Qualitative Progress of Pharmaceutical Care for Cancer Chemotherapy Based on Discovery, Assessment and Prophylactic Method of Adverse Drug Reaction Overlooked by Healthcare Professional

Abstract

One of the priority issues in the oncology setting is to improve the efficacy and safety of cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, side effects that do not directly affect prognosis are frequently overlooked by healthcare professionals or investigators. The development of management methods for those side effects tends to take a backseat to priority issues, resulting in reduction of QOL in patients. We resolved those side effects focusing on olfactory impairment, phlebitis, vascular pain and through the conduct of detection, assessment, development of prophylactic methods in the clinical setting. This review summarizes our findings:

1. Investigation of actual conditions of olfactory impairment in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy

2. Assessment for olfactory impairment using objective evaluation method in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy

3. Improvement of epirubicin-induced phlebitis by switching from liquid preparation to lyophilized formulation

4. Protective effect for epirubicin-induced phlebitis by reduced infusion time and flashing after the infusion

5. Explore risk factors of gemcitabine-induced vascular pain and involvement of prostaglandin E2 to the vascular pain

These findings provide useful information for the prevention of side effects induced by cancer chemotherapy.