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CANCER CARE NEW PATIENT INFORMATION Welcome to Beacon Hospital s Medical Oncology Unit Beacon Hospital s Oncology Day Unit is located on the 6th floor of the hospital adjacent to the Oncology inpatient ward SACT systemic anti cancer treatment are carried out in this Oncology Day Unit or ODU as it is often referred to You are receiving this booklet as you have been recently diagnosed with cancer We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for you and your family and we are fully committed to helping you through this in any way we can We are sure you will have many questions some of which may come to you later or may have disappeared from the forefront of your mind at this moment We have put together this information leaflet with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from patients If you require further explanation on any of these points please feel free to ask us at any time We are here to help you and make this treatment journey as comfortable as we can for both you and your loved ones Patient Name Chemotherapy Drug Regime Number of Treatments Frequency Starting Date If you have any questions throughout your treatment please do not hesitate to ask any member of our team If you would rather ask these questions in private please let us know and we will take you to a side room to talk We have left some pages blank at the end of this booklet If you think of a question at a time please write it down on these pages as a reminder to ask us at your next session This information booklet details some of the most common side effects experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy You may experience some or none of these side effects depending on the drugs used and your own body s reaction to these There can be some other less common side effects experienced by patients which are not listed in this booklet If you notice anything unusual or any changes that you are unsure of please let your nurse or doctor know and we will endeavor to adjust your treatment where possible to ensure you are as comfortable as possible at all times through this journey How Systemic Anti Cancer Treatment SACT is Given SACT can be given in many ways These include Intra venously IV This is where the drugs are administered directly into a vein by means of a drip Injection This is where the drugs are administered into your system via injection
Orally This is where the drugs take the form of tablets or suspensions for the patients to ingest orally The type of SACT given will depend on the drugs needed and on the individual patient s case This will be decided upon by your Consultant Infections White blood cells are the group of cells that fight infection These are produced in the bone marrow and released into the blood stream As chemotherapy affects the bone marrow it can make you more prone to infection Your nurse will give you a separate information leaflet on infection which will help you to understand this in more detail Your nurse will also advise you on ways to minimise the risk of catching infections during your time on chemotherapy You will be given a thermometer and shown how to correctly take and record your temperature If you are feeling feverish hot shivery or unwell it is important that you take your temperature and ring the unit Please do not take paracetamol or ibuprofen prior to contacting your nurse To do so can lower your temperature so your medical professional does not get a true reading if they advise you to attend for examination If your temperature reaches 37 5 C or above you must contact the unit immediately as this could be an indicator of infection Nausea Vomiting Depending on the drugs you receive you may or may not feel nauseous or suffer from vomiting during chemotherapy Nausea vomiting can differ from person to person If you do suffer from nausea and or vomiting you will be given medications which must be taken at specified times Ensure to take these tablets as instructed by your doctor If you are still feeling sick despite taking this medication call us in the unit and we may decide to adjust your dosage or medication Fatigue Fatigue is a common side effect of cancer Your nurse will provide you with information on fatigue which you may find helpful Although you may be feeling fatigued some light exercise is recommended where at all possible Even a walk around the garden may be beneficial Exercise and fresh air are an important component in both your mental and physical wellbeing Getting just a few minutes of exercise each day can make a real difference to how you are feeling both mentally and physically Hair Loss Not all patients lose their hair during chemotherapy treatment If hair loss does occur the amount lost will depend on the specific chemotherapy drugs used as well as how the individual patient reacts to those drugs Your nurse will be able to provide you with some information on hair loss along with a list of wig specialists you may wish to visit Cold caps are available in the unit Please ask your nurse for information on Cold Caps if this is something you are interested in Sore Mouth It is very important to look after the health of your mouth from your first chemotherapy session Looking after your mouth will help to reduce the risk of infection developing in sores or blisters
On your first day of chemotherapy you will be given instructions on how to properly care for your mouth along with a mouthwash Continue to carry out this routine for the duration of your chemotherapy If your mouth does become sore or ulcerated call us in the Unit Please do not visit your dentist for any oral problems without first seeking advice from your Oncologist Constipation Diarrhea Chemotherapy can sometimes cause changes to your usual bowel patterns These changes can take the form of constipation and or diarrhea Constipation is the more common side effect This can be a result of the anti sickness medications administered to patients If you are suffering from constipation or diarrhea please mention it to your nurse who will be happy to advise you of steps to take to remedy this Please note if you suffer severe diarrhea alongside feeling unwell or feverish it is important that you contact the unit without delay Fertility Some chemotherapy drugs although not all can cause infertility This Chemotherapy induced infertility can be temporary or permanent depending on the drugs required to treat your cancer For this reason it is important to discuss fertility with your doctor prior to starting your chemotherapy treatment Your doctor may advise you to see a fertility specialist to discuss options Please note it is extremely important not to get pregnant during chemotherapy treatment Skin and Nails Changes Minor skin problems can occur in some patients undergoing chemotherapy These include dryness redness and itching A mild non perfumed moisturising cream may help ease skin irritations If you develop any rashes please call us in the unit If the rash is very mild you can tell your nurse on your next visit to the unit During chemotherapy you may notice your nails could become darkened yellow ish brittle or cracked They may also develop lines or bands These symptoms will usually resolve themselves within a few months of treatment ending Cardiac Lung Problems Certain chemotherapy drugs can affect the lungs and heart If you are prescribed these drugs your doctor will arrange tests for your baseline functions of these organs prior to commencement of the drugs If at any stage during treatment you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath difficulty breathing chest pain or tightness call the hospital immediately Kidneys and Chemotherapy Some chemotherapy drugs can stain urine a red colour for some hours after receiving them This is harmless and usually resolves itself within about 12 hours We advise patients to drink extra fluids on the day of treatment and in the days following treatment This will help to flush chemotherapy from the body more quickly There are a number of chemotherapy drugs that can cause kidney problems for patients If you are going to be treated with one of these drugs your doctor will check your kidney function prior to administration of the drug This kidney function test can be in the form of a blood test and or a 24 hour collection of urine If you are on one of these drugs you may also be asked to monitor and record your urine output while in the hospital on treatment days If this applies to you your nurse will explain in more detail what you need to do If you are unsure about anything please feel free to ask us Hypersensitivity Reactions Certain drugs and antibody treatments can occasionally cause allergic reactions at the time of infusion If you feel unwell within the first few minutes of treatment starting please call your nurse who may stop the drug Symptoms usually subside quickly after the drug has been stopped You may be given some other drugs through your drip before your infusion is re started Where this is the case these premeds will be given to you prior to infusion on each visit
Sensitivity to the Sun Certain chemotherapy drugs may result in your skin becoming more sensitive to sunlight This effect can sometimes last for a number of weeks after chemotherapy treatment has finished It is advisable to take extra precautions during this time such as the use of a high factor broad spectrum sun screen staying out of direct sunlight during the hottest time of the day and using light layers to cover exposed skin while outdoors Please feel free to ask your nurse if you would like any additional advice on protecting your skin from the sunlight during and after your chemotherapy treatment Sexuality There is no medical reason why you cannot have sexual intercourse while you are on chemotherapy although sexual feelings may change during treatment If you are having sexual intercourse it is important to use a condom in the days post receiving treatment This is important as semen and vaginal secretions can contain chemotherapy It is very important not to get pregnant during SACT Taste Changes Some patients may experience a change in their sense of taste due to a particular chemotherapy drug they are on This can be in the form of food tasting bland or even metallic in certain cases This can affect your appetite and make you lose interest in food Some steps to help you to eat include using herbs and seasonings to make your food more appealing again It is important to try to ensure you are getting enough good foods to keep your strength up Eating little and often can help with this If you are losing interest in food or have any concerns about not getting enough nutrients in ask to speak to our dietitian who will be able to advise you if any supplements are required There are no cancer diets that we recommend just good healthy eating Weight Loss Weight Gain Some patients may notice a fluctuation from their normal weight while receiving chemotherapy This may present in the form of either weight loss or weight gain Some patients notice an increase in appetite due to steroids that may be prescribed during treatment If you have any concerns about your weight or diet during chemotherapy please ask your nurse or doctor to arrange for one of our dietitians to come and speak with you Facial Flushing and Nasal Stu ness Facial flushing and or nasal stuffiness is a common side effect felt while chemotherapy is being infused This normally resolves shortly after treatment If you are feeling these side effects sucking a hard or boiled sweet may help to alleviate the issue Hearing Problems Occasionally some chemotherapy drugs may cause difficulty hearing or can create a buzzing or ringing sensation in your ears If you develop any of these symptoms please tell your doctor on your next visit They will examine the issue and may suggest making an adjustment to your drugs Pins and Needles Some patients experience pins and needles in their fingers or toes during or after chemotherapy If you do experience this please let your nurse know upon your next visit Your symptoms will be monitored on each visit and adjustments will be made to your treatment if your doctor feels this is necessary
Hypersensitivity Reactions Certain drugs and antibody treatments can occasionally cause allergic reactions at the time of infusion If you feel unwell within the first few minutes of treatment starting please call your nurse who may stop the drug Symptoms usually subside quickly after the drug has been stopped You may be given some other drugs through your drip before your infusion is re started Where this is the case these premeds will be given to you prior to infusion on each visit Pain at the Site of Injection Chemotherapy drugs can sometimes cause irritation or phlebitis in the veins This can occur during your infusion or at home in between chemotherapy sessions Some drugs can cause this more often than others If this does occur to you during treatment please tell your nurse If it occurs while you are at home please phone the unit and the nurses can check what drugs you are on and advise you accordingly OTHER INFORMATION Other questions we are frequently asked are regarding changes to your daily routines support and complimentary therapies We have included information and advice on some of these below Please ask your nurse for further information on any of these points Note Please ensure to bring a list of all current medications with you to any medical appointments you having during your cancer treatment Support Centers There are many centres which provide support and services for cancer patients and their families Your Oncology Liaison Nurse will be happy to supply you with information on any of the support networks available to you Please do not hesitate to ask Children s Support We understand that this can be a particularly difficult time for young children who have a parent diagnosed with cancer Children may not understand this diagnosis and may be scared and need some extra support There are some wonderful support networks for children available to help children understand and better cope with a parent s diagnosis Our Oncology Liaison Nurses will be happy to provide you with information on these services
Safety at Home As with all medications it is extremely important to keep these out of reach of children or pets Medications are meant only for those who they are prescribed to and should be stored safely away from where they could be confused with medications for others Driving Some but not all illnesses medications and treatments can affect a person s ability to safely drive a car Please talk to your doctor or nurse and heed their recommendations in relation to operating a vehicle This is for your safety as well as that of others Toilet Facilities Toilets that you use should be flushed twice after use for 4 to 5 days following treatment Any splashes or spills on the toilet seat etc should be cleaned immediately with cleaning product or alcohol wipes This is due to the fact that chemotherapy drugs can remain in bodily fluids for some days after treatment Complementary Therapies It is important to discuss any complementary therapies with your doctor prior to commencement of same Sometimes complementary therapies herbal remedies or vitamins may react with your treatment Generally gentle massage aromatherapy reflexology and visualisation relaxation do not impact your treatment and are usually ok If you are unsure please ask your doctor or nurse for advice Once again we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you into the care of Beacon Hospital s Cancer Centre We will endeavor to ensure you are as comfortable as possible throughout this journey Our team are here for you at every stage and we are happy to answer any questions you may have Please never be afraid to ask Your Cancer Care Team NOTES
NOTES NOTES
YOUR GUIDE TO CANCER TREATMENT NEW PATIENT INFORMATION Contact Oncology Day Unit 01 293 8676 Oncology Ward 01 293 7530 Oncology Liaison Nurse 087 198 4454 Nurse Supervisor 01 293 7535 Ciara Dr Ray McDermott Office 01 650 4680 M ire Dr Jennifer Westrup Office 087 673 6879 Beacon Hospital Sandyford Dublin 18 D18 AK68 Tel 01 293 6600 www beaconhospital ie Colette Dr Patrick Hayden Dr Lisa Prior Office 01 650 4699 THIS IS MODERN MEDICINE Version 01 072020