European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
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This study presents a prospective evaluation of the home care programme for patients with advanced cancer at the National Cancer Institute of Milan. Demographic, psychosocial and physical variables were evaluated. The Therapy Impact Questionnaire was used for symptom and quality of life assessment. ⋯ Home care is a feasible alternative for implementing palliative care in a selected population of patients with advanced cancer. Palliation of physical symptoms is more easily achieved than the control of psychological suffering. Family and economical issues implied by home care models should be part of the discussion in implementing palliative care for advanced cancer patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A double-blind, randomised comparison of the anti-emetic efficacy of two intravenous doses of dolasetron mesilate and granisetron in patients receiving high dose cisplatin chemotherapy.
This multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised trial was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of single intravenous doses of dolasetron mesilate and granisetron in the prevention of acute emesis and nausea due to high-dose (> or = 80 mg/m2) cisplatin. Single intravenous doses of 1.8 or 2.4 mg/kg of dolasetron mesilate or 3 mg of granisetron hydrochloride were administered in a volume of 50 ml over a 5-min period, beginning 30 min prior to cisplatin (> or = 80 mg/m2) administration. The number and timing of emetic episodes, time to administration of escape anti-emetic medication, severity of nausea by visual analogue scale (VAS), and safety were monitored for 24 h after the start of cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. ⋯ The overall incidences of adverse events were comparable among the treatment groups; headache and diarrhoea were most common. In conclusion, 1.8 and 2.4 mg/kg of dolasetron mesilate and granisetron (3 mg) were equally effective in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by highly emetogenic cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. In addition, because no additional benefit was observed with 2.4 mg/kg of dolasetron mesilate and numerically greater responses were observed with the 1.8 mg/kg dose, the lower dose of 1.8 mg/kg is optimal for further clinical development.
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The aim of this study was to identify patients treated in Great Britain for childhood cancer and subsequently referred for cardiopulmonary transplantation in order to assess diagnosis, cancer treatment, management and outcome. Computerised record linkage between the National Registry of Childhood Tumours and the national transplant database held and maintained by the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority (UKTSSA) was used to identify patients. Verification and clinical details were then obtained from the oncology and transplant centres. 16 patients were identified from the 31992 cases of childhood malignancy diagnosed in Britain since 1970. ⋯ Both heart/lung patients died, 3 and 11 months after the transplant. These heart transplantation data suggest that, in Britain, survival compares favourably with that of patients whose heart transplant was required for other causes of cardiomyopathy. This indicates that patients successfully treated for childhood cancer should not be excluded from transplant programmes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomised trial comparing two doses of the new selective aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (Arimidex) with megestrol acetate in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the new aromatase inhibitor 'ARIMIDEX' (anastrozole) with megestrol acetate in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Anastrozole is a new potent and highly selective non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor. We conducted a prospective randomised trial comparing two doses of anastrozole (1 and 10 mg orally once daily) with megestrol acetate (40 mg orally four times daily) in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer who progressed after prior tamoxifen therapy. ⋯ Anastrozole is an effective and well tolerated treatment for postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer. The higher 10 mg dose did not result in additional clinical benefit, but was well tolerated reflecting the good therapeutic margin with anastrozole. Based on this data, anastrozole 1 mg should be the recommended therapeutic dose.
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Multicenter Study
Spiritual healing among Norwegian hospitalised cancer patients and patients' religious needs and preferences of pastoral services.
In a national questionnaire-based multicentre study, the use of 'alternative medicine', here called non-proven therapy (NPT), was examined. Five questions about the patients' religious beliefs and their preferences concerning pastoral services in the hospitals were included. Among the 911 invited patients, 642 (70.5%) were included in the analysis. ⋯ Women, elderly people and patients using faith healing described themselves more often as religious. 139 (23%) of the responding patients reported a strengthening of their religious belief after the diagnosis of cancer. Patients less than 45 years of age and better educated patients expressed more frequently that all patients should be offered pastoral services during the hospital stay. Older patients, in spite of being more religious, expressed that the patients themselves had to request such services.