vol2 - Page 174
Page 174
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the medical use of these chemical agents. Despite these high
risks, all of these drugs are considered _safe _ for use under
medical supervision°
14. It is standard practice i_ Oncology to recommend to
pregnant women who must be treated with any of these agents
that they consider the very real likelihood of serious fetal
damage. Abortion is usually recommended under such conditions.
15. Perhaps the most common, and most noticed adverse_
effect produced by all of these chemotherapeutic agents is the
profound nausea and vomiting which results after they are
....
administered. The vomiting may be intense_ protracted ands in
some instances, life-threatening. Following this intense
period of vomitlng _- which may last for 48 to 72 hours or more
-_ the patient may experience mild to severe nausea for days,
or weeks_
16. Many reports indicate that up to a third of the
patients who receive chemotherapy decide to abandon this form
of potentially life=prolonging treatment because of the severe
nausea and vomiting produced by these drugs.
...... 17. For those patients who continue therapy_ despite
these adverse effectsw chemotherapy can become a living hell.
Certainly, the quality of a patient's llfe is dramatically
affected by the uncontrollable vomiting and severe nausea.
18. This combination of vomiting and nausea may also
result in a sudden_ dramatic loss of weight° As cancer
patients lose weight, they become weaker and less able to fight
_helr diseases
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