title: Patients' experiences of chemotherapy: side-effects associated with 5-fluorouracil + folinic acid in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the side-effects experienced by patients with colorectal cancer receiving 5-fluorouracil + folinic acid chemotherapy. A primary objective was to provide quantitative data on the incidence and severity of side-effects at each cycle of chemotherapy treatment. Twelve patients with Duke's B or Duke's C adenocarcinoma participated. Data collection was via a self-report questionnaire listing 61 possible side-effects. Participants completed a questionnaire following each cycle of chemotherapy. The response rate was 100%. Seventy-eight side-effects were reported by the sample. Fatigue was the most common side-effect (incidence = 97%) and achieved the highest C score (59/100). However, patients ranked mouth ulceration as the worst side-effect overall. Several previously unreported problems were identified, including nose bleeding, change in taste and weight loss. Although limited by a small sample size, this study suggests the problems experienced by patients undergoing 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy are many and diverse. It is concluded that investigation is needed into associations between side-effects and the role of patient characteristics in the onset of side-effects.
authors.affiliation: Worthing Nursing Development Unit, Worthing Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dikken
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sitzia
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000931:Antidotes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil