Hong Kong Med J 2006;12(Suppl 2):S25-7
The clinical management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting with adjuvant progressive muscle relaxation training and imagery techniques in breast cancer patients
A Molassiotis, HHP Yung, BMC Yam, TSK Mok
Department of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1. Progressive muscle relaxation training as adjuvant therapy can effectively decrease the duration and frequency of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy and may decrease psychological distress during cancer therapy.
2. Use of metoclopramide (Maxolon) as an antiemetic treatment is not effective on its own in the majority of patients receiving moderately high emetogenic chemotherapy.
3. Non-pharmacological pre-treatment factors partly predict the development of post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and should be carefully assessed in patients before a decision is made on the type of antiemetic to be used.
4. The most common pre-treatment factors predicting development of nausea and vomiting include a history of labyrinthitis, susceptibility to motion sickness, and expectation of the development of nausea and vomiting.
5. A comprehensive pre-chemotherapy evaluation and use of relaxation techniques during chemotherapy should be part of the care plan for patients receiving chemotherapy in order to decrease side-effects and potentially improve quality of life.
2. Use of metoclopramide (Maxolon) as an antiemetic treatment is not effective on its own in the majority of patients receiving moderately high emetogenic chemotherapy.
3. Non-pharmacological pre-treatment factors partly predict the development of post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and should be carefully assessed in patients before a decision is made on the type of antiemetic to be used.
4. The most common pre-treatment factors predicting development of nausea and vomiting include a history of labyrinthitis, susceptibility to motion sickness, and expectation of the development of nausea and vomiting.
5. A comprehensive pre-chemotherapy evaluation and use of relaxation techniques during chemotherapy should be part of the care plan for patients receiving chemotherapy in order to decrease side-effects and potentially improve quality of life.