What it means
An antineoplastican-tee-nee-oh-PLAS-tikA drug used to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or stopping them from growing and dividing.anti- againstneo- newplas growth, formation-tic relating toFull entry drug that contains platinum. It binds to DNA so cells cannot divide, and is used for testicular, ovarian, bladder, lung and head and neck cancers. Its main toxic effects are kidney damage, hearing loss and ringing in the ears, severe nausea and vomiting, nerve damage in the hands and feet, and low blood counts.
For the nurse
Give the IV fluids ordered before and after each dose to protect the kidneys, and check creatinine, magnesium and potassium. Give antiemetics before the dose. Ask about hearing changes and tingling. It is a hazardous drug: handle it with chemotherapy precautions. Do not confuse it with carboplatin.
At a glance
| Drug class | antineoplastic (platinum compound) |
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Related terms
antineoplastic
A drug used to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or stopping them from growing and dividing.
nausea
An uneasy feeling in the stomach with the urge to vomit.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
head and neck cancer
Cancer that starts in the mouth, throat, voice box, nose, sinuses or salivary glands.