Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Dec 2009
Case ReportsSevere hiccups during chemotherapy: corticosteroids the likely culprit.
Hiccups generally are self-limiting and of short duration. Those lasting more than 48 h or recurring at frequent intervals are termed persistent. There are numerous causes of hiccups, with medications implicated only rarely. ⋯ Antineoplastic agents have occasionally been reported as causing hiccups; however, in most of these cases, corticosteroids, as part of the treatment protocol or as antiemetics, may have been a more likely cause. This case serves an as important reminder that adverse effects appearing during chemotherapy may not necessarily be due to antineoplastic agents. In the case of hiccups, oncology health professionals should review all medications and non drug-related factors before assigning causality.
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To provide a comprehensive literature review of chemotherapy-induced nail toxicity, including clinical presentation, implicated drugs and approaches for prevention and management. ⋯ Nail toxicity is a relatively uncommon adverse effect linked to a number of chemotherapeutic agents. Clinical presentation varies, depending on which nail structure is affected and the severity of the insult. Nail changes may involve all or some nails. Toxicity may be asymptomatic and limited to cosmetic concerns, however, more severe effects, involving pain and discomfort can occur. Taxanes and anthracyclines are the antineoplastic drug groups most commonly implicated. It is suggested that the administration schedule may influence the incidence of nail abnormalities, for example reported cases linked to the weekly administration of paclitaxel.Before instituting chemotherapy, patients should be educated regarding potential nail toxicities and strategies for prevention implemented. Management includes appropriate nail cutting, avoiding potential irritants, topical, or oral antimicrobials, and possibly cessation or dose reduction of the offending agent. Cryotherapy, through the application of frozen gloves or socks, has been beneficial in reducing docetaxel-induced nail toxicity and may be effective for other drugs.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jun 2009
ReviewThe optimal therapeutic use of ixabepilone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
The epothilones are a new class of microtubule-stabilizing drugs that exert potent antitumor activity against taxane-resistant and multidrug resistant cell lines. The most clinically advanced member of this class is the semisynthetic epothilone B derivative ixabepilone. ⋯ Ixabepilone represents an advance in the treatment of anthracycline - and taxane-pretreated MBC. Future studies will define its efficacy in combination with other drugs used in the treatment of MBC, as well as in other types of cancer.
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J Oncol Pharm Pract · Jun 2009
Multicenter StudyA medication error prevention survey: five years of results.
The Alberta Cancer Board is composed of 19 cancer centers in Alberta, Canada. In 1996, the Alberta Cancer Board's Medication Error Prevention Committee developed a medication error prevention survey based on the medication error prevention policies. Since 1996, this survey has been sent annually to the pharmacy departments of the 19 cancer centers. Each year, the results are presented to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of the Alberta Cancer Board. ⋯ Results from the survey indicated that the medication error prevention policies are practiced within the Alberta Cancer Board. Potential areas of improvement have been identified and will be addressed by the Medication Error Prevention Team.