Dermatological toxicity in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment

• Published in: Revista latino-americana de enfermagem Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 681 - 687
• Main Authors: Gozzo, Thais de Oliveira, Panobianco, Marislei Sanches, Clapis, Maria José, de Almeida, Ana Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - nursing; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant - adverse effects; Continental Population Groups; European Continental Ancestry Group; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy - adverse effects; NURSING; Photography; Punctures; Skin - drug effects; Nursing; Neoplasias de la Mama; Quimioterapia; Enfermagem; Drug Therapy; Neoplasias da Mama; Extravasación de Materiales Terapéuticos y Diagnósticos; Extravasamento de Materiais Terapêuticos e Diagnósticos; Breast Neoplasms; Enfermería; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials
• ISSN: 0104-1169; 1518-8345; 0104-1169
• DOI: 10.1590/S0104-11692010000400004

This study aimed to analyze the occurrence of skin toxicity caused by drugs used in the protocol of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy among women with breast cancer. Patient records of 72 women who were subject to this therapy between 2003 and 2006 were assessed. Of the 558 cycles of chemotherapy, 152 adverse events were registered. There were 37 registrations of dermatological toxicity, of those, 20 were extravasations that affected 17 women. Nine reports of hardened local injury, local fibrosis, pain, and hyperemia were registered during neoadjuvancy. In adjuvancy, among the 11 extravasations registered there were reports of hardened local injury, fibrosis and local pain. Lack of follow-up records for both periods was observed. Registration of the events and reports by the nursing team are essential to monitor the sites of venous puncture during the chemotherapy treatment, besides measuring and making a photographic record of the site.