Side effects of systemic cancer therapy - nausea
Red flags
- Headache, papilloedema, focal deficit, morning nausea -> raised ICP / brain metastases
- Colicky pain, distension, absolute constipation, tinkling or absent bowel sounds -> malignant bowel obstruction
- Confusion, polyuria, constipation, dehydration -> hypercalcaemia of malignancy
- Postural hypotension, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, unexplained weight loss -> adrenal insufficiency (checkpoint inhibitor hypophysitis, steroid withdrawal, adrenal metastases)
- Neck stiffness, cranial nerve palsy -> leptomeningeal disease
- Fever + neutropenia -> neutropenic sepsis takes priority over any antiemetic
- Haematemesis, melaena, severe abdominal pain -> perforation, ulcer, ischaemia
- Anuria, rapidly rising creatinine -> obstructive uropathy, TLS
7 more sections, plus exam facts
Premium unlocks every note across every specialty, and the full exam fact library behind it.
Get premium access