Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialNeuroprotection with amifostine in the first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with carboplatin/paclitaxel-based chemotherapy--a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized phase II study from the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologoie (AGO) Ovarian Cancer Study Group.
Neurotoxicity is a common side effect of platinum/taxane-based therapy of ovarian cancer. We performed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the influence of the cytoprotectant amifostine on the neurotoxicity of first-line therapy of ovarian cancer with paclitaxel/carboplatin with or without epirubicin. ⋯ Amifostine improved sensory neuropathy according to NCI-CTC and with regard to objective neurological assessment, but there were almost no differences in self-estimated specific sensory or motor symptoms. Disadvantages with regard to non-neurological toxicities and inconsistent results for quality of life demand further evaluation of neuroprotection with amifostine as well as alternative approaches to prevent platinum-taxane induced neurotoxicity.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2005
Factors that influence physicians in providing palliative care in rural communities in Taiwan.
To identify the willingness, influencing factors, and educational needs of community physicians in providing palliative care in the rural areas of Taiwan. ⋯ Effective training courses that emphasize the practical knowledge of palliative care for community physicians, incorporating palliative care into medical education particularly in terms of communication skills and ethical roles, and active health policy administration including insurance payments, are important for the enhancement of community palliative care in Taiwan.
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The use of combinations of potent opioids is a common clinical practice. The addition of one potent opioid to another has been recommended to reduce opioid side effects, improve pain control, and limit dose escalation of the first opioid. The advantages of using combined opioids have been reported to be relative to differences in receptor activation versus endocytosis (RAVE). ⋯ The pharmacodynamics of dimers may lead to positive or negative cooperativity when two opioids are combined. The use of multiple opioids in practice can lead to increased risk for dosing errors, reduced patient compliance, increased drug interactions and cost. Opioid combinations should not be used until prospective randomized trials clarify the benefits and safety.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2005
In pursuit of an artful death: discussion of resuscitation status on an inpatient radiation oncology service.
Consensus has emerged among health practitioners, legal experts, clinical ethicists and the public that end-of-life decisions should be the shared responsibility of physicians and patients. In discussion of withholding cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cancer patients, however, opinion remains divided. We performed a quality assurance investigation on the use of the 'do-not-resuscitate' (DNR) order on an inpatient radiation oncology service to determine how often DNR orders are accompanied by a description of informed consent. ⋯ While almost one-third of the patients on this inpatient radiation oncology service had documented DNR status, informed consent appeared to have been obtained in fewer than half. Patient involvement in resuscitative decisions should be an ethical obligation. Performed well, this may also allow for exploration of patients' needs at the end of life, to allow the pursuit of what Nuland terms an 'artful death'.