Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Cancer Treatment in Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

To determine the most common physical side effects experienced by local chemotherapy patients. Their perceptions of these side effects and informational needs from clinical pharmacists were also evaluated. This was a single center, observational cross-sectional study conducted at department of General Surgery, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. A face to face interview was conducted. Information collected included chemotherapy related side effects after last chemotherapy experience, the most worrisome side effects, overlooked by healthcare professionals and the preferred method, amount and source of receiving related information. In this study, hundred patients were enrolled out of them 48 were male and 52 were female. When differential calculations was done, common side effects or adverse effects of chemotherapy in the patients of breast, lung cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, Lymphoma Cancer, Cervix cancer where there is much irregular medicine intake 57.4% may be due to common problem of joint pain reported by all the patients under study, with the consecutive problem of nausea and vomiting. The high prevalence of chemotherapy related side effects among local patients is a major concern and findings of their perceptions and informational needs may serve as a valuable guide for clinical pharmacists and physicians to help in side effect management. This study shows the common problems reported by the patients when they are suffering from cancer condition, according to their incidence perceptions as experienced by the patient, this will allow the physician and clinical pharmacist to effectively counsel and manage the common symptoms as reported prior to its occurrence in the patient, so that withdrawal can be checked.