Short-term effects occur between 3 and 7 days after therapy begins.1 These may include:
- nausea and vomiting
- anorexia
- mucositis
- myelosuppression
- possible recall of radiation skin reactions
- pain at tumour site or jaw area
- flu-like syndrome, including fever
- chemical cystitis
- haematuria
- malaise
- diarrhoea
- constipation
- cold-induced paraesthesia (oxaliplatin).
Nausea and vomiting
- Acute nausea and vomiting develops within the first 24 hours after administration of antineoplastic agents.
- Delayed nausea and vomiting occurs more than 24 hours after administration of antineoplastic agents and may persist for a week.
- The emetogenic potential of an antineoplastic agent and the individuals response determines the approach to management of nausea and vomiting.33
Related resources
- National Cancer Institute Nausea and Vomiting (PDQ®)34: PDQ cancer information summary provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed information for health professionals about the pathophysiology and treatment of nausea and vomiting.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Antiemesis Free resource, but you need to register and log in to access it. Consensus guidelines on the management of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.
- Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer Antiemetic Guidelines35: Presentations and publications providing detailed summary of the deliberations from this consensus guideline meeting conducted in Perugia, Italy, in late March 2004.
- Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT)36: The MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT) was developed by members of MASCC. The concept of the MAT is to provide an easy-to-use and easy-to-evaluate tool to assist in providing the best individual care to people affected by cancer and facilitate the assessment of the effectiveness of antiemetic strategies.
- Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) Putting Evidence into Practice (PEP) resource, Oncology Nursing Society.
Mucositis
- Mucositis is an inflammation of the lining of any part of the gastrointestinal tract, including the oral mucosa. This lining is highly vulnerable to treatment-related toxicity because of its rapid cell turnover. Individuals affected often present with pain, difficulty eating, and ulceration or erythema in the mouth.
- Agents known to induce mucositis include bleomycin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, docetaxel, 5-FU, and methotrexte, in addition to high dose therapy with busulphan, etoposide, melphalan, and thiotepa.1
- Combining antineoplastic agents and radiation modalities usually increases the normal tissue reactions.
Related resources
- National Cancer Institute Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ®)37 This summary describes oral complications caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and various methods of prevention and treatment.
- Mucositis Putting Evidence into Practice (PEP) resource, Oncology Nursing Society.
Myelosuppression
- Myelosuppression is the most frequent dose-limiting toxicity of antineoplastic agents, and is potentially life-threatening1
- Infections, anaemia and thrombocytopenia are related to bone marrow suppression.
Related resources
- National Comprehensive Cancer Centre NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Cancer- and Chemotherapy- induced anaemia Free resource, but you need to register and log in to access it. Consensus guidelines on the prevention and management of cancer and chemotherapy-induced anaemia.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Centre NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Myeloid Growth Factors Free resource, but you need to register and log in to access it. Consensus guidelines on the use of myeloid growth factors in cancer control.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Centre NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Prevention and treatment of cancer-related infections Free resource, but you need to register and log in to access it. Consensus guidelines on the prevention and management of cancer-related infections.
- Prevention of Infection Putting Evidence into Practice (PEP) resource, Oncology Nursing Society.
Constipation
Constipation can result from disease, nutritional deficits, and medications including antineoplastic agents, analgesics, and antiemetics1.
Related resources
- Constipation Putting Evidence into Practice (PEP) resource, Oncology Nursing Society.
Learning activity
Choose three acute effects of antineoplastic agents, and summarise current evidence based strategies to prevent and manage these effects.