Skip to main content
Book cover

Understanding Pharmacology in Nursing Practice pp 393–411Cite as

Medications Used for Cancer

  • 1195 Accesses

Abstract

Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) is an umbrella term that refers to all drugs that directly halts or stabilises tumour activity. These include traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted cancer therapies (United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS), Systemic anti-cancer therapy passport, UKONS, London, 2018). SACTs are delivered in hospital chemotherapy outpatient units and cancer wards, but some drugs may also be delivered by specialist nurses in patients’ homes and mobile chemotherapy units in the community. Patients who are treated with chemotherapy may experience various adverse events which affect their quality of life and have psychosocial implications. The nurse plays an important role in the assessment, prevention and management of the adverse events of chemotherapy treatment. This chapter discusses systemic anti-cancer therapies and their use in the treatment of cancer with a particular focus on traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Keywords

  • Cytotoxic
  • Chemotherapy
  • Systemic anti-cancer treatment
  • SACT

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32004-1_14
  • Chapter length: 19 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-030-32004-1
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Softcover Book
USD   59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions
Fig. 14.1
Fig. 14.2
Fig. 14.3

References

  • Barton-Burke M, Wilkes S (2018) Oncology nursing drug handbook. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Burlington, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloomfield J, Tanay M (2012) Chemotherapy in the community: the importance of patient assessment. Br J Community Nurs 17(6):278–283

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Brighton D, Wood M (2005) The Royal Marsden Hospital handbook of cancer chemotherapy. Elsevier—Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancer Research UK (2015) Cancer statistics for the United Kingdom. Available online on: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics-for-the-uk. Accessed 26 Mar 2019

  • Chan A, Lees J, Keefe D (2014) The changing paradigm for supportive care in cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 22:1441–1445

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Dougherty L (2008) IV therapy: recognising the difference between infiltration and extravasation. Br J Nurs 17(14):896–901

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Hanahan D, Weinberg RA (2011) Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell 144:650–674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013

    CAS  CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Lalla RV1, Bowen J, Barasch A, Elting L, Epstein J, Keefe DM, McGuire DB, Migliorati C, Nicolatou-Galitis O, Peterson DE, Raber-Durlacher JE, Sonis ST, Elad S; (2014) Mucositis Guidelines Leadership Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO).Cancer. 120(10):1453-61

    Google Scholar 

  • Longenbaker SN (2017) Mader’s understanding human anatomy and physiology, 9th edn. McGraw-Hill Education, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Madariaga A, Lheureux S, Oza AM (2019) Tailoring ovarian cancer treatment: implications of BRCA1/2 mutations. Cancers (Basel) 11(3):E416

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan G (2003) Chemotherapy and the cell cycle. Cancer Nurs Pract 2(1):27–30

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (2019). http://www.mascc.org/. Accessed 26 Mar 2019

  • National Cancer Action Team (2011) Manual for cancer services: acute oncology—including metastatic spinal cord compression measure. Version 1.0. Department of Health and Social Science. Available online on: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/216121/dh_125889.pdf. Accessed 26 Mar 2019

  • Park S, Goldstein D, Krishnan A, Lin CSY, Friedlander M, Cassidy J, Kolzenburg M, Kiernan M (2013) Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: a critical analysis. Cancer J Clin 63(6):419–437

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Roila F, Herrstedt J, Aapro M, Gralla RJ, Einhorn LH, Ballatori E, Bria E, Clark-Snow RA, Espersen BT, Feyer P, Grunberg SM, Hesketh PJ, Jordan K, Kris MG, Maranzano E, Molassiotis A, Morrow G, Olver I, Rapoport BL, Rittenberg C, Saito M, Tonato M, Warr D, ESMO/MASCC Guidelines Working Group (2010) Guideline update for MASCC and ESMO in the prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: results of the Perugia consensus conference. Ann Oncol 21(Suppl 5):v232–v243

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Skeel R, Khleif S, Rixe O (2016) Handbook of cancer chemotherapy, 9th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanay M, Armes J, Ream E (2017) The experience of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in adult cancer patients: a qualitative thematic synthesis. Eur J Cancer Care 26. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12443

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • United Kingdom Resuscitation Council (2012) Emergency treatment of anaphylactic reactions: guidelines for healthcare providers—annotated with links to NICE guideline. http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/reaction.pdf. Accessed 26 Mar 2019

  • Wilkes G (2011) Targeted cancer therapy: a handbook for nurses. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Burlington, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Yandle A (2014) Cancer biology. In: Jacobs C, Webb C, Robinson L (eds) Genetics for healthcare professionals in cancer care: from principles to practice. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King’s College, London, UK

    Mary Anne Lagmay Tanay

Authors
  1. Mary Anne Lagmay Tanay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary Anne Lagmay Tanay .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. (Retired) Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King’s College London, London, UK

    Pauline Hood

  2. Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King’s College London, London, UK

    Dr. Ehsan Khan

Appendices

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    Cell cycle phase-specific chemotherapy are drugs that:

    1. (a)

      Exert an effect on cells when they are resting only

    2. (b)

      Exert an effect on cells when they are actively in the cell cycle and affect specific phase of the cell cycle

    3. (c)

      Exert an effect on cells whether they are cycling or in G0 phase

    4. (d)

      Exert an effect on cells during mitosis only

  2. 2.

    Normal cell proliferation is balanced by apoptosis. What is apoptosis?

    1. (a)

      Obsolete or damaged cells undergo programmed cell death

    2. (b)

      Ability of cancer cells to form new blood vessels

    3. (c)

      Ability of malignant cells to evade growth suppressors

    4. (d)

      The migration of cells to a different organ

  3. 3.

    The following are examples of chemotherapies except:

    1. (a)

      Alkylating agents

    2. (b)

      Antitumour antibiotics

    3. (c)

      Anti-emetics

    4. (d)

      Antimetabolites

  4. 4.

    Chemotherapy is given repeatedly over a period of time with intervals called cycles. What is the rationale for this?

    1. (a)

      To facilitate the normal cells to recover

    2. (b)

      To stop cancer cells from dividing

    3. (c)

      To allow cancer cells to rest

    4. (d)

      To allow normal cells to self-destruct

  5. 5.

    Chemotherapeutic drugs may be combined. Which of these principles is false?

    1. (a)

      Each chemotherapy agent in the combination should be active against the specific type of cancer when used on its own

    2. (b)

      Chemotherapy agents that produce adverse reactions in different organ systems may be combined

    3. (c)

      The mechanisms of action of the different agents should complement each other

    4. (d)

      Chemotherapy drugs can only be combined when it is the last option for patients

  6. 6.

    Why do adverse reactions happen when receiving chemotherapy?

    1. (a)

      Adverse reactions are caused by cancer cells and not due to anything else

    2. (b)

      The body got used to the cancer cells and protects the cancer cells from the chemotherapy

    3. (c)

      Chemotherapy cannot distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells, and affects both

    4. (d)

      Adverse reactions are basically caused by the interaction of the patient’s routine drugs and chemotherapy

  7. 7.

    Several factors which may contribute to the severity and nature of adverse reactions following chemotherapy include all except one:

    1. (a)

      Dose

    2. (b)

      Route of administration

    3. (c)

      Environmental temperature

    4. (d)

      Type of drug

  8. 8.

    The emetogenic potential of chemotherapy refers to what?

    1. (a)

      Potential of drug to cause vomiting

    2. (b)

      Potential of drug to cause constipation

    3. (c)

      Potential of drug to cause peripheral neuropathy

    4. (d)

      Potential of drug to cause neutropaenic sepsis

  9. 9.

    To ensure safety in the administration of chemotherapy what must the nurse do?

    1. (a)

      Discard all chemotherapy waste in a hospital plastic bag

    2. (b)

      Wear appropriate personal protective equipment

    3. (c)

      When chemotherapy is spilled, wait until the hospital cleaner arrives to clean the spill

    4. (d)

      Dispose of chemotherapy waste like any other clinical waste

  10. 10.

    What other cancer treatment modalities may be used alongside chemotherapy?

    1. (a)

      Surgery

    2. (b)

      Radiotherapy

    3. (c)

      Hormonal therapy

    4. (d)

      All of the above

Answers

  1. 1.

    b

  2. 2.

    a

  3. 3.

    c

  4. 4.

    a

  5. 5.

    d

  6. 6.

    c

  7. 7.

    c

  8. 8.

    a

  9. 9.

    b

  10. 10.

    d

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tanay, M.A.L. (2020). Medications Used for Cancer. In: Hood, P., Khan, E. (eds) Understanding Pharmacology in Nursing Practice . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32004-1_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32004-1_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-32003-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-32004-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)