Signs and symptoms of bone marrow suppression from chemotherapy, among patients with gynecological cancer, at home - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i2.14984

Abstract

The hematological toxicity resulting from chemotherapy treatment includes leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, bone marrow suppression. The objective was to identify signs and symptoms of bone marrow suppression among patients with gynecological and breast cancer, resulting from chemotherapy treatment, at home. The study was quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional and prospective. The identification of patients was performed in the hospital, and the home visit was performed during treatment. We followed 30 patients, all living in the city, between ages 18 and 71 years, averaging 51.10 years; 46.6% had breast cancer, 33.3% cervical cancer, 16.6% ovarian cancer and 3.33% endometrial cancer. Among the 30 interviewed subjects, 86.6% reported weakness / tiredness, 60% dyspnea, and 23.3% tachycardia. Among those, 50% had anemia. In the study, 53.3% of the patients reported some infectious process. It was observed that 10% presented bleeding. Specialized nursing care, individualized, holistic and extended to the household, is a facilitating factor for minimizing the side effects of chemotherapy.