Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
 Chemotherapy introduction :-
 Chemotherapy is most often used to treat
cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply
much more quickly than most cells in the body.
 Many different chemotherapy drugs are
available. Chemotherapy drugs can be used
alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of
cancers.
 Though chemotherapy is an effective way to
treat many types of cancer, chemotherapy
treatment also carries a risk of side effects. Some
chemotherapy side effects are mild and
treatable, while others can cause serious
complications.
 Radiotherapy introduction:-
 The term "radiation therapy" most often refers to
external beam radiation therapy. During this type
of radiation, the high-energy beams come from a
machine outside of your body that aims the
beams at a precise point on your body. During a
different type of radiation treatment called
brachytherapy (brak-e-THER-uh-pee), radiation is
placed inside your body.
 Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying
the genetic material that controls how cells grow
and divide. While both healthy and cancerous
cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal
of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal,
healthy cells as possible. Normal cells can often
repair much of the damage caused by radiation.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
 Chemotherapy definition:-
 Chemotherapy is a drug treatment
that uses powerful chemicals to kill
fast-growing cells in your body.
 Radiotherapy definition:-
 Radiation therapy is a type of cancer
treatment that uses beams of intense
energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation
therapy most often uses X-rays, but
protons or other types of energy also
can be used.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

 Chemotherapy causes:- we can replacement the causes by why

it is done .
 Radiotherapy causes:- also we will replacement
the causes by why it is done .
 Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in people with cancer.

 More than half of all people with cancer receive

There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in

people with cancer: radiation therapy as part of their cancer
treatment. Doctors use radiation therapy to treat
just about every type of cancer. Radiation
 To cure the cancer without other treatments:- Chemotherapy can be therapy is also useful in treating some
used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer. noncancerous (benign) tumors.
 After other treatments, to kill hidden cancer cells:-Chemotherapy can
be used after other treatments, such as surgery, to kill any cancer
cells that might remain in the body. Doctors call this adjuvant
therapy.
 To prepare you for other treatments:- Chemotherapy can be used to
shrink a tumor so that other treatments, such as radiation and surgery,
are possible. Doctors call this neoadjuvant therapy.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
 Chemotherapy risk factor:- Side effects
of chemotherapy drugs can be significant.
Each drug has different side effects, and
not every drug causes every side effect.
Ask your doctor about the side effects of
the particular drugs you'll receive.
 Radiotherapy risk factor:- Radiation
therapy side effects depend on which part
of your body is being exposed to radiation
and how much radiation is used. You may
experience no side effects, or you may
experience several. Most side effects are
temporary, can be controlled and
generally disappear over time once
treatment has ended.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
 Chemotherapy complication:- Side
effects that occur during
chemotherapy treatment
 Common side effects of chemotherapy
drugs include:
• (1:- Nausea) (2:- Vomiting) (3:-
Diarrhea) (4:- Hair loss) (5:- Loss of
appetite) (6:-Fatigue and Fever) (7:-Mouth
sores and Pain) (8:- Constipation and
bleeding )
 Radiotherapy complication :- Hair loss
at treatment site (sometimes permanent),
skin irritation at treatment site, fatigue
 Dry mouth, thickened saliva, difficulty
swallowing, sore throat, changes in the
way food tastes, nausea, mouth sores,
tooth decay
 Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
 Diarrhea, bladder irritation, frequent
urination, sexual dysfunction
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

 Nursing process assessment :- In cancer care, the focus of the review of

systems should be on signs and symptoms that may result from the cancer,
the diagnostic treatment thus far, and the anxiety and worry surrounding the
diagnostic process. Tumor-related considerations to be reviewed include
pain, performance status, weight, appetite, bowel and bladder symptoms,
and specific questions related to likely symptoms associated with certain
cancers (abdominal bloating with ovarian cancer, shortness of breath with
lung cancer). These need to be reviewed. In addition, the AP should query
the patient and family members regarding the emotional toll of the newly
diagnosed cancer. Anxiety, sleep disturbance, and emotional lability are
common in patients with recently diagnosed cancer (Whelan et al., 1997)
and should be assessed.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

 History:- Once the H & P is complete, the AP must collate information

and present this patient information in oral and written
documentation. The notes and/or checklist used for the history
preparation will assist with the oral and written presentations. The
attending physician should review the radiology and pathology
reports, which should be readily available in electronic or hard copy
form so that the flow of the presentation is not interrupted. In a
presentation, the AP should include all of the pertinent positives and
negatives from the other components of the history to present a
picture of the cancer diagnostic story in the context of the whole
patient.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

 History:-The taking of an initial history from the patient with

cancer and his or her family members is challenging, and there
are some important differences as compared with the standard
medical history. The incorporation of components specific to
cancer requires a commitment to flexibility, ongoing education,
and the ability to gather complex information while
establishing an empathetic relationship. The process becomes
easier as the AP garners experience with different tumor types,
receives constructive feedback, and grows more confident.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

 physical assessment :-The physical exam is extremely important to the new

patient visit. Although several physical exams may have been completed
during the diagnostic process, the AP should complete and document a
thorough head-to-toe exam. This is important because it will serve as a
baseline physical exam as the patient embarks on cancer therapy.
Additionally, even a subtle abnormal physical exam finding may trigger
further evaluation for metastatic disease, completely changing the staging,
subsequent treatment, and prognosis.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

 Nursing care plan:-Nurses have a huge set of responsibilities for

handling a patient with cancer. Nursing care plans for cancer involves
assessment, support for therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, etc.),
pain control, promoting nutrition, and emotional support.
 Here are 13 cancer nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis:
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

1. Nursing care plane:-Risk for Altered Oral Mucous Membranes

2. Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity
3. Risk for Constipation/Diarrhea
4. Risk for Altered Sexuality Patterns
5. Risk for Altered Family Process
6. Fear/Anxiety
7. Other Possible Nursing Care Plans
 Sources:-https://www.mayoclinic.org/
 Mayo clinical for diseases an treatment
 Other than thank you all
 By:- Mohamed Yasser