Evaluation of Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy among Cancer Patients in Khartoum Oncology Hospital Ward, 2019

Abstract

 The treatment of cancer with most anticancer drugs is complicated by the risk of numerous
severe toxicities,many of which are life-threatening.The toxicities related to anticancer therapies
are the most important factors restricting the use of potentially curative doses.This study aimed
to assess the most common chemotherapy side effects developed and their treatment in the
Khartoum oncology hospital emergency ward. This study was conducted at the Khartoum
oncology hospital's emergency ward from March to May 2019.The data were collected from the
medical records and individual interviews with the patients using a structured data collection
sheet. Total of 100 patients were involved in this study, the most common side effects were
nausea and vomiting (40%), abdominal pain (29%) of patients, diarrhea (19%), hypotension, fever,
body pain, each experienced by (10%) of patients. Febrile neutropenia and dehydration,
experienced by (9%) each. Moreover, the most common management of side effects was IV
hydration used among 87% of patients, acid suppressants, and antiemetics used among 45% and
39% of patients,respectively.Antibiotics were used for 30% of patients; corticosteroids were used
among 29% of patients.Antispasmodic were used among 27%, and analgesia used for 26 %.The
association between the number of chemotherapeutic agents and side effects was signifcant
(P=0.023).The study revealed that the most common side effects of chemotherapy were nausea
and vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.The management mainly by intravenous hydration,
antiemetic, acid suppressants, and antibiotics.