Risk for Emesis (Nausea and Vomiting) with Chemotherapy Agents
Risk Assessment in Life; Patient Management; Hospital Management
Every thing we do in life has a risk. Every situation we face in life has a risk.
Risk is the probability of harm or loss.
Risk is a probability or threat of damage, injury, liability, loss or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities and that may be avoided through preemptive action. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/risk.html)
It is a good practice to know how to do risk assessment in life, in patient management and hospital management.
Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation.
There are so many ways of doing risk assessment depending on the situation.
Risk for Emesis (Nausea and Vomiting) with Chemotherapy Agents
Today, December 3, 2012, I will dwell on risk assessment of nausea and vomiting in patients being administered chemotherapy.
There is now an established system of determining the risk of nausea and vomiting in patients who will receive chemotherapy.
| Risk | Incidence | Examples of Chemotherapy Agents |
| High | > 90% | Cyclophosphamide (≥1,500 mg/m2 ), Cisplatin |
| Moderate | 30% – 90% | Cyclophosphamide (< 1,500 mg/m2), Doxorubicin, |
| Low | 10 – 30% | Methotrexate, Fluorouracil, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, Trastuzumab |
| Minimal | <10% | Busulphan, Vincristin, Bleomycin |
Kris MG, Hesketh PJ, Somerfield MR, et al.: American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline for antiemetics in oncology: update 2006. J Clin Oncol 24 (18): 2932-47, 2006.
For the risk of emesis of other chemotherapy agents, here is a link: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/nausea/HealthProfessional/Page5#Section_33
Note: There are medicines and measures to prevent and mitigate the risk of emesis. Ask the physicians and nurses administering the chemotherapy.
