Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN
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J Natl Compr Canc Netw · Apr 2016
Patterns of Palliative Care Consultation Among Elderly Patients With Cancer.
The role of palliative care has expanded over the past several decades, although the oncology-specific regional evolution of this specialty has not been characterized at the population-based level. ⋯ Geographic location influences a patient's options for palliative care in the United States. Although the overall rates of palliative care are increasing, future effort should focus on improving palliative care services in regions with the least access.
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Expanding research interests in molecular profiling over the past several years have led researchers in academia and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to significantly increase their need for access to tissue specimens collected through clinical care and clinical trials. As a result, tissue allocation has become a growing issue for many clinical and translational investigators. ⋯ At the center of the process are the patients, who have increasingly become active partners in the clinical research enterprise as individuals and through highly sophisticated patient advocacy organizations. All stakeholders must recognize that human specimens, including tissue, represent a valuable and unique resource that must have proper acquisition, handling, custodianship, and consent for use in accordance with best practices for biospecimen resources.
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J Natl Compr Canc Netw · Aug 2015
Preoperative Distress Predicts Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Persistent pain after breast cancer treatment (PPBCT) affects 25% to 60% of breast cancer survivors and is recognized as a clinical problem, with 10% to 15% reporting moderate to severe pain several years after treatment. Psychological comorbidity is known to influence pain perception, and evidence links signs of depression and anxiety with development of PPBCT. The purpose of this study was to assess preoperative distress as a predictive factor for development of PPBCT. ⋯ Preoperative distress was associated with PPCBT, suggesting distress as an independent risk factor for PPBCT. Preoperative identification of patients at risk for PPBCT allows for further research in psychological and pharmacological treatment of this condition.
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J Natl Compr Canc Netw · Apr 2015
Delayed recovery and increased severity of Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes.
Although diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognized as a risk factor for chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, its true impact on intensity and time course of peripheral neuropathy is still unclear. The goal was to analyze the relevance of preexisting DM to weekly paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN). ⋯ Significantly more dose delays and reductions because of PIPN occurred in patients with DM. Preexisting DM associates with long-lasting significant PIPN in patients treated with wP. Benefits and risks of long-term significant PIPN should be carefully balanced in patients with DM before starting wP chemotherapy.