1. The Side Effects of Chemotherapy Ryan Degnan

2. My Mentor  Mrs. Cameron  LHS chemistry teacher  Bachelors science degree in chemistry from Washington college in Chestertown Maryland  Taught my 10th grade chemistry class  Comfortable to talk to  Worked at Walgreens laboratory with over the counter medications

3. My Topic  Different forms of cancer treatment  Side effects of chemotherapy  How to lessen the impact  How to preserve the quality of life (qol)

4. Why I chose my topic  Went through chemotherapy  Experienced side effects  Saw that there was much to learn

5. Proof of Problem  Diagnosis comes with a lot of information  Many different side effects  Studies show: Most chemo patients are unaware of side effects impact  15,780 children diagnosed each year  1,960 are fatal cases

6. Core Question How can families with pediatric cancer patients be better educated about Chemotherapy’s side effects

7. Cancer treatments  2 main types of cancer treatments  Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy  Radiotherapy is less common  Alternative to chemotherapy  Can be combined together  Chemotherapy causes the most significant side effects

8. Cytotoxic chemotherapy  Poisonous medicine that kills body cells.  Does not target only cancer cells  Injected directly into the blood stream  Each round usually lasts a few hours  Used to treat solid tissue tumors & blood cancers

9. Side effects  Hair loss  Nausea/vomiting  Change in taste and appetite  Weight loss  Low blood count & fatigue  Pain in joints and bones Different Effect are caused by different Chemotherapy Medicines

10. Patient Studies  Patients are not fully educated about side effects  Unaware of most information  What they are and how to deal with them  Unsure of how to deal with effects

11. Coping Mechanisms  Patients passively wait for side effects to pass  Various coping mechanisms used by patients https://www.google.com/search?q=childrens+coping+strategies+for+chemotherapy+induced+nausea+and+vomiting

12. Coping Mechanisms Active- The patient physically does to cope with effects.  Distraction  Emotional regulation  Problem solving  Cognitive restructuring  Social support

13. Coping Mechanisms Passive- Patients passively waits for effects to pass.  Wishful Thinking  Social Withdrawal  Resignation  Self-criticism  Blaming Others

14. Coping Mechanisms

15. Strategies  Understanding the need for treatment  Seeking pleasure in nourishment  Engaging in activities to distract from effects  Keeping the hope of cure alive in patients

16. Core Question How can families with pediatric cancer patients be better educated about Chemotherapy’s side effects?

17. Solution Patients can be better educated about the side effects of chemotherapy through an informational website that illustrates the different forms of side effects and ways to cope with these effects.

18. Website  http://copingwithchemo.weebly.com/ http://copingwithchemo.weebly.com/

19. Advertising  Hung fliers In Hasbro Children’s Hospital to advertise website.

20. New Knowledge  Different forms of treatment can be combined  Radiation therapy brings minimal side effects  Radiation is less harmful to the body  Most information will never reach the patients

21. Learning stretch  How to researching topics & finding valid sources  How to create a website  Managing my time in and out of school

22. Works Cited Jacoby, David B., MD. Encyclopedia of Family Health. Vol. 2. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1998. Print. Pedersen, Birgith, Dorte P. Koktved, and Lene L. Nielsen. "Living With Side Effects From Cancer Treatment - A Challenge To Target Information." Scandinavian Journal Of Caring Sciences 27.3 (2013): 715-723. Academic Search Elite. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. Rodgers, Cheryl, et al. “Children’s Coping Strategies for Chemotherapy induced Nausea and Vomiting.” Oncology Nursing Forum 39.2 (2012): 202-209. Academic Search Elite. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. Sposito, Amanda Mota Pacciulio, et al. “Coping Strategies Used by Hospitalized Children With cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy.” Journal of Nursing Scholarship 47.2 (2015): 143-151. Academic Search Elite. Web. 9. Apr. 2015. Wu, Li-Min, Chi-Chun Chin, Joan E. Haase, and Chung-Hey Chen. "Coping Experiences of Adolescents with Cancer: A Qualitative Study." Journal of Advanced Nursing 65.11 (2009): 2358-366. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.