Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jun 2013
A retrospective review of antiemetic use for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric oncology patients at a tertiary care center.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are the most dreaded and distressing side effects for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. These side effects have a significant impact on the patients' quality of life and can interfere with their ability to receive intensive chemotherapy regimens. With the recent advances in antiemetic pharmacotherapy and supportive care, the current treatments for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, when used appropriately, have become highly effective in mitigating these adverse effects. ⋯ Inadequate antiemetic prophylaxis is associated with a high risk of breakthrough emesis particularly with high emetogenic chemotherapy regimens. Standardizing antiemetic prophylaxis based on emetogenic level could reduce breakthrough emesis and improve the quality of life in pediatric oncology patients.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jun 2013
Evaluation of clinical pharmacists' follow-up service in an oncology pain clinic.
Patients who present with pain in an oncology setting are often complex and require a multidisciplinary approach for symptom control. The Pain and Symptom Control Clinic at Tom Baker Cancer Center includes two pharmacists who participate in weekly multidisciplinary clinics and provide a follow-up service to patients. ⋯ The inclusion of pharmacists in the Pain and Symptom Control Clinic is favored by patients and health care professionals and provides increased efficiency to the clinic.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jun 2013
Case ReportsSelective ophthalmic intra-arterial melphalan therapy for advanced retinoblastoma: implementation and outcomes of a new chemotherapy protocol.
Retinoblastoma is a relatively uncommon childhood tumor. If untreated, RB grows to fill the eye and destroys the ocular globe's internal architecture. Metastatic spread usually begins after the first 6 months, and death occurs within a matter of years. ⋯ In our hospital, pediatric oncologists asked the Pharmacy Department for assessment in order to implement a new chemotherapy protocol for the treatment of advanced intraocular elegible retinoblastoma cases using melphalan administered directly through the ophthalmic artery. In this paper, we describe the protocol implementation carried out by our collaborative interdisciplinary team as well as the clinical outcomes of five cases treated with ophthalmic intra-arterial melphalan therapy. Oncology pharmacists can contribute with their knowledge to the implementation process of new collaborative practice protocols recommending doses, predicting possible adverse effects and assessing about drug stability and elaboration, packaging and administration methods.