Question

Antineoplastic Drugs Case Study Assignment

CJ, a 45 year old divorced mother of two teenage sons, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a right mastectomy and is preparing to start chemotherapy. She states that she knows that the treatment may be hard but the hardest part for her is the thought of losing her hair.

What measures can be taken to help CJ deal with her hair loss?

Additional Information

Two weeks after starting chemotherapy she develops a cough. She is admitted to the hospital where laboratory results show her neutrophil count has dropped below 2000 cells/mm3. Several friends have come to visit with a fresh fruit basket.

Explain why this information is important and what steps would you take as the nurse?

Answer 1

1.Hair loss or alopecia during chemotherapy is an expected side effect because the hair follicle are rapidly multiplying cells. The chemotherapeutic drugs may kill these cells along with the tumor.

The best way to manage with hair loss due to alopecia is to prepare before starting the drug course. Explain the client regarding the chance of hair loss during chemotherapy and discuss the measures to manage with it. Discuss about use of wigs and get prescription from the doctor for scalp prostheses. It is better to consult a stylist before starting chemotherapy as it will be easy for them to style the wigs as per the clients needs.

Use of tight cold scalp cap during chemotherapy secession seems to be beneficial to reduce the hair fall as it reduce the blood flow to scalp. So less amount of chemo drugs will reach the scalp.

Use of cap or scarfs are also good to improve the body image. The client will feel good mentally by tying the scarf in different ways which looks good and better.

Ensure the client that the hair will start to grow after few months of chemotherapy, so no need to worry about it.

2. Neutropenia or decreased white blood count will increase the chances of infection. The people within neutropenia should have to reduce the visitors as the contact may leads to get infection. The food consumed by a neutropenic client should be throuhly washed and cooked. Meet, egg and other paultery should be cooked completely and milk and milk products should be pasteurized before consuming.

The nurse should instruct the client to wash hands before washing or peeling the fresh fruits. The fruits should be washed under running water and scrubbed before consuming them. It is better to have thick skinned fruits and fruits like banana, pomegranate, etc.