Side Effects: Chemotherapeutic Techniques

In oncological patients, diarrhea can occur in several different situations. Possible etiologies could be chemotherapeutic agents, radiation, decreased physical performance, graft vs. host disease and infections. “Of clinical importance is chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, which has been reported as a grade 3–4 serious adverse event with a frequency of 5–47% in randomized clinical trials” (Andreyev, 2014). Diarrhea is divided into different grading and these are Grade 1: increase to two to three bowel movements per day additional to number before treatment or mild increase in stoma output. Grade 2: increase to four to six bowel movements per day additional to number before treatment, moderate increase in stoma output, as well as moderate cramping

Roughly 8% of all human cancers are Leukemia, with acute leukemia accounting for about 50% of these cases. When white blood cell (WBC) precursors increase rapidly in numbers in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues, a harmful disease of the blood-forming organs known as acute leukemia occurs. When this takes place, the cells will, after a while, spread to the blood and all body tissues near the surfaces of organs or the external parts of the body. When Leukemia progresses at a fast pace, it is considered acute. This condition has a 100% mortality within days or months when left untreated (Nursing Central, 2015).

The second phase of the disease involves the bacteria entering the immune tissue of the small intestine. This causes vomiting and diarrhea, often described as "pea soup." If left untreated, the bacteria can create a hole in the small intestine, causing intestinal matter to flood the abdominal area. If one is lucky enough to survive this illness without treatment, he or she can still be a carrier of the germs long after the symptoms have disappeared.

Leukemia comes from the Greek words for "white" and "blood” and is often considered a disease for children, but actually affects far more adults. This disease is classified as a cancer that usually begins in the bone marrow provoked by an abnormal rise in the number of white blood cells. The white blood cells crowd out other blood cell elements such as red blood cells and platelets. The body starts producing more white cells than it needs, and at the same time many of them do not mature normally, and tend to live well beyond their normal life period. Even though the body develops a vast numbers of cells this is not considered a benefit because these leukemia cells are not capable of battling infection the way they should. Also, they interfere with vital organ functions such as the production of healthy blood cells. Eventually, red blood cells are unable to supply oxygen, platelets to ensure correct clotting, normal white blood cells can’t deal infection.

First complication is tumor lysis syndrome this is a condition that is a hallmark metabolic abnormality this disorder is a direct result of rapid release of intracellular contents during the lysis malignant cells this disorder occurs typically in a (ALL) or Burkitt lymphoma during the initial treatment but may occur spontaneously before the onset of therapy it also can occur in the malignancy that have a large tumor burden that are very sensitive to chemotherapy or have a rapid proliferative rate the main signs of this disorder includes hyperuricemia hypocalcemia hyperphosphatemia in hyperkalemia risk factors of this disorder development includes increase white count at diagnosis large tumor burden sensitivity to chemotherapy and high proliferative rate during this metabolic abnormality children may have complaints of flank pain lethargy nausea vomiting muscle cramps pruritus tetany and seizures management consist of early identification of patients that are at risk prophylactic measures and early interventions providers must continue IV hydration and treat metabolic

-Sofosbuvir can cause chills, fever, back pain, pale skin, weakness, and change in behavior, a sad feeling, trouble concentrating, chest pain, and shortness of breath, tiredness, and irregular heartbeats.

ADVERSE EFFECTS - Myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting, elevated increased alkaline phosphatase, proteinuria, fever, haematuria, rash, dyspnoea, edema, flu-like symptoms, infection, alopecia, neurotoxicity, renal or liver failure, haemolytic uremic syndrome, capillary leak syndrome, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

Chemotherapy is considered to be one of the most important treatment modalities for treating cancers (Turgay et al 2008). It is a systemic treatment, which involves the use of cytotoxic drugs circulating in the blood to eliminate cancer cells. This treatment modality can be used both for cure and palliation and, in some tumours, as adjuvant therapy with radiotherapy or surgery, pre- ceding or succeeding the initial local treatment (the report NCI Fact sheet, 2009). Adjuvant chemotherapy involves the use of cytotoxic drugs post radiotherapy or surgery, generally when the primary tumour has been contained and controlled. The purpose of this is to eradicate micro metastatic disease, and thus patients who have a high risk of recurrence may benefit most from its use.

Treatment of cancer causes a number of side effects including constipation, vomiting, delirium, insomnia, mouth sores, and fatigue as the frequent side

“Each year in the United States alone, nearly 32,000 adults and more than 2,000 children develop leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells”. Acute and chronic leukemia are the two kinds of the disease. Acute leukemia developments much more rapidly, chronic leukemia advances gradually, and the immune system is damaged slower. (Panno 36). Leukemia is one of many systemic diseases. Each disease affects the body differently. Leukemia affects the immune system, which affects the body by "feeling extremely sick, complaining of recurrent infections, bleeding, bruising, bone tenderness, fever, chills, sweats, weakness, fatigue, headaches, or swelling in the neck, or armpits”. Otherwise, an individual might have not any indications entirely and the disease might be discovered accidental from a checkup blood examination. When finding acute leukemia typically comes to instant hospitalization. Since leukemia victims require numerous transfusions of blood, patients have to be treated at medical establishments. Acute leukemia is treated by chemotherapy, which contains two stages: an initiation stage, where an

The body is affected or disrupted by its normal balance of cells in the blood and it also effects the cells ability to do their jobs. Leukemia reduces the levels of white blood cells which defend the body from any infections which can lead to higher chances of secondary

Cancer complications and treatments are dependent on patient’s health conditions and stage of the cancer. Common complications caused by cancer include pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea (breathlessness), and metastasis (cancer that spreads) (Mayo Clinic - Complications, 2016). Pain is one of the main physical complications, as the nerves surrounding the tissues feel the pressure due to growing tumor. Pain medications and alternate therapies like massage, yoga, and acupuncture can help patients to cope up with the pain (Mayo Clinic - Complications, 2016). Fatigue can be caused by the side effects of treatments as well and physical and mental distress. Fatigue can be managed through balanced diet and managing stress and medication side effects (Cancer.Net, 2016). Certain tumors and malignancy medications can bring about nausea and vomiting. It causes much inconveniences to the patient. Nausea and vomiting can be controlled by medications. Dyspnea which is a feeling of breathlessness can be caused by tumor or other related conditions, which can be managed by medications and relaxation techniques (Cancer.Net, 2016). Treating these complications by medications and other approaches can improve the patient’s general wellbeing, and survival chance.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can sometimes cause a drop in the supply of blood cells in the body, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These blood cells are produced in the body and are released into the blood to perform specific functions:

Chemotherapy drugs have many functions, side effects, and positive outcomes when used to treat cancer. Chemotherapy is used to treat many different kinds of cancer, such as breast cancer, lymph cancer, and leukemia(McKay 28). It is very systematic, sweeping through every cell in your body, but only damaging fast growing cells such as hair follicles. (Lyss 16). Chemotherapy drugs makes the human body a terrible place for cancer cells by blocking hormones (McKay 15).

In summary, this study found that CHM group had better fatigue, anorexia and nausea profile in the sixth cycle of chemotherapy, whereas non-CHM group had better white blood cell level and haemoglobin level. There was no significant difference in HRQOL of CHM group and non-CHM group as well as the delay of the completion of chemotherapy. Although there were no adverse effects reported during the study, patients and healthcare providers should be aware of the potential interactions of CHM and chemotherapy agents. At the same time, patients should be aware of the potential benefits of CHM for cancer treatment, while healthcare providers should play their role in the rational use of CHM.