Full Answer
What is a side effect of a drug?
A side effect occurs when treatment damages healthy cells. Side effects can be different for each person, and for different medicines and kinds of treatment. If you think you’re experiencing any side effects, talk to your medical team. They may be able to help you manage them in a variety of ways.
What are the side effects of cancer treatment?
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment 1 Neutropenia. 2 Lymphedema. 3 Hair Loss. 4 Nausea and Vomiting. 5 Problems with Thinking and Remembering Things. 6 Cancer Pain. 7 Blood Clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis) 8 Other Side Effects.
Why is it important that treatment be appropriate?
It is also important that treatment be appropriate to the individual’s age, gender, ethnicity, and culture. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical. The appropriate duration for an individual depends on the type and degree of the patient’s problems and needs.
How do side effects of medication affect patient compliance?
The effect of side effects on compliance may be explained in terms of physical discomfort, skepticism about the efficacy of the medication, and decreasing the trust in physicians (Christensen 1978). Degree of behavioral change required
What is considered a course of treatment?
A treatment plan made up of several cycles of treatment. For example, treatment given for one week followed by three weeks of rest (no treatment) is one treatment cycle. When a treatment cycle is repeated multiple times on a regular schedule, it makes up a course of treatment.
How do you explain side effects to patients?
How do you explain side effects without scaring patients?Stay calm. ... Explain all the details. ... Suggest calming techniques. ... Get to the root of the anxiety. ... Remind patients that serious side effects are unlikely. ... Focus on the positives.
How can you determine the effectiveness of a treatment?
The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the most reliable methodology for assessing the efficacy of treatments in medicine. In such a trial a defined group of study patients is assigned to either receive the treatment or not, or to receive different doses of the treatment, through a formal process of randomization.
What makes a patient incompetent?
An individual determined to be incompetent can no longer exercise the right to accept or refuse treatment. Competency is a legal term referring to individuals “having sufficient ability… possessing the requisite natural or legal qualifications” to engage in a given endeavor.
Why do side effects occur?
Why do side effects occur? Side effects occur because the body is a very complex. It is difficult to make a drug that targets one part of the body but that doesn't affect other parts. Developing drugs is also complicated because no two people are exactly the same.
Why is it important to inform the patient about side effects?
Conversations about adverse effects are important; patients who discussed adverse effects with their physicians are less likely to prematurely discontinue their medications than those who did not discuss adverse effects.
What are three factors considered to successful treatment?
The first is the use of evidence-based treatment that is deemed appropriate for your particular issue. The second important factor is the clinical expertise of the psychologist or therapist. The third factor is your own characteristics, values, preferences, and culture.
How do you evaluate client progress in therapy?
6 Progress-in-Therapy IndicatorsYour moods and emotions have improved. Depending on the reasons for entering therapy, check if any of your symptoms have improved. ... Your thinking has shifted. ... Your behaviors have changed. ... Your relationships with others are better. ... You have better life satisfaction. ... Your diagnosis changes.
How do you assess client progress?
How to measure achievement of client goalsChanged knowledge and access to information.Changed skills.Changed behaviours.Changed confidence to make own decisions.Changed engagement with relevant support services.Changed impact of an immediate crisis.
Who determines competency in a patient?
JudgesJudges make final decisions about competency, sometimes after input from psychiatrists and psychologists, or other physicians. Court opinions about competency should generally be left to psychiatrists with specific training in forensic psychiatry, except for competency to make health care decisions.
What do you do when a patient lacks capacity?
If an adult lacks the capacity to give consent, a decision about whether to go ahead with the treatment will need to be made by the healthcare professionals treating them. To make a decision, the person's best interests must be considered.
Who decides if a patient is competent?
Competence is determined by a judge [1][2][3]. This legal determination is never determined by medical providers.
How to reduce the chance of infection during chemo?
Washing your hands often will lower your chance of getting an infection during chemotherapy. Talk with your doctor about other ways to lower your risk of getting an infection. You should call your doctor right away if you notice any signs of an infection, especially a fever.
What happens if you have a lymph node removed?
If you have lymph nodes removed during surgery, or if radiation treatment damages a lymph node or vessel, the lymph fluid may not be able to drain properly. The fluid may build up under your skin and cause part of your body to swell . This condition is called lymphedema. Learn more about lymphedema.
Can cancer cause tiredness?
Cancer treatments can cause many other side effects, including tiredness, trouble eating, and depression. The National Cancer Institute#N#external icon#N#and the American Cancer Society#N#external icon#N#describe many of these problems and offer tips for preventing or coping with them.
Can cancer make you sick?
Cancer treatments can make you feel sick to your stomach, and to vomit. Sometimes, cancer patients feel sick just from thinking about cancer treatment. Fortunately, medicines can help control nausea and make you feel better. Tell your doctor when you feel sick, so he or she can find the medicine that works best for you.
Does a cooling cap help with chemotherapy?
may help you keep more of your hair . A cooling cap fits tightly on your head and keeps your scalp cold before, during, and after your chemotherapy treatment. Studies have found that how well a cooling cap works depends on the kind of chemotherapy you receive.
Can cancer drugs make you forget things?
The drugs used to treat cancer can cause some people to have trouble concentrating or remembering things. This is often called “chemo brain,”#N#external icon#N#and it can make it hard for cancer patients to do their jobs or everyday tasks.
Does cancer cause pain?
Cancer itself and treatments for it may cause pain. Pain can make it harder to do your normal activities, and lower your quality of life. Pain control is an important part of your cancer treatment plan. Talk to your doctor if you have pain.
Antidepressants and Therapy for Treatment of Major Depression
A person with MDD is typically given an antidepressant medication as the first-line treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. The antidepressant is generally in the class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include antidepressants such as Lexapro and Prozac.
Deviations from the Standard Course of Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
Some individual doctors or patients deviate from the standard treatment of MDD for non-medical reasons. This may be because:
