Adverse events in bevacizumab and chemotherapy: patient management

Abstract

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an anti-angiogenic agent recently approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel. It is important that nurses are familiar with the side-effects associated with this agent--several of which differ from those seen with traditional chemotherapy agents--and how these can be optimally identified, monitored and managed. Side-effects associated with bevacizumab include hypertension, proteinuria, thromboembolic events, bleeding, cardiac toxicity, wound-healing complications and gastrointestinal perforations. Many of these are easily manageable, often without the need to discontinue bevacizumab therapy. This article, the second in a series, provides nurses with management recommendations for these toxicities in order to deliver optimal patient care and improve patients quality of life.