Adverse events in bevacizumab and chemotherapy: patient management.
Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an anti-angiogenic agent recently approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel. It is important that nurses are familiar with the side-effects associated with this agent--several of which differ from those seen with traditional chemotherapy agents--and how these can be optimally identified, monitored and managed. Side-effects associated with bevacizumab include hypertension, proteinuria, thromboembolic events, bleeding, cardiac toxicity, wound-healing complications and gastrointestinal perforations. Many of these are easily manageable, often without the need to discontinue bevacizumab therapy. This article, the second in a series, provides nurses with management recommendations for these toxicities in order to deliver optimal patient care and improve patients quality of life.
Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester.
Elaine
E
Blowers
Kate
K
Hall
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D017277:Drug Approval; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000139:chemically induced; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D017751:Safety Management; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab