Side Effect Management

Surgery has its side effects, says radiation oncologist Richard Stock, including possible incontinence and sexual dysfunction. While radiation is less invasive, it does have its own side effects.

In a recent study, researchers looked at statins and survival outcomes, along with potential side effects, in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Naomi Haas, of the Abramson Cancer Center, explains the potential side effects of a class of drugs called mTOR inhibitors, primarily the agents Sutent and Nexavar.

According to a recent analysis of a large national database, patients with a history of breast cancer have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than the general population, particularly if they receive adjuvant radiation therapy.

Talk with almost any cancer survivor, and he or she is likely to bring up the topic of "chemobrain," that fuzzy, murky state that patients blame for impaired memory. A review of the research shows how we're focusing on the problem.

Intimacy after a cancer diagnosis can be difficult due to emotional and physical side effects, but it can also be an important part of healing.

Michelle Gervino, an oncology nurse with John Theurer Cancer Center, advises patients to communicate with their medical team about any side effects they may be experiencing.

Journalist Joan Lunden shares her experience with breast cancer, side effects and working through treatment.

Jenna Forsythe, an oncology nurse at John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, says many patients newly diagnosed with cancer will need to allow themselves to lean on their medical team, especially in regards to symptom management.

Oncology nurse Linda Casey encourages caregivers to be vigilant in watching for signs and symptoms of anything abnormal in the patient, such as certain side effects.

Changing the administration schedule for Gemzar (gemcitabine) plus Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) from weekly to every other week significantly reduced side effects without impacting efficacy as a frontline treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a retrospective study presented at the 2015 GI Cancers Symposium.

Being diagnosed with cancer feels kind of like having a stranger barge into your home, throw everything you care about out the window, shut off the power and heat, then lock you inside … times 100.

Debu Tripathy,editor-in-chief of CURE magazine, explains the importance of chemotherapy studies presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, including new data on the impact of side effects.

As new therapies enter the treatment landscape for metastatic colorectal cancer, oncology nurses become even more critical in educating patients about side effects and the importance of reporting adverse events promptly.

The SCP discussion also allows time to determine if the survivor needs rehabilitation to regain strength and conditioning.

The numbers of those who will be affected by long-term and late effects are difficult to determine because, in many cases, each cancer or treatment is accompanied by its own list of issues, which survivors may or may not experience.

The vision that oncology professionals have for their patients after treatment is that they enjoy long, healthy lives both mentally and physically.

Cognitive issues related to cancer treatment might finally have some answers.

Treatment side effects each have their own management strategies

An unknown percentage of survivors suffer from long-term and late effects of cancer treatment. 

New research helps clarify what chemobrain is and why it happens.