Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting most common distressing symptoms in majority of cancer patients

Findings suggest need for improved dialogue between patients receiving chemotherapy and their healthcare team, including pharmacists

Results from two national surveys of patients receiving chemotherapy and pharmacists, conducted by the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) in collaboration with Eisai Inc., found that 83% of patients receiving chemotherapy who have experienced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) believe it is a side effect with which they must live. Results also showed that 95% of cancer patients surveyed believe that CINV has, at some point, had an impact on their daily lives. These national surveys are part of the Time to Talk CINV™ campaign, which aims to increase awareness among patients and caregivers about CINV prevention and the importance of speaking with their pharmacist and full healthcare team about this often preventable side effect.

“The survey results underscore the confusion patients who are undergoing chemotherapy have about CINV and the need for them to understand that there are ways to manage their symptoms so that they do not have to needlessly suffer with CINV,” said Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, President, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) and Director of Pharmacy at the University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin, TX. “It is imperative that patients discuss CINV prevention early in treatment and with all members of the health care team, including pharmacists.”

The patient survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of HOPA and Eisai Inc., involved 400 patients age 18 and over receiving chemotherapy and the pharmacist survey, conducted by HOPA, involved 200 HOPA members. Other key survey findings are highlighted below.

Lack of CINV understanding is widespread:

• Nearly one-third of respondents thought that experiencing CINV was a sign that chemotherapy was working
• Approximately 4 in 5 respondents who have experienced CINV agreed that their CINV was under control if they were not vomiting

CINV has a significant impact on patients’ daily lives:

• Nearly 3 in 4 patients who have experienced CINV said CINV made them want to avoid future cancer treatments and the vast majority said CINV caused them to alter their lives at some point in ways including:
  • More than half of patients (56%) cancelled personal plans
  • Nearly half of patients (46%) changed their eating habits
  • 43% avoided exercise or physical activity
  • 38% called in sick to work

“When I first started receiving chemotherapy, I didn’t realize that the nausea and vomiting I was experiencing 4 to 5 days later, and sometimes during important family events, was something that could be prevented or controlled,” said Mary Van Dyke, an ovarian cancer survivor. “Once I spoke up to my pharmacist about my CINV, we were able to adjust my plan to better prevent it and get me back to enjoying time with my family.”

Pharmacists are looking for ways to improve and increase communication about CINV:

• Nearly 85% of pharmacists said additional materials would help with their communication about CINV with their patients.

“At Eisai, we understand the important role that pharmacists play with patients to advance the goal of preventing CINV,” said Sheryl Lapidus, director, Corporate Advocacy at Eisai, Inc. “As a company dedicated to fulfilling the unmet medical needs of cancer patients and their families, we look forward to working with HOPA to use these survey results as a guide to provide new resources that may help educate patients and their caregivers about CINV prevention.”

In response to these findings, HOPA, in collaboration with Eisai, is launching the Time to Talk CINV campaign to encourage patients going through chemotherapy to talk openly with their pharmacist and full healthcare team in order to understand more about CINV and how it may be prevented. The campaign will include tools designed to help encourage and improve conversations about CINV between pharmacists and patients. The tools will be available early next year.