Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
Cognitive impairment in a subset of breast cancer patients following systemic therapy - results from a longitudinal study.
Studies indicate adverse effects of breast cancer (BC) and cancer treatment on cognitive function. ⋯ Our findings indicate that cognitive impairment after systemic treatment occurs in a subset of BC patients. The predictive value of demographic and psychosocial factors in cognitive impairment should be further investigated in a larger sample of impaired patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
No Differences in Symptom Burden Between Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Curative versus Palliative Chemotherapy.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Patients with CRC may have multiple cooccurring symptoms as a result of their disease or its treatment. Little is known about potential differences in symptom burden in CRC patients scheduled to receive curative versus palliative chemotherapy (CTX). ⋯ Regardless of the reason for CTX, CRC patients experience a large number of cooccurring symptoms.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
Death-related anxiety in patients with advanced cancer: Validation of the German version of the Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS-G).
Distress and anxiety about issues related to death and dying is commonly experienced in patients with advanced disease and a limited life expectancy. ⋯ Results provide further evidence that the DADDS-G is a valid and reliable instrument of high clinical relevance for use in patients with advanced cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
Reasons for End-of-Life Hospital Admissions: Results of a Survey Among Family Physicians.
Although the acute hospital setting is not considered to be an ideal place of death, many people are admitted to hospital at the end of life. ⋯ To reduce the number of hospital deaths, a combination of structural support for out-of-hospital end-of-life care and a more timely referral to out-of-hospital palliative care services may be needed.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
The Impact of Plasma Cholinergic Enzyme Activity and Other Risk Factors for the Development of Delirium in Patients Receiving Palliative Care.
Delirium is an important complication in palliative care patients. One of the potential risk factors for cognitive disorders is deterioration in cholinergic neurotransmission. Anticholinergic medications are known to be important owing to the association of their metabolites with significant morbidity, which is often the result of cumulative effects of medications (anticholinergic burden). Additionally, cholinergic enzymes are possible candidates reflecting the cholinergic situation in patients. However, the role of cholinesterases (CHE) for delirium in palliative care patients is unknown. ⋯ Special care might be necessary with anticholinergic medication to minimize risk for delirium in palliative cancer patients.