Nursing of adverse reactions to chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer. Commonly used chemotherapy drugs in clinical practice include paclitaxel, cisplatin, etc. While destroying tiny cancer cells, patients may experience adverse reactions such as allergies, pain, and hair loss. Targeted care should be strengthened for patients to alleviate physical and mental pain.

Allergic reactions

Some chemotherapy drugs are prone to allergies and even hypersensitivity reactions can occur at low doses. The most common symptoms of mild allergies are skin flushing and urticaria; severe cases may cause breathing difficulties, hypotension, shock, and even angioedema. Therefore, during chemotherapy, the patient's vital signs should be closely observed. Blood pressure, pulse, and respiration can be monitored every 30 minutes before and during the infusion. The patient should be asked more frequently whether he or she has any discomfort to detect allergic reactions in a timely manner. Blood pressure should be measured again at the end of the infusion, and the infusion tube should be removed after observing no abnormal reactions. After the needle is removed, vital signs should be observed continuously. The incidence of allergies can be reduced through symptomatic treatment.

Drug-induced pain

Chemotherapy can also cause pain. After the infusion of paclitaxel, patients may experience soreness in muscles and joints of the whole body or lower limbs. The pain usually occurs on the 2nd to 3rd day after the infusion and lasts for 4 to 6 days. The pain may be relieved or disappear on the 6th day. In nursing, we should listen to the patient's complaints patiently and explain to the patient that the occurrence of pain is the reaction of the drug to the body to eliminate their doubts. For those who have severe pain and cannot even sleep peacefully or eat normally, they should follow the doctor's advice to relieve the intense pain with drugs to ensure the smooth progress of treatment.

Hair loss

Patients may experience hair loss after chemotherapy, and 100% of patients experience hair loss after paclitaxel chemotherapy. Most patients begin to lose their hair about 15 days after infusion, which brings them heavy psychological pressure. Therefore, before treatment, patients should be told that the drug will cause temporary hair loss, and hair will quickly resume growth after treatment stops, so as to reduce the tension and anxiety of patients and make them mentally prepared. Hats, headscarves, wigs and other items can also be prepared for patients to get through the hair loss period, so that the treatment effect will not be affected by mood.