Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2016
Review Meta AnalysisUpdate on Prevalence of Pain in Patients with Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Cancer pain has a severe impact on quality of life and is associated with numerous psychosocial responses. Recent studies suggest that treatment of cancer pain has improved during the last decade. ⋯ Despite increased attention on assessment and management, pain continues to be a prevalent symptom in patients with cancer. In the upcoming decade, we need to overcome barriers toward effective pain treatment and develop and implement interventions to optimally manage pain in patients with cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySaw Palmetto for Symptom Management During Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) affect 75%-80% of men undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer. ⋯ SP at 960 mg may be a safe herbal supplement, but its efficacy in managing LUTS during RT needs further investigation.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2016
ReviewFrom "Breakthrough" to "Episodic" Cancer Pain? A European Association for Palliative Care Research Network Expert Delphi Survey Towards a Common Terminology and Classification of Transient Cancer Pain Exacerbations.
Cancer pain can appear with spikes of higher intensity. Breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) is the most common term for the transient exacerbations of pain, but the ability of the nomenclature to capture relevant pain variations and give treatment guidance is questionable. ⋯ Significant transient cancer pain exacerbations include more than just BTCP. Patient input and pain classification are important factors for tailoring treatment.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2016
Burdensome Physical and Depressive Symptoms Predict Heart Failure-Specific Health Status Over One Year.
Heart failure (HF)-specific health status (symptom burden, functional status, and health-related quality of life) is an important patient-reported outcome that is associated with palliative care needs, hospitalizations, and death. ⋯ Burdensome physical and depressive symptoms independently predicted subsequent HF-specific health status in patients with symptomatic HF. Whether addressing these aspects of the patient experience can improve health status and well-being in symptomatic HF should be studied further.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2016
Integrated Onco-Palliative Care Associated with Prolonged Survival Compared to Standard Care for Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Review.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. A large randomized controlled trial in advanced lung cancer found a survival advantage with an early palliative care (EPC) intervention compared to standard oncologic care. ⋯ EPC in advanced lung cancer was associated with a nearly two-month survival advantage compared to standard oncologic care. This finding provides supportive evidence to previously published reports of survival benefit with EPC intervention. Clinical trial participation rates in advanced lung cancer are lacking, and we found more frequent clinical trial participation in the early PC group. No differences were seen in chemotherapy utilization or hospice enrollment. EPC patients' longer hospice length of stay did not compromise survival.