Syndrome
|
Description
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Chemotherapy-induced headaches
|
Common after treatment with intrathecal methotrexate for leukemia, lymphoma, or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for leukemia |
May be associated with vomiting, nuchal rigidity, fever, irritability, and lethargy |
May last for several days or longer, and may or may not occur with repeated administration |
Arthralgia and myalgia
|
Pain in joints or muscles |
Reported by 20 percent of patients treated with paclitaxel |
Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot syndrome)
|
Painful rash on the palms and soles following administration of specific chemotherapies (particularly liposomal doxorubicin and capecitabine) |
Rash may progress to bullous formation and desquamation |
Postchemotherapy acute limb ischemia (Raynaud's phenomenon) |
Reduced blood supply to the fingers and toes, described in survivors of testicular cancer, who were treated with bleomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin |
Fluoropyrimidine-induced angina |
Fluorouracil (FU) and capecitabine increase risk of cardiac ischemic episodes, presumably resulting from coronary vasospasm |
Postchemotherapy gynecomastia
|
Prevalent when receiving chemotherapy for testicular cancer |
Painful and usually transitory |
Steroid-induced perineal burning |
Perineal burning: has been described immediately (within 30 seconds) after intravenous steroid infusion |
Diffuse bone pain |
Known to occur with all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) |
Flare syndrome in advanced prostate cancer, after initiation of LHRH agonist alone
|
Characterized by increased bone pain, at times associated with added risk of cord compression, bladder outlet obstruction and hypercoagulability |
Can result from treatment with LHRH (lutenising hormone releasing hormone) agonist therapy |
Flare syndrome in advanced breast cancer
|
Characterized by diffuse musculoskeletal pain, skin erythema, change in liver function studies and hypercalcemia |
Can result from initial administration of tamoxifen or other estrogen receptor agonists |
Interferon-associated myalgias
|
Pain in joints, possibly accompanied by fever and severe fatigue, appearing shortly after initial diagnosis |
Typically decreases in severity after repeated dosing |