Research Report: Chemotherapy Side Effects on Cancer Patients

This report investigates the side effects of chemotherapy treatments on cancer patients. It begins with an introduction to chemotherapy, its purpose, and the problem statement focusing on analyzing these side effects. The report then delves into the Eclipse framework, outlining the use of models like PICO to define research problems. Objectives include understanding cancer and chemotherapies, identifying the need for chemotherapy in healthcare settings, evaluating cancer types and stages requiring chemotherapy, examining different chemotherapy drugs, and determining their side effects. The methodology section describes the study overview, search strategies, parameters, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample description, data extraction, and critical appraisal. The literature review covers the basics of cancer and chemotherapy, the need for chemotherapy, cancer types, chemotherapy drugs, and their side effects. The discussion section analyzes the findings, applies them to theoretical frameworks, acknowledges limitations, and discusses implications for nursing. The report concludes by summarizing the findings and their significance. References are provided to support the information presented.

Chemotherapy's Side Effects on
Cancer Patient

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1....................................................................................................................................2
Introduction and background...........................................................................................................2
1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................................2
1.1 Problem statement............................................................................................................2
1.2 Eclipse framework............................................................................................................3
1.3 Objectives of the study.....................................................................................................3
1.4 Hypothesis........................................................................................................................3
1.5 Research question.............................................................................................................4
1.6 Background.......................................................................................................................4
1.7 Simulation approaches and types.....................................................................................5
1.8 Justification.......................................................................................................................5
1.9 Need of the study..............................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2....................................................................................................................................6
Literature review..............................................................................................................................6
2.1 The basic understanding about cancer and chemotherapies.............................................6
2.2 The need of chemotherapy for cancer patients in the healthcare organisations...............7
2.3 The type of cancers and relevant stage requires chemotherapy among cancer patients. .8
2.4 The different types of chemotherapy drugs and medicinal product among cancer patients
in the healthcare organisations.............................................................................................10
2.5 The various side effects of chemotherapies among cancer patients...............................11
CHAPTER 3..................................................................................................................................13
Methodology..................................................................................................................................13
3.1 Study overview...............................................................................................................13
3.2 Search strategies.............................................................................................................13
3.3 Search parameters...........................................................................................................14
3.4 Inclusion criterion...........................................................................................................14
3.5 Exclusion criterion..........................................................................................................14
3.6 Sample description.........................................................................................................15
3.7 Data extraction................................................................................................................15

3.8 Critical appraisal.............................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 4..................................................................................................................................17
4.1 Discussion.......................................................................................................................17
4.2 Application to theoretical/conceptual framework..........................................................22
4.3 Limitations......................................................................................................................26
4.4 Implications for nursing.................................................................................................26
4.5 Conclusion......................................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28

ABSTRACT
The given project is based on the aim of analysing the side effects of chemotherapy treatment
among cancer patients. It includes the important clinical method of chemotherapy which is
generally used by care professionals in order to treat the complicated condition of clients for
making them disease free. However, it includes the analysis of different types of chemo drugs
which should be used specifically for particular patient body which is suitable for them. It consist
the criterion of implementing appropriate care plan related to chemotherapy in terms of
providing appropriate care facility which provide support to encourage recovery rate for
improving better health condition of patient. In addition to this, the use of qualitative research
method has been done by considering descriptive research design in order to conduct the study in
effective manner. It includes the use of secondary sources of data collection in terms of carrying
effective literature review as well as discussion of findings. Meanwhile, the inclusion criterion
consists to utilise the research papers published recently to maintain accuracy of collected data
and findings respectively. In contrary to this, the exclusion criterion for this investigation is to
avoid past research papers to maintain authenticity of gathered information and respective
outcomes of the study. Moreover, it has been founded that appropriate frameworks should be
used for providing effective chemotherapies which helps to avoid complications by providing
healthy environment to client for making them completely.
1

CHAPTER 1
Introduction and background
1.0 Introduction
Chemotherapy refers to a kind of drug treatment in which powerful chemicals are used kill fast
growing cells in human body. It includes the criterion of providing heavy dose and powerful
drugs in order to damage the cancerous cells developed in specific organ of body. Basically,
chemotherapy is used for cancer patients when it becomes extremely critical to kill cancer cells
which facilitate to improve health condition of an individual (Duregon and et. al., 2018). It has
been analysed that chemotherapy treatment can be considered as a complicated treatment process
in which patient face problems and several side effects. Meanwhile, it is observed that cancerous
cells has potential property of dividing more quickly and increase their populations in human
body. It includes the fact that treatment of chemotherapy is responsible to be applicable after
specific stage of cancer in terms of making an individual to become wellbeing. However, it is
observed that actual chemotherapy treatment is generally painless but some of drugs used in this
treatment are accountable for developing nursing slightly when they entre in veins of particular
patient. It is necessary for physicians to diagnose the actual condition of an individual before
making decision of providing chemotherapy treatment to destroy cancer cells for their wellness
respectively.
1.1 Problem statement
“To analyse the side effects of chemotherapy treatment among cancer patients.”
The investigation related to treatment of chemotherapy for evaluating it side effects is important
to find its facts and figures to make appropriate techniques for reducing the same. It is observed
that chemotherapy is used for treatment the problem of cancer at critical stage due to which
chemotherapy is required for an individual wellbeing (Zhang and Guo, 2016). However, it is
necessary to analyse the side effects related to chemotherapies among cancer patients to which
effective strategies can be developed for reducing these adverse impacts. Moreover, it includes to
focus on side effect so chemotherapies for creating effective as well as efficient clinical
techniques to improve their satisfaction regarding treatment.
2

1.2 Eclipse framework
In context of this project, the eclipse framework includes the use of model in order to define
research problems along with target population and intervention with respective outcomes. It
includes the use of PICO model in order to carry out investigation in selected research problems
including effective interventions. However, it is observed that chemotherapy is used for
treatment critical stage of cancer for damaging cancerous cells which facilitate improve their
wellbeing (Anandavadivelan and et. al., 2016). It is necessary for physicians and care providers
to diagnose properly in terms of making appropriate decision of treatment for welfare of
individual. Moreover, the chemotherapy is known to be a complex clinical procedure which is
only used when cancer stage is complicated.
1.3 Objectives of the study
 To analyse the basic understanding about cancer and chemotherapies.
 To identify the need of chemotherapy for cancer patients in the healthcare organisation.
 To evaluate the type of cancers and relevant stage requires chemotherapy among cancer
patients.
 To examine the different types of chemotherapy drugs and medicinal product among
cancer patients in the healthcare organisation.
 To determine the various side effects of chemotherapies among cancer patients.
1.4 Hypothesis
Hypothesis 1
Null hypothesis (H0) – There is the basic understanding about cancer and chemotherapies.
Alternative hypothesis (H1) – There is not the basic understanding about cancer and
chemotherapies.
Hypothesis 2
Null hypothesis (H0) – The important need of chemotherapy for cancer patients in the healthcare
organisation exist.
Alternative hypothesis (H1) – The important need of chemotherapy for cancer patients in the
healthcare organisation does not exist.
Hypothesis 3
Null hypothesis (H0) – The type of cancers and relevant stage requires chemotherapy among
cancer patients are studied.
3

Alternative hypothesis (H1) – The type of cancers and relevant stage requires chemotherapy
among cancer patients does not studied.
Hypothesis 4
Null hypothesis (H0) – The different types of chemotherapy drugs and medicinal product among
cancer patients in the healthcare organisation are required to be considered.
Alternative hypothesis (H1) – The different types of chemotherapy drugs and medicinal product
among cancer patients in the healthcare organisation does not required to be considered.
Hypothesis 5
Null hypothesis (H0) – The various side effects of chemotherapies exist among cancer patients.
Alternative hypothesis (H1) – The various side effects of chemotherapies does not exist among
cancer patients.
1.5 Research question
 How to analyse the basic understanding about cancer and chemotherapies?
 What is the need of chemotherapy for cancer patients in the healthcare organisation?
 How to evaluate the type of cancers and relevant stage requires chemotherapy among
cancer patients?
 What are the ways to examine the different types of chemotherapy drugs and medicinal
product among cancer patients in the healthcare organisation?
 How to determine the various side effects of chemotherapies among cancer patients?
1.6 Background
The given investigation is based on the healthcare sector including care organisation known for
its specialist treatment for cancer patients. These organisations are helpful for providing services
to people suffering from cancer for their better health condition (Hurvitz and et. al., 2018).
However, it has been analysed that the different healthcare organisations has the criterion of
providing care services to all individuals having problem cancers including inpatients and
outpatients. It includes specific treatment procedures and activities for providing more effective
as well as efficient care services for making cancer patient healthy as soon as possible. It
includes effective roles and responsibilities of care professional who put efforts with proper
focus to treat the condition of cancer in respect of improving health condition of them. They
provide an appropriate treatment for specific cancer for making patients disease free
respectively. This investigation will focus on knowledge about cancer and chemotherapies along
4

with need of chemotherapy for cancer patients. It will also include the different kind of cancers
and specific stage when chemotherapy is required along with types of drugs used in this process.
The various side effects of chemotherapies among cancer patients are given below.
1.7 Simulation approaches and types
Simulation can be defined as a method in which construction of an artificial environment occurs
within which relevant data be developed for gaining desired outcomes. It includes number of
steps which are required to be followed for using simulation method that are given here. Initially,
it includes the criterion to decide on the purpose of simulation and what performance metrics
requires monitoring. Secondly, it involves the practice of formulating a first pass simulation
respectively (Escalante and et. al., 2017). Thirdly, it consists to calibrate the simulation and
measure its performance to behaviour of existing layout of research. Meanwhile, it includes the
analysis of the results as well as selects the best alternative for use. However, the final step
involves the criterion of sharing the simulation formulated of own study. Moreover, the
simulation involves considering several elements such as business relevance, learning
application, collective decision making, diversity & ambiguity and job & personal relevance.
1.8 Justification
In context of this project, it has been justified that use of chemotherapy in order to identify
various side effects of chemotherapy on cancer patients. It includes the criterion of using the
chemotherapy in order to treat the complicated cancer problem for making patient wellbeing.
However, it includes the analyse the side effects of chemotherapies are required to be identified
along with respective stage of cancer and types of cancer occurs among people. Moreover, it
consist the evaluation of drugs used in chemotherapy which has side effects on human body.
1.9 Need of the study
In respect of this investigation, it will focus on the analysis of chemotherapy and side to gain
more detailed knowledge about the same for gaining accurate. It is required to evaluate the
utilisation of different types of drugs which are extremely powerful to kill cancerous cells for
treating the problem of cancer. However, it has been analysed that investigation should be
carrying out for analysing use of various drugs and their respective side effects that are observed
among patients. Moreover, it includes the requirement of identifying the use of some of drugs
which has less side effects on human body.
5

CHAPTER 2
Literature review
2.1 The basic understanding about cancer and chemotherapies
As per views of Bansal and et. al. (2017), chemotherapy can be defined as a drug treatment used
to destroy fast growing cancerous cells. It includes the use of drugs which are more powerful
chemically due to which it has side effects on human body. Basically, it has been analysed that
the treatment of chemotherapy can be utilised more often in order to treat the cancer problems
among patients. It is observed that cancerous cells has an ability to multiply and grow faster due
to which critical stage can be acquired due to which chemotherapy treatment is required to
treatment the respective condition of an individual for their wellbeing. The chemotherapy
treatment is critical clinical process which is used to treat the problem of cancer among patients.
According the opinion given by Friedlander and et. al. (2018), cancer can be described as
condition of disease which is responsible for developing abnormal cells in specific part of human
body that can divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissues. It includes the rapid multiplication
of these abnormal cells which are known as cancerous cells among patients. Meanwhile, there
are different types of cancers based in its location and origin such as breast cancer, prostate
cancer, basal cell cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma and
many more. It is necessary for people to remain aware about this problem and prefer regular
checks up so that cancer can be detected at initial stage. The diagnosis at early stage of cancer is
favourable to treat this health issue effectively because later stages are much complicated and
cure is not guaranteed by doctors. However, the cancer problem is considered as extremely
complicated life threatening condition of human beings. It includes the fact that there are number
of cause behind the cancer including heavy consumption of alcohol, excess body weight,
physical inactivity, poor nutrition etc. It has been analysed that genetic factors are also
responsible for contribution in order to develop the cancer. Moreover, it is necessary for people
to remain aware from early symptoms and use regular check up to remain disease free.
Tahover and et. al. (2017) states that chemotherapy can be defined as an effective treatment
which is used for cancer patients to destroy the developed cancerous cells for improving the
health condition of them. It is necessary for physicians to diagnose actual condition of specific
patient according to which they are required to make decision of using process of
6

chemotherapies for treating the cancer problem. Basically, the chemotherapy is known as a
complicated treatment process which is effective to damage cancer cells that has ability growth
as well as multiplies them very fast. It is observed that chemotherapy procedure has a critical
practice which is required to be carried out carefully in order to make patient fell relieved.
Meanwhile, it is identified that chemotherapy should be conducted for people welfare to treat the
cancer condition in terms of making patient completely wellbeing. It is observed that
chemotherapies has number of side effects in which some of them are problematic for an
individual like hair fall etc. The chemotherapy has side effects of human body and this process is
not able conduct in small period of time. It depends upon ability of patient and their respective
stage of cancer to provide effective care for making patient fell wellbeing as soon as possible.
2.2 The need of chemotherapy for cancer patients in the healthcare organisations
The need of chemotherapy occurs in case of patients having severe condition of cancer because it
is helpful to kill cancerous cells to improve health condition of them. As mentioned by Mills,
Kolb and Sampson (2018), it is necessary for physicians to establish more effective as well as
efficient care plan for providing facility of chemotherapies for improving condition of patients.
Basically, it is observed that chemotherapy is required as per specific cancer condition of an
individual because some of patient requires 3 chemotherapies, few requires 4 set of
chemotherapies and so on. It is necessary for care professionals to diagnose actual condition of
an individual which facilitate to make appropriate decision of providing set of chemotherapies in
respect of damaging present cancerous cells in specific organ of patient. It is required for an
individual to remain in hospital for at least one night for gaining treatment of chemotherapies by
proper concentration and team work for providing better quality of services. It is necessary to
make appropriate decision regarding specific type of chemotherapy which is suitable according
to particular patient for gaining respective outcomes. The most important aspect is to identify
that whether a person has some of other health problems like diabetes, heart disease, lung
problem tec. along with having condition of cancer. It is important because presences of these
health issues are responsible for influencing the formulation of appropriate care plan for
providing chemotherapy effectively. It is necessary to provide better quality of chemotherapy
services for treatment the different types of cancers among patients in proper manner.
On the other hand, it has been analysed that chemotherapy is known as a kind of drug treatment
that is much effective as well as efficient for destroying the cancerous cells. According to the
7

Loibl and et. al. (2018), it includes the use of chemotherapies in terms of number of requirements
of individuals according to their specific condition of cancer which facilitate to deliver desired
care facilities. There are various kinds of needs of cancer patient for which chemotherapies can
be provided for their welfare. Initially, the need of patient includes the criterion of making
people cure the condition of cancer without help of other clinical treatment accordingly. It is
required to provide the use of treatment procedures in order to destroy the cells of cancer which
exist in hidden manner. However, the other need of chemotherapy is utilised in respect of
preparing the process of increasing effectiveness of other treatments to shrink the tumours
accordingly. It will provide support to damage harmful cells for enhancing health condition of
cancer patients. In addition to this, it has been analysed that early signs and symptoms can be
treated with the help of providing small amount of chemotherapy drugs which facilitate to make
them feeling relived from the same. It involves the fact that cancerous cells cannot be damaged
by any other treatment process and only chemotherapy drugs have that much potential for
destroy these harmful cells for reducing their negative effects on human body. It is observed that
only chemotherapy is last option for cancer patients for their treatment to gain better health status
respectively.
In addition to this, it has been evaluated that there are some of other conditions besides of cancer
which need the treatment of chemotherapy to make patient disease free. Tan and Norhaizan
(2019) states that it includes the diseased condition of bone of diseases and immune system
disorders. However, the bone marrow disease refers to a condition in which blood cells and bone
marrow cells can be treated with the help of transplant of bone marrow for making an individual
disease free. Moreover, the immune system disorders requires lower dosage of chemotherapy
drugs which helps to control overactive immune system in some of health problems including
arthritis and lupus.
2.3 The type of cancers and relevant stage requires chemotherapy among cancer patients
Cancers can be described as a condition when abnormal cells developed and divide
uncontrollably to destroy tissue of the body. It includes the development of harmful cell which
are responsible for damaging body tissue, these cells are known as cancerous cell. Basically, it is
observed that cancer can be developed in any area of the human body. As per views provided by
Baghdadi and et. al. (2016), it includes different types of cancers such as breast cancer, prostate
cancer, basal cell cancer, skin cancer (melanoma), colon cancer, lung cancer, leukaemia,
8

lymphoma and so on. However, it has been analysed that different types cancers depends upon
their locations and stage of occurrence on body according to appropriate treatment which
facilitate to improve health condition of patient. It involves the requirement of diagnosing the
condition of an individual with the help of appropriate pathological activities to determine
specific cause and location of cancer. It will provide support to formulate an effective as well as
efficient care plan including desired care interventions for making patient relived. Meanwhile,
the cancers has several stages which must be diagnosed carefully to provide accurate medical
facilities for welfare of patient in healthcare organisations.it is required for care professionals to
diagnose specific cancer type with the help of pathological processor and activity it deliver desire
treatment. It is favourable to formulate accurate decision in order to treat particular cancer
problem for welfare of patient. Moreover, there are different type cancer condition occurs in
which some of them are explain here.
Breast cancer can define as a condition in which cancerous developed and multiplies in the
location of breasts. As mentioned by Huang and et. al. (2016), it includes prostate cancer which
occurs in the prostate of the man which is a condition of having a small walnut sized gland which
is responsible for producing seminal fluid. Basically, it consist the basal cell cancer which is
known as a kind of skin cancer which has started from basal cells. It involves the skin cancer that
is also called as melanoma which can be considered as most complex type of skin cancer.
However, colon cancer or rectum cancer is problem that occurs in specific part which is located
at the lower end of the digestive tract or alimentary canal. It involves the lung cancer which is
common among people having habit of regular smoking and this condition has been started from
lungs which leads to further damage the alveolar sacs that develops more complicated situation
for an individual. In addition to this, it has been analysed that leukaemia which is known as a
cancer of blood forming tissues that hinders the capability of human body in order to fight
against infection. It includes the another type of cancer that is called as lymphoma which is
responsible for occurring in lymphatic system of human body and damage respective tissues.
Meanwhile, it is observed that some of common types of cancers which ate usually diagnosed
among people such breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. Moreover, it is required for
people to take precautions and balanced diet to avoid occurrence of cancerous condition as it is
highly critical which is difficult to be treated with the help of using even chemotherapy.
9