Toxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs

  Clinically, we often encounter certain patients’ family members due to less understanding of the toxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs, when the patient appears uncomfortable symptoms, paralysis, failure to timely consultation, and aggravate the toxic side effects of drugs, aggravate the disease, or lead to the patient’s life at risk. For example, when some patients came home with fever after chemotherapy, their family members mistook it for cold, and they ate cold medicine which did not improve, but worsened and became hyperthermia, and when they went to the clinic, they found that bone marrow suppression was serious, white blood cell was extremely low, and serious infection had occurred; some patients came home with diarrhea after chemotherapy, and mistook it for indigestion or enteritis, which finally caused dehydration and even shock, and so on. Therefore, when malignant tumor patients receive chemotherapy treatment, family members must understand certain toxic and side effects of chemotherapy drugs, so as to have a good understanding of them, so as to communicate with doctors in time and treat them in a timely manner, so as not to delay the treatment.  Some common toxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs are introduced as follows: 1. Digestive system toxic side effects Many anticancer drugs can cause different degrees of digestive system reactions, which generally appear earlier than bone marrow suppression. Clinically, ulcers of oral cavity and gastrointestinal mucosa, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and, in severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction and intestinal necrosis can be seen. Nausea and vomiting is a common clinical reaction in the gastrointestinal tract. Continuous and repeated nausea and vomiting can cause mental tension, fear and anxiety, reduced food intake, weight loss, electrolyte disturbance, and even patients refuse to use the drugs, which affects the drug efficacy.  2, bone marrow suppression Most chemotherapeutic drugs can cause varying degrees of bone marrow suppression, manifested as a decrease in white blood cells, with the most obvious decrease in granulocytes. With the increase of drug dosage, platelets and red blood cells can also be reduced, and in severe cases, hemoglobin can be reduced. Patients with lower-than-normal white blood cell counts should be prevented from infection by reducing or declining visits, staying in single rooms, and disinfecting the air regularly. Apply antibiotics and leukocyte-raising drugs as prescribed by the doctor 3, urinary system toxic side effects Many chemotherapy drugs are metabolized in the liver, and the metabolites can cause kidney damage, abnormal kidney function, proteinuria, hematuria, and in severe cases, oliguria, anuria, and even life-threatening. Chemotherapeutic drugs by to pay attention to monitoring kidney function, adequate hydration. Take combined drugs and use diuretics, pay attention to record urine volume, keep urine volume >100mL/h or not less than 2000mL in 24 hours. encourage patients to drink a lot of water, to drink more green tea water or take diuretic and laxative Chinese medicine, dilute urine to reduce the toxic side effects of the urinary system.  4, cardiovascular system toxic side effects Some chemotherapy drugs have toxic side effects on the cardiovascular system, such as alkylating agents can cause increased blood pressure, increased heart rhythm, etc. Adriamycin (ADb1) can cause local blood vessel wall disorders, but also arch! It can also cause myocardial lesions, manifesting as cardiac insufficiency and arrhythmia. Therefore, attention should be paid to observe the patient’s heart condition before and during medication, and stop the medication immediately when abnormalities are found and treat in time.  5, neurological side effects more common for DDP, isocyclophosphamide (IFO) and other drugs can be abnormal sensation, mental confusion, headache, drowsiness, generalized pain, weakened reflexes and other neurotoxic lack of effective treatment, should be discontinued for observation, give nutritional support, the application of vitamin C and vasodilators may help the recovery of neurological function. For abnormal limb movement or sensation, passive activities and massage can be given.