Chemotherapy Medications

Question 1

What are the 3 goals of chemotherapy?

Answer 1

1. To cure
2. To increase survival time
3. Decrease life=threatening complications

Question 2

How does cancer spread? What system?

Answer 2

through the lymphatic vessels into the lymph nodes

Question 3

What is chemo’s primary function?

Answer 3

CELL KILL- faster it grows the easier it is to kill- works on dividing cells rather than resting cells

Question 4

What is the difference between cell-cycle specific and cell-cycle nonspecific?

Answer 4

cell-cycle specific- “schedule dependent”- greater cell kill with multiple repeated doses

cell-cycle nonspecific- “dose dependent”- greater cell kill with high dose and route

Question 5

What are the 4 common side effects of chemo?

Answer 5

1. alopecia
2. oral lesions (stomatitis)
3. nausea/vomiting
4. bone marrow suppression (pancytopenia)

Question 6

What medication is used to treat alopecia?

Answer 6

finasteride

Question 7

How can you treat oral lesions due to chemo?

Answer 7

1. rinse mouth
2. zilactin-B or other gels for discomfort

Question 8

What is the best medications and examples to prevent nausea/vomiting from chemo?

Answer 8

5HT3 Blockers- “etron” family

-ondansetron, dolasetron

Question 9

How do you treat bone marrow suppression from chemo? What are the 3 meds for each group?

Answer 9

Colony Stimulating Factors

1. RBC- erythopoietin alpha
2. WBC- filgrastim
3. Platelets- oprelvekin

Question 10

What are the 4 stages of chemo therapy?

Answer 10

1. Induction- kill off as many cancer cells in one big assault. 70% achieve remission from this
2. Intensification- same drug at same or higher dose giver over few months
3. Consolidation- usually where remission is achieved but looks for hidden cancer cells
4. Maintenance- same medication given at lower dose over period of time, sometimes years. Length of this stage depends on type, staging, and metastasis

Question 11

How are chemo drugs administered? What is a nursing consideration when administering them?

Answer 11

IV CENTRAL LINE

MUST USE GLOVES

Question 12

What are the 3 categories of chemo drugs?

Answer 12

1. Alkylating Agents- nonspecific
2. Antineoplastic antibiotics- nonspecific
3. Plant Alkaloids- specific
4. Antimetabolite- specific

Question 13

What organ does antineoplastic drugs cause toxicity in?

Answer 13

systemic organ

mostly cardio

Question 14

What organ does plant alkaloids cause toxicity in?

Answer 14

brain- neurotoxic

Question 15

What type of chemo drugs are cyclophosphamide, “platin” drugs, busulfan, dacarbazine, etc. ?

Answer 15

Alkylating Agents (nonspecific)

Question 16

What type of chemo drugs are the “rubicin” and “mycin” drugs? example: doxorubicin and bleomycin

Answer 16

Antineoplastic Antibiotics (nonspecific)

Question 17

What type of chemo drugs are the “stine” and “axel” and “can” drugs? example: vincristine, vinblastine, docetaxil, topotecan

Answer 17

Plant Alkaloids (specific)

Question 18

What type of chemo drugs are methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil?

Answer 18

Antimetabolite (specific)

Question 19

What is the antidote for methotrexate?

Answer 19

leucovorin