• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.75-89
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to identify conditions of cancer patients who visited an emergency department (ED) with the side effects of chemotherapy. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from medical records of 294 cancer patients who visited a tertiary hospital in 2009 for treatment of side effects of chemotherapy. Records were reviewed for characteristics of participants and side effects of chemotherapy. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: ED Triage grade 3 was 81.6%. The hospitalization ratio was 72.8%, and 6.5% died during the admission. Most frequent side effects were thrombocytopenia (80.6%), anemia (74.5%), pain (52.0%), neutropenia (50.7%), and leucopenia (46.3%). The hospitalization group showed more severe leucopenia than the discharge group (p=.020). Patients in the group who died had higher scores for dyspnea compared to patients discharged or hospitalized (p<.05). Conclusion: Results of the study suggest that there is a special need to develop a system to manage side effects of chemotherapy. Also it is necessary to provide appropriate care and treatment with prompt initial evaluation when cancer patients with side effects of chemotherapy present in the ED. More effective educational discharge programs should also be developed to help these patients cope with various side effects of chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.13
• /
• pp.5305-5309
• /
• 2014

Background: This study aimed to assess the most common physical side effects experienced by local chemotherapy patients. Their perceptions of these side effects and informational needs from clinical pharmacists were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: This was a single-center, cross-sectional study. A face-to-face interview guided by a structured questionnaire with cancer patients admitted to receive repeated cycles of chemotherapy was conducted. Information collected included chemotherapy-related side effects after last chemotherapy experience, the most worrisome side effects, the side effects overlooked by healthcare professionals and the preferred method, amount and source of receiving related information. Results: Of 99 patients recruited, 90 participated in this survey (response rate: 90.9%). The majority were in the age range of 45-64 years (73.3%) and female (93.3%). Seventy-five (83.3%) and seventy-one (78.9%) experienced nausea and vomiting, respectively. Both symptoms were selected as two of the most worrisome side effects (16.7% vs. 33.3%). Other common and worrisome side effects were hair loss and loss of appetite. Symptoms caused by peripheral neuropathies were perceived as the major symptoms being overlooked (6.7%). Most patients demanded information about side effects (60.0%) and they would like to receive as much information as possible (86.7%). Oral conversation (83.3%) remained as the preferred method and the clinical pharmacist was preferred by 46.7% of patients as the educator in this aspect. Conclusions: The high prevalence of chemotherapy-related side effects among local patients is of concern. Findings of their perceptions and informational needs may serve as a valuable guide for clinical pharmacists to help in side effect management in Malaysia.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.415-428
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to identify side effects of the vesicant chemotherapy. The study was designed to be a descriptive survey. The subjects of this study were 88 patients with various types of cancer, primary lung cancer(25.0%), advanced gastric cancer(25.0%), breast cancer(20.5%), etc. The mean age was 44.8 years old(range: 16-68). The questionnaire was completed by nurses of the outpatient unit and chemotherapy ward, and intravenous nurse specialist. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Chemotherapy was administered with a 23G scalp needle and 24G insyte. Injection site was dorsum of hands(64.7%), cephalic vein(19.3%). Successful rate for the first attempt was 88.6%. The first & second cycle chemotherapy was 29.5% each.. Mainly used drugs were Navelbine(34.1%), Adriamycin(20.5%). 2) Venous Problems after chemotherapy were pain(13.6%) incurred by venous, mainly due to the administration of Navelbine; redness at the inravenous site(12.5%) and itching sense 2.3% Non-venous problems were nausea (18.2%), dullness(14.8%), vomiting(8.0%), facial flushing(6.8%), anxiety(5.7%). Subjective discomforts after chemotherapy were generalized arm pain at the injection side(14.8%), dizziness(6.8%), weakness(5.7%) and general bodyache(5.7%). Systemic anaphylactic reaction and extravasation did not occur. 3) Non-venous problem after chemotherapy were nausea, vomiting & anorexia. Frequency of chemotherapy related to side effects were itching, facial flushing, and nausea(p< .05). Day of chemotherapy related to side effects were nausea & vomiting(p< .05). Site of chemotherapy related to side effects were redness(p< .05). Frequency of venipuncture related to side effects were redness(p< .05). Conclusively, cancer chemotherapy patients have had some venous problem. They need appropriate venous access devices for chemotherapy. And other non-venous problem will be managed appropriately. Further research was required to identify the rate of venous complication or side effects of vesicant chemotherapy.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.76-81
• /
• 2015

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, oral mucositis and colitis, and hepatotoxicity are common occurrence during chemotherapy. Often they result in unplanned admission and interruption of scheduled therapy. Additionally they have a negative influence on patient's therapeutic outcome and quality of life. The assessment of gastrointestinal side effects is dependent on clinician assignment of a grade established by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Continued interest of gastrointestinal side effects has allowed identifying patients at higher risk and providing effective treatments to relieve painful symptom. Finally, proper prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal side effects will be needed to improve patient's survival and quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.165-174
• /
• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the hepatic and renal side effects of chemotherapy by using B16-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Methods : In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Results : Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Sophora flavescen recovered the reduction of WBC and RBC during cisplatin chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) which is a good indicator of renal toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effort. Conclusion : Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.3139-3144
• /
• 2014

Background: Medical treatment for eliminating the side effects of cancer therapy may not always be efficacious. Acupuncture is one of the most widely accepted alternative and complementary therapies in use today. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in patients experiencing cancer treatment side effects, including nausea, vomiting, pain, poor sleep quality and anxiety. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 inpatients who underwent chemotherapy between February and April 2013 in the Oncology Department of Numune Hospital were included in our study. Acupuncture was administered to the patients one day prior to chemotherapy, on the day of chemotherapy and one day after chemotherapy. The patients were evaluated on nausea, vomiting, pain, sleep quality and anxiety before the chemotherapy and on the $4^{th}$ day of chemotherapy. Results: Of the 45 patients included in the study, 18 (40%) were female and 27 (60%) were male. A total of 25 (55.6%) had an elementary school education; 32 patients (71%) had stage 4 cancer and were treated with palliative chemotherapy (the patient characteristics are shown in Table 1). Statistically significant decreases (p<0.001) in pain, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and anxiety scores were observed after the acupuncture treatment compared to baseline. There were no differences in the age, gender, education level, stage or metastasis levels between the patient groups whose symptoms improved or were unchanged. Conclusions: Our study showed that acupuncture has positive effects in cancer treatment patients who experience nausea, vomiting, pain, poor sleep quality and anxiety as side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-related side effects in cancer patients could be decreased by the concurrent use of acupuncture.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.945-949
• /
• 2005

The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the pancreatic & cardiac side effects of chemotherapy were studied by using Bl6-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Anticancer drugs widely used in clinical situation. Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of amylase (AMY) which is a good indicator of pancreatic toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effect. Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.34 no.2 s.133
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2003

Many chemotherapeutic drugs were developed and contributed to the increase of cure rate of cancer, however severe side effect of these drugs is a major cause of poor quality of life of cancer patients. Effect of deer blood on cancer therapy was investigated in mouse tumor model. Deer blood itself was shown to have mild antitumor activity. However it has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Deer blood recovered the reduction of WBC and platelet (myelotoxicity) during fluorouracil chemotherapy. Deer blood also recovered the increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN; indicator of renal toxicity) and increase of serum amylase activity (AMY; indicator of pancreatic toxicity) almost to the control level during cisplatin chemotherapy. Fluorouracil and cisplatin are major chemotherapeutic drugs which are currently used in clinical cancer therapy, and the results strongly suggest that deer blood can be used for reducing the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.617-630
• /
• 2021

Chemotherapy-induced side effects affect the quality of life and efficacy of treatment of cancer patients. Current approaches for treating the side effects of chemotherapy are poorly effective and may cause numerous harmful side effects. Therefore, developing new and effective drugs derived from natural nontoxic compounds for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects is necessary. Experiments in vivo and in vitro indicate that Panax ginseng (PG) and its ginsenosides are undoubtedly non-toxic and effective options for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and hematopoietic inhibition. The mechanism focus on anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis, as well as the modulation of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), P62/keap1/Nrf2, c-jun Nterminal kinase (JNK)/P53/caspase 3, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4)/JNK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT. Since a systemic review of the effect and mechanism of PG and its ginsenosides on chemotherapy-induced side effects has not yet been published, we provide a comprehensive summarization with this aim and shed light on the future research of PG.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4773-4776
• /
• 2012

Objectives: To assess the efficacy, side effects, and the impact on quality of life with $Qinin^{(R)}$ (Cantharidin sodium) injection combined with chemotherapy for gastric cancer patients. Method: A consecutive cohort of 70 patients were divided into two groups: experimental group with cantharidin sodium injection combined with chemotherapy, while the control group received chemotherapy alone. After more than two courses of treatment, efficacy, quality of life and side effects were evaluated. Results: The response rate of experimental group was not significantly different from that of the control group (P>0.05), but differences were significant in clinical benefit response and KPS score. In addition, gastrointestinal reactions and the incidence of leukopenia were lower than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: $Qinin^{(R)}$ (Cantharidin sodium) injection combined with chemotherapy enhances clinical benefit response, improving quality of life of gastric cancer patients and reducing side effects of chemotherapy. Thus $Qinin^{(R)}$ (Cantharidin sodium) injection deserves to be further investigated in randomized control clinical trails.