A nurse is caring for a patient who has prostate cancer and is receiving combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and prednisone. The nurse should instruct the patient to report which of the following adverse effects that indicate peripheral neuropathy? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A reason:

Numbness, tingling, or pain in the extremities are signs of peripheral neuropathy, which is a common and serious side effect of thalidomide³. This condition can affect the nerves that control sensation and movement in the arms and legs, and can lead to permanent nerve damage if not treated.

Choice B reason:

Drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion are signs of central nervous system depression, which is a common and serious side effect of thalidomide³. This condition can affect the brain's ability to regulate alertness, cognition, and coordination, and can increase the risk of falls, accidents, and injuries.

Choice C reason:

Constipation, nausea, or vomiting are signs of gastrointestinal distress, which is a common and mild side effect of thalidomide. This condition can affect the digestive system's ability to process food and fluids, and can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalance if not managed.

Choice D reason:

Swelling, redness, or warmth in the legs are not directly related to thalidomide use, but may indicate a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Thalidomide can increase the risk of DVT by affecting the blood's ability to clot normally. A DVT can be lifethreatening if it breaks off and travels to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Choice E reason:

Rash, itching, or hives are signs of allergic reaction, which is a rare but serious side effect of thalidomide³. This condition can affect the skin's immune response to the drug, and can lead to severe skin reactions such as StevensJohnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis if not treated.

Choice A reason:

Epoetin alfa (Epogen) is a drug that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, not platelets⁴. It is used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy, chronic kidney disease, or other conditions.

Choice B reason:

Filgrastim (Neupogen) is a drug that stimulates the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow, not platelets⁴. It is used to prevent or treat neutropenia caused by chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, or other conditions.

Choice C reason:

Sargramostim (Leukine) is a drug that stimulates the production of white blood cells and red blood cells in the bone marrow, not platelets⁴. It is used to prevent or treat neutropenia caused by chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, or other conditions.

Choice D reason:

Oprelvekin (Neumega) is a drug that stimulates the production of platelets in the bone marrow⁴. It is used to prevent or treat thrombocytopenia caused by chemotherapy. It works by mimicking the action of thrombopoietin, a hormone that regulates platelet development.