Assessment and Management Pattern of Chemotherapeutic Drug Induced Adverse Effects among Cancer Patients at Tertiary Care Centre

Aim and Objective: Cancer chemotherapy drugs causes substantial toxicity and produces number of adverse effects which can significantly reduce patient's health related quality of life. The aim of this study was to perform the assessment and explore the management practice of chemotherapy induced side effects among cancer patients.

Material and Methods: Demographic characteristics of patient undergone cancer chemotherapy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of chemotherapeutic drugs were noted in patient's case report form. Assessments of ADRs were performed for Severity, Causality and Preventability of each ADR. Association between occurrence of severe ADRs and patient' characteristics were studied using chi square statistics. Frequencies of ameliorative therapy were studied in each patient.

Results: 120 patients were selected and included in the study and a total of 412 ADRs were detected after cancer chemotherapy. Majority (60%) of the participant were female. Most common cancer was found as breast cancer (23%). Commonly used chemotherapy regimens were combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel (14%). Upon severity assessment of ADR, more than one third categorized as "Severe" ADR (36.4%). Majority of the Severe ADR were alopecia and nausea & vomiting. Most of the ADRs (73%) on preventability assessment were found as Not-Preventable. There is a significant association between occurrence of severe ADRs and age, sex & chemotherapy regimen. Combination of palonosetron, dexamethasone and pantoprazole were used as ameliorative therapy (43.3%).

Conclusion: Cancer chemotherapy drugs produce numerous adverse effects. Assessment of severity of ADRs and associated triggering factor may support in management practice of side effects.