Corel Medical Series: Cancer/Corel Medical Series: Cancer.iso/mac/Program/c40.dxr/00062_Field_SRC.c40.C.26.txt

Text File | 1997-01-28 | 1KB | 17 lines

• Low blood potassium , calcium and magnesium levels may be found but can generally be easily corrected and
  disappear after therapy.
• Lung scarring can occur when bleomycin is used, so pulmonary function tests are used to monitor any
  change. If lung function decreases, the drug must be stopped. It is rarely fatal or produces symptoms with
  present doses.
• There have been rare reports of heart attacks and high blood pressure with some older combinations, but the
  newer regimens that are given for a much shorter time—only three to four months— should alleviate this
  uncommon toxicity.
• The question of very delayed high blood pressure (hypertension) because of magnesium and renin imbalance
  has not yet been resolved, so blood pressure should be monitored at each follow-up. Since one study noted an
  increase in serum cholesterol, a lipid profile should be checked yearly.
• Following some chemotherapy combinations, particularly PVB, there have been reports of a chronic vascular
  disorder called Raynaud's phenomenon in 10 to 20 percent of cases. Again, this issue should be minimized
  with newer combinations and a smaller total bleomycin dose.
• Sex drive (libido) is not changed by treatment and neither are erections. Chemotherapy may temporarily or
  permanently decrease the sperm count. Male hormone replacement is needed in men having orchiectomy for
  bilateral testicular cancers.