Abstract:

Health workers are exposed to antineoplastic drugs when working in the preparation and management of antineoplastic drugs or in the place where these drugs are used. The development of oncology as a field of expertise in medicine, the increase of chemotherapy doses and combinations given to cancer patients, and the development of a supportive care area to help minimize or protect from the side effects of chemotherapy increase the occupational exposure of nurses to antineoplastic drugs. Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs has many side effects and health problems in healthcare workers. This exposure may cause acute side effects such as skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, alopecia, nail hyperpigmentation, dysuria, and insomnia, or chronic side effects such as infertility, miscarriage, damage to the fetus and embryo, leukemia, and breast cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to evaluate the occupational exposure of nurses working with anti-ineoplastic drugs and the preventive measures.

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