chemotherapy

Re: chemotherapy

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:58:54 GMT

Check out this weeks vet times there is an article all about it!

Re: chemotherapy

hissycat — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:01:19 GMT

I can see where you're coming from there, perhaps we should be a bit more careful with all the drugs we use, however don't these drugs (vincristine etc.) have effects that may not be apparent till years later? I think that, coupled with perhaps a lack of knowledge, makes things a bit more worrying. I don't remember learning much about it in college, perhaps it should be better covered in the nursing standards.

Re: chemotherapy

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:07:22 GMT

'chemotherapy' just means, literally, 'treating with drugs'. Thus giving a cat a course of synulox is actually chemotherapy. (Sorry - a bit pedantic I know! )

What I'm getting at is that it depends on the drug used as to what procedures should be in place. Most people think of chemotherapy as the drugs used in oncology - which can certainly be nasty if not used correctly. However, there are many many oncologic drugs and protocols should be different depending on the drug used. One of the most common is vincristine - which can certainly be extremely damaging if given/used incorrectly - but isn't as bad as a lot of nurses seem to think as long as appropriate precautions are taken. How many of you use goggles when pulling up domitor? And yet as humans we are extremely sensitive to it if it gets on mm/in your eyes etc!

Re: chemotherapy

Felicity Caldwell — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:00:48 GMT

Well, I get quite worried about chemotherapy. Where I work, they seem to do it quite often and I quietly try to steer away from helping with it. I stupidly dont know too much about it BUT....they only wear gloves and a disposable apron!!! No other forms of PPE at all! Used chemo waste disposal boxes are kept in the xray dark room (which I might add I have accidentally handled before!) I just dont like it, it makes me quite scared that things are so relaxed when we have chemo patients in.

The patients just sit in the normal kennel ward with all other patients - and have an open clinical waste bag on the front of their cage. Is this really bad, or am I being over-dramatic!?!?

Re: chemotherapy

Claire Cameron — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:42:55 GMT

We used to wear double gloves, apron, surgical mask, goggles, IV catheter, 3 way taps ermmm cant think what else we did

I used to avoid it at all costs if possible though I find it a bit scary

Re: chemotherapy

Fleabee99 — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:05:23 GMT

i know in our practice theres a dog having it and only 1 vet and 1 nurse are allowed in when its going on and they are suited and booted up to the eyeballs

Re: chemotherapy

hissycat — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:31 GMT

p.s love the felix

Re: chemotherapy

hissycat — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:59:54 GMT

Thankyou. Just wanted to know as we stopped doing it in my previous practice due to H&S concerns, been in new practice for a year and one of the assistants just randomly brought in a chemo patient and wanted me to help. (the look on my face said it all and eventually she got someone else) We don't have fume cabinet or similar and she didn't even bother to wear a surgical mask. (not that its acceptable reading the article). Neither myself or any of the other nurses have been briefed on chemotherapy protocol and I have never seen any wriiten practice guidelines. Given the serious nature of accidental exposure I feel this should be taken more seriously!

Re: chemotherapy

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:23:21 GMT

http://www.irishveterinaryjournal.com/Links/PDFs/CE-Small/CESA_July_08.pdf

have a read of this. just found it by googling