Toxicity and side-effects of combination chemohormonal therapy of advanced breast cancer.
Seventy-five female patients suffering from advanced breast cancer were treated with toilet mastectomy, radiotherapy and oophorectomy (if premenopausal) or tamoxifen therapy (if postmenopausal) as well as chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and prednisone. The most common side-effects of combined chemohormonal therapy were gastro-intestinal (nausea, vomiting, rarely diarrhoea) in 43 patients (57.3%), followed by alopecia in 23 patients (30.6%), myelosuppression in 12 patients (16%), extravasation and thrombophlebitis in 7 patients (9.3%), and mucositis and oral erythema in 3 patients (4%). Side-effects of tamoxifen therapy such as vaginal discharge, bleeding, hot flushes were encountered in 10 patients (13.3%). Hypercalcaemia, tumour flare and hepatic, renal, cardiac, pulmonary and neurological toxicities were not encountered. Improvement of 10-30% in Karnofsky performance status was noted in responders while 20-30% deterioration was observed in non-responders. Combination therapy was mostly well tolerated, side-effects were few and toxicities were temporary and reversible.
Mohapatro
S K
SK
Department of Surgery, MKCG Medical College, Berhampur.
Dandapat
M C
MC
Padhi
N C
NC
D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D013629:Tamoxifen; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate