Question

A patient with cancer is being treated with Erlotinib which of the following symptoms is important for the patient to report immediately.

a. cough

b. hard stool

c. lymphedema

d. headache

Answer 1

COUGH is major sign. Which should be reported firstly , because interstitial lung disease is one fo the rare but fatal side effect of the erlotinib drugs ( mostly used to treat the non - small cell lung cancer ) which inhibit the EGFR present on the cell surface of both normal and cancerous cells . So this drug can damage the alveolar epithelium , basement membrane and perivascular tissue .hence cough is symptom should be reported to physician because high risk of the interstitial lung disease.

NOT OTHERS WHY

Beacuse others symptoms do not have fatal effect on the body then cough .

PLEASE UPVOTE IF FIND IT SATISFACTORY , COMMENT IF ANY DOUBT ,