Name: Pat Tricia T.

Rigunay
Year and Section: BSN-III
FIX (5) MEDICATIONS FOR PROSTATE CANCER

BICALUTAMIDE
Name of Drugs Classification Mechanism of Indication Contraindication Nursing Responsibilities
Action
Generic Name: ANTINEOPLASTICS; Bicalutamide is a In combination with Hypersensitivity to Assessment & Drug
BICALUTAMIDE ANTIANDROGEN nonsteroidal a luteinizing bicalutamide, Effects
antiandrogen. It hormone-releasing pregnancy  Monitor for S&S of
inhibits the hormone (LHRH) (category X). disease progression.
Brand Name: pharmacologic analog for  Lab tests: Periodic PSA
Casodex effects of androgen advanced prostate levels, CBC, liver
by binding to the cancer. functions, renal
androgen receptors functions; with
in the target tissue. concurrent coumadin
therapy, closely monitor
PT and INR.

Patient & Family

Education
 Report jaundice or any
other troubling adverse
effects immediately.
 DOCETAXEL
Name of Drugs Classification Mechanism of Indication Contraindication Nursing Responsibilities
Action
Generic Name: ANTINEOPLASTIC Docetaxel is a Metastatic breast Hypersensitivity to Assessment & Drug
DOCETAXEL AGENT; TAXANE semisynthetic analog cancer, metastatic docetaxel or other Effects
AGENT of paclitaxel. prostate cancer. drugs formulated  Lab tests: Monitor
Potential advantages with polysorbate bilirubin, AST or ALT,
over paclitaxel are Docetaxel Injection 80, paclitaxel, and alkaline
Brand Name: greater antitumor is indicated for the neutrophil count phosphatase prior to
Taxotere activity and lower treatment of <1500 cells/mm3, each drug cycle.
toxicity potential. patients with locally biliary tract Generally, do not give to
Docetaxel, like advanced or disease, hepatic patients with elevations
paclitaxel, binds to metastatic breast disease, jaundice, of bilirubin or with
the microtubule cancer after failure neutropenia, significant elevations of
network essential for of prior intramuscular transaminases
interphase and chemotherapy. injections, concurrent with
mitosis of the cell thrombocytopenia, elevations of alkaline
cycle. lactation, phosphatase. Monitor
pregnancy frequently CBCs with
(category D), differential. Withhold
acute infection. drug if platelets
<100,000 or neutrophils
<1500 cells/mm3.
 Monitor for S&S of
hypersensitivity, which
may develop within a
few minutes of initiation
of infusion. It is usually
not necessary to
discontinue infusion for
minor reactions (i.e.,
flushing or local skin
reaction).
 Assess throughout
therapy and report
cardiovascular
dysfunction, respiratory
distress; fluid retention;
development of
 neurosensory
symptoms; severe,
cutaneous eruptions on
feet, hands, arms, face,
or thorax; and S&S of
infection.

Patient & Family

Education
 Learn common adverse
effects and measures to
control or minimize
them when possible.
Report immediately any
distressing adverse
effects.
 Note: It is extremely
important to comply with
corticosteroid therapy
and monitoring of lab
values.
 Avoid pregnancy during
therapy.
 Do not breast feed while
taking this drug.
 FLUTAMIDE
Name of Drugs Classification Mechanism of Indication Contraindication Nursing Responsibilities
Action
Generic Name: ANTINEOPLASTIC; Nonsteroidal, In combination with Hypersensitivity to Assessment & Drug
FLUTAMIDE ANTIANDROGEN nonhormonal, luteinizing flutamide; severe Effects
antiandrogenic that hormone-releasing liver impairment if  Monitor therapeutic
inhibits androgen hormone agonists ALT is equal to response with acid and
uptake or binding of (i.e., leuprolide) or twice the normal alkaline phosphatase
androgen to target castration for early value; pregnancy tests, bone and liver
Brand Name: tissues (i.e., prostatic stage and (category D), scans, chest x-ray, and
Eulexin cancer cells). metastatic prostate lactation. physical exam.
cancer.  Monitor for symptomatic
relief of bone pain.
 Assess for development
of gynecomastia and
galactorrhea; if these
become bothersome,
dosage reduction may
be warranted.
 Lab tests: Monitor liver
function and serum
bilirubin periodically.
 Monitor for and report
development of a lupus-
like syndrome.

Patient & Family

Education
 Be aware of potential
adverse effects of
therapy.
 Notify physician
immediately of the
following: Pain in upper
abdomen, yellowing of
skin and eyes, dark
 urine, respiratory
problems, rashes on
face, difficulty urinating,
sore throat, fever, chills.
 Do not breast feed while
taking this drug.
 GOSERELIN ACETATE
Name of Drugs Classification Mechanism of Indication Contraindication Nursing Responsibilities
Action
Generic Name: HORMONE AND A synthetic form of Prostate cancer, Pregnancy Assessment & Drug
GOSERELIN SYNTHETIC luteinizing hormone- breast cancer. (category X); Effects
ACETATE SUBSTITUTE; releasing hormone Endometrial lactation; known  Monitor carefully during
GONADOTROPIN- (LHRH or GnRH) thinning agent prior hypersensitivity to the first month of
Brand Name: RELEASING that inhibits pituitary to endometrial a LHRH; therapy for S&S of
Zoladex HORMONE gonadotropin ablation for endometriosis or spinal cord compression
ANALOG secretion. dysfunctional endometrial or ureteral obstruction in
uterine bleeding. thinning; patients with prostate
hypercalcemia. cancer. Report
Use in combination immediately to
with flutamide for physician.
the management of  Anticipate a transient
locally confined worsening of symptoms
carcinoma of the (e.g., bone pain) during
prostate. Palliative the first weeks of
treatment of therapy in patients with
advanced prostate cancer.
carcinoma of the
prostate. The Patient & Family
management of Education
endometriosis.  Note: Sexual
dysfunction in men and
hot flashes may
accompany drug use.
 Notify physician
immediately of
symptoms of spinal cord
compression or urinary
obstruction.
 Do not breast feed while
taking this drug.
 NILUTAMIDE
Name of Drugs Classification Mechanism of Indication Contraindication Nursing Responsibilities
Action
Generic Name: ANTINEOPLASTIC Nonsteroidal with Use with surgical Pregnancy Assessment & Drug
NILUTAMIDE AGENT; antiandrogen activity. castration for (category C) and Effects
ANTIANDROGEN metastatic prostate Asian patients  Obtain baseline chest x-
Nilutamide is a cancer. relative to ray before treatment
nonsteroidal interstitial and periodically
Brand Name: antiandrogen that pneumonitis. thereafter.
Nilandron irreversibly binds to NILANDRON Safety and  Closely monitor for S&S
androgen receptors tablets are effectiveness in of pneumonitis; at the
and inhibits indicated for use in children are not first sign of adverse
androgen binding. It combination with established. pulmonary effects,
is an antagonist at surgical castration withhold drug and notify
cytoplasmic for the treatment of physician. Abnormal
androgen receptors metastatic prostate ABGs may indicate
in the hypothalamus, cancer (Stage D2). need to discontinue
pituitary, and the For maximum drug.
prostate and benefit,  Lab tests: Monitor liver
competes with 5- NILANDRON function before
dihydrotestosterone treatment must beginning treatment and
(DHT) for binding at begin on the same at 3-mo intervals; if
these receptors. day as or on the serum transaminases
day after surgical increase >2–3 times
castration. upper limit of normal,
discontinue treatment.
 Monitor patients taking
phenytoin, theophylline,
or warfarin closely for
toxic levels of these
drugs.

Patient & Family

Education
 Report following S&S of
 adverse effects on lungs
to physician
immediately:
Development of chest
pain, dyspnea, and
cough with fever.
 Report S&S of liver
injury to physician:
Jaundice, dark urine,
fatigue, or signs of GI
distress including
nausea, vomiting,
abdominal pain.
 Use caution when
moving from lighted to
dark areas because the
drug may slow visual
adaptation to darkness.
Tinted glasses may
partially alleviate the
problem.