{"id":8134,"date":"2024-10-07T10:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.bd.com\/iv-news\/?p=8134"},"modified":"2024-10-07T10:09:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T08:09:21","slug":"occupational-cancer-how-you-can-help-reduce-the-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eu.bd.com\/iv-news\/news-innovation\/occupational-cancer-how-you-can-help-reduce-the-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Occupational cancer: How you can help reduce the risk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Healthcare workers (HCWs) who handle hazardous drugs (HDs) or hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) have a highly significant genotoxic risk, which may result in occupational cancer, when compared with control groups.1,2<\/sup> Occupational cancer was responsible for an estimated 53% of all work-related deaths in the European Union (EU) in 2015.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

An important step was taken to help protect HCWs from exposure to HDs with the implementation of the EU Directive 2022\/431 (EU-CMRD)<\/a> and its transposition into the national laws of EU member states.4<\/sup> This is an important milestone for HCWs across Europe.<\/p>\n

Exposure to HD contamination<\/h2>\n

Out of all HCWs exposed to HD contamination in the EU, 40% are nurses, 11% are pathology laboratory technicians and 9% are pharmacists.5 <\/sup>In a study conducted in 12 French hospitals between 2008 and 2012, Ndaw et al. found that nurses and nurse\u2019s aides on oncology wards were more exposed to HDs than pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.6<\/sup><\/p>\n

Exposure can occur through three main routes: oral ingestion, inhalation or dermal contact.7<\/sup> Absorption through the skin has been suggested as the most likely route of exposure in healthcare facilities.8<\/sup><\/p>\n

HD exposure and occupational cancer risk<\/h2>\n

Now, it\u2019s time to understand the link between HD contamination and the risk of developing occupational or work-related cancer. It has been shown that nurses exposed to HDs have an increased risk of developing breast or rectal cancer.9<\/sup> A population-based cohort study in Taiwan demonstrated that male pharmacists have a higher risk of prostate cancer than males in the general population and female pharmacists have a higher risk of breast cancer than females overall.10<\/sup><\/p>\n

An HCW may be exposed to workplace contamination for years or even decades before being diagnosed with cancer.11<\/sup><\/p>\n

More on this topic<\/strong>: Safe handling of hazardous drugs: applying the CMRD in Ireland<\/a><\/p>\n

HCW experience of occupational cancer<\/h2>\n

It can be difficult for HCWs when they become patients.12<\/sup><\/p>\n

As patients with cancer, they may experience:<\/h3>\n