COPING WITH CHEMOTHERAPY WHAT IS CHEMOTHERAPY? Chemotherapy is the use of natural and man-made drugs to treat cancer. These drugs attack cancer at the cellular level. Chemotherapy can be used…

CONTROLLING NAUSEA AND VOMITING WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING? There are many causes of nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy is one reason, but the good news is: just…

CONSTIPATION WHAT IS CONSTIPATION? Constipation is infrequent or uncomfortable bowel movements. Often the bowel movements are small, hard, or dry. HOW DOES IT OCCUR? You may have constipation because: •…

ANOREXIA WHAT IS ANOREXIA? WHAT CAUSES IT? • Anorexia, or loss of appetite is a common problem in people with cancer. • Certain types of cancer can affect your metabolism,…

CHEMO BRAIN (COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION) WHAT IS CHEMO BRAIN? Sometimes after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy people have problems with memory or concentration. You may hear it called chemo fog or…

Ethical Considerations Mary Murphy Ethics plays a major role in oncology nursing practice and the delivery of care to patients. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics (2001) established…

COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT TEST (CBC) WHAT IS THE COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT TEST (CBC)? Many blood tests measure the amount of a particular chemical or protein in your blood, but a…

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies Acupuncture/Acupressure Dorothy Lynn Crider DEFINITION • Acupuncture is based on the belief that the body has energy that runs through pathways, called meridians, in the…

Loss, Grief, and Bereavement Mary Murphy • Loss and its movement toward grief begin at the time the diagnosis of cancer is identified. • Loss is defined by Guillaume (2004)…

ALOPECIA (HAIR LOSS) WHAT IS ALOPECIA? • Alopecia is hair loss that can occur with certain cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. • Cancer treatments may not only…