancer

Answer 3

Tamoxifen (Tamifen)

• Used for breast cancer
• Side effects: Weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings, depression, hair thinning, loss of libido
• Inform Client about hot flashes

Pacliaxel (Abraxane)

• Used as a chemo drug for breast cancer
• s/e: low blood counts, hair thinning, mouth sores, N/V/D

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)

• Used as a chemo drug for slowing cancer cell growth
• s/e: Inc risk of infection, bruising, fatigue
• Adv effect: Red urine, cardiotoxicity

Question 4

Prostate Cancer

Answer 4

• slow malignancy of the prostate gland
• s/s: hematuria, blood in semen, urination problems, ED, wt loss, pain in lower extremities

                           Medications Pain Meds Corticosteroids

Methotrexate (Trexall)

• used to interfere with cell grow
• side effects: fever, chills, low blood count, hair loss, stomach pains
• Category X for Pregnancy
• Interferes with folic acid (will have to take another medication)
• Auscultate Lungs, Monitor CBC, Renal/Uric Acid levels

Cisplatin (Platinol-AQ)
-A chemo drug that slows or stops cell growth
-side effects: N/V, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and loss of taste
ADV: Oto/nephrotoxicity, myelosuppression
*Monitor I&Os, VS, CBC/Labs; watch for severe s/s
*2000-3000 mL/day of fluids

Paclitaxel (Taxol)

• Used to slow or stop cell growth for cancer cells
• side effects: N/V/D, mouth sores, muscle/joint pain, numbness/tingling/burning of the hands/feet, flushing, dizziness, or drowsiness.
• Monitor VS, Cardiac Status, CBC, Albumin
• Assess neuro, assess for a rash

Question 5

Colon Cancer

Answer 5

• Abnormal (cancerous) cells that affect the colon
• s/s: Blood in stool, bowel changes, cramps, wt loss, fatigue, vomiting, anemia

Meds:

• Neomycin:
  
  • Used for bacterial infections (ABX)
  • s/e: N/V/D
• Leuprolide (Lupron):
  
  • Used in men to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer
  • Used in women to treat symptoms of endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
  • S/e: cold symptoms, constipation, hot flashes
• Goserelin (Zoladex):
  
  • Used to reduce testosterone (M) and Estrogen (F) that can stimulate cancer cells.
  • s/e: hot flashes, Light/irregular vaginal bleeding, stopping of menstrual periods
• Degarelix (Firmagon):
  * Used to treat advanced prostate cancer
  * S/e: hot flashes, night sweats, constipation
• Bicalutamide (Casodex):
  
  • Used to treat prostate cancer
  • s/e: hot flashes, dizziness, N/V/D

Question 6

Erectile Dysfunction

Answer 6

-ED is when a man can’t get or keep an erection.

                               Medications

Tadalafil (Cialis)

• Used for ED
• side effects: Priapism (long, painful erection), hypotension

Question 7

Anemia

Answer 7

• Lack of Iron in RBCs
• Caused by Impaired RBC formation, hemorrhage, prolonged menstrual cycles, GI Bleeding
• s/s: pallor, cold extremities, dyspnea, fatigue

-Meds: Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Dextran, Vit B12, Folic Acid (B-complex vitamin)
*Inc iron in diet (green leafy veggies, meat,
eggs, whole grains, dry beans)
*Take ferrous sulfate with OJ

Question 8

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

Answer 8

• Saw Palmetto
  * Used to decrease symptoms of an enlarged prostate called BPH
  * s/e: dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea
• Tamsulosin
  • Used for symptoms of BPH
  • s/e: dizziness, headache, insomnia, chest pain

Question 9

Lung Cancer

Answer 9

• Abnormal malignant cells growing inside the lungs
• s/s: chest/rib pain, frequent respiratory infections, SOB, wheezing, fatigue, loss of appetite

                           Medications:  Etoposide:  -Used for testicular and small lung cell cancer -s/e: sores in mouth, constipation, loss of appetite or weight, unusual tiredness or weakness

Methotrexate (Trexall)

• used to interfere with cell grow
• side effects: fever, chills, low blood count, hair loss, stomach pains
• Category X for Pregnancy
• Interferes with folic acid (will have to take another medication)
• Auscultate Lungs, Monitor CBC, Renal/Uric Acid levels

-Cisplatin (Platinol-AQ)
-A chemo drug that slows or stops cell growth
-side effects: N/V, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and loss of taste
ADV: Oto/nephrotoxicity, myelosuppression
*Monitor I&Os, VS, CBC/Labs; watch for severe s/s
*2000-3000 mL/day of fluids