FOCUS ON: ONCOLOGY The side effects of chemotherapeutic agents Julia Nga, Craig Carra and Tim Wigmore, a, aDepartment of Anaesthesia, SpR Imperial School of Anaesthesia, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK Available online 15 February 2008. Summary It is becoming increasingly common for patients who have had or who are receiving chemotherapy to present for anaesthesia or for potential admission to the intensive care unit. To effectively manage these patients care, it is important to be aware of both the short- and long-term side effects of chemotherapeutic agents, and to understand the physiological changes that may occur during the course of their treatment. Complications such as nausea and vomiting and diarrhoea are well recognised and may cause metabolic disturbances that are relevant to anaesthesia and critical care. However, many treatments have side effects which are more organ specific and severity may not necessarily be dose related. These include cardiomyopathies and irreversible lung fibrosis. Over 200 chemotherapeutic agents are available, and there has recently been a proliferation of agents such as the monoclonal antibodies (e.g. Herceptin) whose side-effect profile, though potentially of great relevance, is not widely known. Current Anaesthesia & Critical Care Article in Press, Uncorrected Proof Ann's NOTE: I do not call unwanted effects 'side' effects. That is a marketing term that dismisses the very real experiences of human beings. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.