Chemotherapy and Safety Measures to Prevent its Hazard

Abstract

Chemotherapy is the use of Antineoplastic drugs to promote tumor cell destruction by interfering with cellular function and reproduction. It includes the use of various chemotherapeutic agents and hormones. Chemotherapy drugs are highly toxic even in minute quantities and they pose risks to those who handle them .Chemotherapy can be life saving to a cancer patient but unintentional exposure to these powerful agents may be endangering the lives of healthcare workers. Exposure to “secondhand chemo” can confer significant health risks such as immediate nervous system effects, acute and long-term reproductive effects (e.g., infertility and miscarriage) and a subsequent risk for hematological malignancies. The aim of this article is to focus on the safety measures on personal and environmental protection by nurses during chemotherapy preparation and administration.