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Rebecca Marshall-McKenna and colleagues report on a local audit that found uncertainty about appropriate intervention and self-management advice
Anthracyclines are used widely as part of combination chemotherapy regimens to treat patients with early breast cancer. Epirubicin administered through a peripheral catheter may cause venous irritation resulting in symptoms of phlebitis. Management of phlebitis in oncology remains conflicted.
In response to anecdotal patient reports of arm symptoms, a local audit was conducted to identify the incidence and type of arm symptoms during or after chemotherapy and their management.
An audit questionnaire was designed by research and clinical staff and completed by 110 patients with breast cancer aged between 25 years and 76 years (± 52.7 years).
FEC-80 was the most frequently administered (
Only 27 patients (25%) recalled being given aftercare advice on self-management of arm symptoms.
While a number of interventions were used to manage symptoms, there was no standardised care. Uncertainty exists about appropriate intervention and advice on self-management of persisting arm symptoms. Future research and guideline development should focus on prevention and early detection, as well as assessing the effectiveness of interventions.
Cancer Nursing Practice. 14, 2, 22-28. doi: 10.7748/cnp.14.2.22.e1163
CorrespondenceRebecca.Marshall-McKenna@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 18 November 2014
Accepted: 11 February 2015
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