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The Patients’ Journey with Targeted Therapies

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Principle of Nursing in Oncology

Part of the book series: Principles of Specialty Nursing ((PSN))

Abstract

Oral targeted therapies have become central in the management of advanced cancer since they delay the progression of the disease and extend overall survival of the patients. Targeted therapies, despite inducing some dramatic response, rarely eradicate cancer but rather switch it to a chronic state. This implies that the treatments are taken chronically over several months or years with consequences on compliance. This is of particular importance since these drugs have also specific side effects that can greatly affect patients’ quality of life. In the present chapter, the main side effects of targeted therapies, their management from the angle of specialised nursing care, and several prophylactic measures have been reviewed. The nurse indeed plays a critical role in guiding and supporting patients receiving oral treatments. A multidisciplinary and multi-professional approach involving physicians, pharmacists, and paramedical staff guarantees a better efficiency. In addition, properly educated patients will improve their adherence to treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. King Albert II Institute for Cancerology and Haematology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium

    Christine Remacle

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  1. Christine Remacle
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Correspondence to Christine Remacle .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unicancer, Paris, France

    Françoise Charnay-Sonnek

  2. University Hospital of Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland

    Anne E. Murphy

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Remacle, C. (2019). The Patients’ Journey with Targeted Therapies. In: Charnay-Sonnek, F., Murphy, A. (eds) Principle of Nursing in Oncology . Principles of Specialty Nursing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76457-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76457-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76456-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76457-3

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