EDISCIENCES

ABSTRACT

Abstract Monoclonal antibody inhibitors (mAb) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been shown to improve outcomes for pa- tients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) without RAS gene mutations. However, treatment with anti-EGFR agents can be as- sociated with toxicities of the skin, nails, hair, and eyes. Because these dermatologic toxicities can result in treatment discontinuation and affect patient quality of life, their management is an important focus when administering anti-EGFR mAb. Nurses are professional figure who, in collaboration with other medical specialists, can ma- nage skin toxicity in a proactive and preventive way. This side effect is due to a class of drugs (immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody) that act against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The planning of the nursing activity includes the definition of priorities, the management of patient expectations, the selection of the in- terventions to be carried out and the documentation of the chosen care plan. Proper planning and patient education will result in posi- tive outcomes especially for elderly. Future research should focus on developing symptom management interventions by nurses and employ experimental research designs to examine their effective- ness and feasibility.