Cancer is a group of diseases that occurs when an abnormal cell is formed by the genetic mutation of the cellular DNA. These abnormal cells have capability to proliferate abnormally and rapidly and can leads to changes in surrounding tissue. According to World Health Organization there would be estimated that 27 million cases of cancer can be expected for 2030, 17 million deaths from cancer, and 75 million individuals living with cancer each year. There is a successful history of Drugs in treating illnesses, and they are responsible for many of our medical advances. However, virtually all drugs have side effects associated with their use by patients, and nurses also have risk of side effects who handle them. Nurses are at risk of suffering side effects that might result from exposure to even very small concentrations of certain chemotherapeutic drugs. Related studies found the relationship between exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs and acute adverse reactions: urine mutagenicity; skin disorders; fetal loss during the first trimester of pregnancy; spontaneous abortion; malformations and genotoxicity. Organizations such as National Institute for Occupational safety and Health administration (NIOSH), American Society of Hospital Pharmacist (ASHP), the Oncology Nursing Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have recommended safe handling guidelines for chemotherapeutic drugs. All healthcare workers who work with chemotherapeutic drugs have been advised to adhere to these safety guidelines. These guidelines includes proper use of personal protective equipment during reconstitution of chemotherapeutic drugs, administration, spill management, disposal of chemotherapeutic waste and management of accidental exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Keywords: Chemotherapeutic drugs; Oncology; Safe handling; Cancer; Nursing.