Lecture Notes: Doxorubicin Mnemonic for NCLEX

Overview of Doxorubicin

• Chemotherapy agent used to treat a variety of cancers.
• Targets rapidly dividing cells to halt growth and spread of cancer.

Mnemonic: "Dock Rubies"

• Visual Imagery: Fishermen pulling up a crab trap, finding rubies on the dock instead of crabs.
• Symbolism:
  • Crab: Represents cancer (zodiac sign for cancer = crab).
  • Dock Rubies: Sound similar to "doxorubicin" to help remember the drug name.

Clinical Use

• Used primarily in cancer treatment.
• Not required to know the specific mechanism for NCLEX.

General Chemotherapy Side Effects

1. Bone Marrow Suppression

   • Symbol: Decomposing skeleton on rubies (empty, broken bones).
   • Impacts rapidly dividing cells in bone marrow.
   • Leads to:
     • Anemia (reduced red blood cells): Causes pallor and fatigue.
     • Increased risk of infection (reduced white blood cells).
     • Higher risk of bleeding (reduced platelets).

2. Gastrointestinal Disturbances

   • Symbol: Fisherman's apprentice vomiting in disgust (represents nausea).
   • Common due to rapid cell division in gut lining.

Doxorubicin-Specific Side Effects

1. Cardiotoxicity (Heart Damage)

   • Symbol: Ruby heart necklace breaking.
   • Leads to cardiomyopathy (specific form of heart damage).
   • Often administered with dexrazoxane to prevent this effect.

2. Urine Discoloration

   • Symbol: Spilled red cocktail sauce on groin.
   • Causes pinkish or red urine discoloration.
   • Harmless and expected due to drug's red color.
   • Important to inform patients to prevent alarm.

Summary

• Doxorubicin is effective against various cancers.
• Causes general chemotherapy side effects like GI disturbances and bone marrow suppression.
• Specific side effects include cardiotoxicity and harmless urine discoloration.

Note: These notes are based on a mnemonic using visual imagery to help remember key points about doxorubicin for the NCLEX.