Supportive Therapies Flashcards
What are supportive therapies
Treatments given to patients to improve or precent the common symptoms seen in cancer, its treatments, or co morbidities.
What is the most common symptom of chemotherapy and cancer?
Nausea and vomiting, aim of supportive therapy is to prevent its occurrence.
Emetogenic Potential:
- Very High
- High
- Moderate
- Low
Or Late onset nausea
Or Anticipatory nausea
What drugs can be given to stop nausea and vomiting?
Anti emetics
What is a life threatening complication for patients who have cancer
Neutropenia ( low neutrophils in blood) and its associated sepsis,
How can neutropenia and its sepsis be prevented?
Through the use of neutrophil growth factors like filgrastim, lenograstim, pegfilgrastim.
And prophylactic antibiotics
What are other common side effects seen in cancer patients when receiving chemo or radio therapy.
Constipation and Diarrhoea
What drugs can be given to patients who suffer from constipation
A stimulant laxative for constipation like bisacodyl or senna.
Faecal softeners like docusate
Small bowel flushers like macrogols, lactulose.
Or suppositories and enemas
What drugs can be given to patients who suffer from diarrhoea.
Anti-diarrhoeals - Loperamide and Opiates like codeine
What can irinotecan administration lead to?
Acute cholinergic syndrome which has diarrhoea as a side effect, in which case atropine should be given as it is anticholinergic
What is Mucositis as a side effect seen after chemo or radio therapy
A sore or inflammed mouth or gut, consists of ulcers and soreness
How can mucositis be prevented?
Good oral hygiene and stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake.
EGFR Inhibitors can cause what side effect
Skin toxicity
