Hycamtin at home

Hycamtin at home

Merck Oncology has formed a partnership with "Healthcare at Home" to provide specialist nursing staff who are trained to administer chemotherapy in the home environment.

Healthcare at Home is a recognised provider of specialist nursing care and treatment at home, with the main focus on delivering quality patient care.

Healthcare at Home has considerable experience in the provision of home healthcare, and is currently working with leading consultants and hospitals throughout the country, both within the NHS and through private health schemes.

Hycamtin (topotecan) is a second-line chemotherapy which has NICE approval.

Fully trained oncology nurses provide the necessary standard of care and are experienced in administering infusion therapy.

The assigned nurse monitors the drug administration very closely, ensuring compliance with the prescription, and can observe both efficacy and possible side effects on a regular basis. Where possible, side effects can be treated as and when they occur.

The Consultant remains responsible for the treatment at all times.

Hycamtin at home is not available in all areas, but it is recommended that you discuss this option with your consultant, as it may well be available to you.

For information and advice about Hycamtin therapy: Telephone: 01895 452212
e-mail: medinfo@merckpharm.co.uk

For advice on Healthcare at Home: Telephone: 0800 917 7536
Visit: www.healthcare-at-home.com

Laura is a single 39-year-old lady with recurrent ovarian carcinoma, previously treated unsuccessfully with carboplatin chemotherapy. She was referred to Healthcare at Home for home administration of Hycamtin (topotecan) chemotherapy.

Laura lives at home with her parents, approximately one and a half hours drive away from the treatment centre. Recent surgery, including the formation of a colostomy, and multiple hospital admissions meant problems with altered body image, and sexuality which developed into a hospital phobia.

When Laura was told about Hycamtin and the possibility that it might be administered at home she was over the moon, the thought of no more visits to the hospital for chemotherapy enhanced her quality of life.

The initial treatment had to be administered in hospital, Laura then went on to have three of the remaining five cycles at home. Despite numerous physical symptoms, i.e. constipation and nausea, etc., she has tolerated the treatment very well.

Phyllis is a 68-year-old lady with recurrent carcinoma, previously treated unsuccessfully with Carboplatin chemotherapy. She was referred to Healthcare at Home for home administration of Hycamtin (topotecan) chemotherapy.

Phyllis is a housewife who lives at home with her husband. She has three grown-up children and four grandchildren, and lives approximately ten miles away from her treatment centre.

Phyllis had already had her first treatment of Hycamtin in hospital when she was referred to Hycamtin at Home. Her first treatment had been poorly tolerated mainly due to a hypersensitivity reaction to the antiemetic therapy (anti-sickness medication) which caused muscle twitching. Phyllis found that the journey from home exacerbated this, making the journey extremely traumatic as well as exhausting.

Phyllis was having to rely heavily on her husband for support and to drive her to and from hospital and felt that the experience had disrupted her life for the whole week of treatment.

Phyllis went on to have her remaining five cycles at home which were tolerated extremely well without the need for dose reduction or deferral of treatment.

Both Laura and Phyllis agreed that the benefits of receiving chemotherapy at home were many, but the main benefits included:

*No travelling

*Improved psychological support - close relationships developed between the nurses and the patients

*Increased family time, as Phyllis in particular cared for her grandchildren three days a week

*Increased privacy - home treatment allows privacy, convenience and improved quality of life. The patient can eat and rest when required, in the comfort of her own home.

The most important factor for both ladies was that they knew exactly what time the treatment would be starting, there was no waiting around because of lack of staff to administer the treatment, or, as often happens in hospital, there was 'no bed available'.

The family can continue with their work commitments and social life, alleviating the stress and anxiety which often accompany having time off work for travelling to the hospital for treatment.

Homecare nurses are available to answer questions and give assurance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The patient will always remain under the supervision of her own consultant and nursing staff at all times.

An article on the Caelyx Support Nurse programme will appear in our next issue.