Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 2012
Comparative StudySymptom clusters in patients with bone metastases--a reanalysis comparing different statistical methods.
The aims of this study were to determine whether symptom clusters in patients with bone metastases varied when derived using three different statistical methods and to compare the presentation of symptom clusters over time in responders and nonresponders to palliative radiation treatment (RT). ⋯ The presence and composition of symptom clusters derived varied depending on which statistical analysis method was employed. A key step in attaining consistency in symptom cluster research necessitates the utilization of a common method.
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 2012
Advance directives: prevalence and attitudes of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
Advance directives (AD) are becoming increasingly widespread. We examine the prevalence of AD and the factors associated with AD in tumor patients during radiotherapy. ⋯ Of advance directives is widely accepted among the tumor patients surveyed. Advanced directives are not exclusively seen as instruments for surrogate decision making, but also as mediums to improve communication. Training of physicians and additional offers for patients could increase the actual number of ADs and perhaps improve physicians and relatives understanding of patients needs and wishes.
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 2012
Physicians' self-assessment of cancer pain treatment skills--more training required.
Adequate pain control is essential in cancer treatment. We surveyed Finnish physicians' perception on their skills and training needs on palliative pain management. ⋯ To have more confidence in treating cancer, pain physicians would benefit in training and education in palliative care. It should be systematically included both in general and specialist training and continuous medical education.
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 2012
Case ReportsSuccessful treatment of intractable hiccups by oral application of lidocaine.
Persistent and intractable hiccups are a rather rare, but distressing gastrointestinal symptom found in palliative care patients. Although several recommendations for treatment are given, hiccups often persist. ⋯ We describe a new pharmacological approach for successfully treating hiccups in four cancer patients. In the first patient, chronic and intractable hiccups lasted for more than 18 months, but disappeared immediately after swallowing a viscous 2 % lidocaine solution for treatment of mucositis. Based on this experience, we successfully treated three further patients suffering from singultus using a lidocaine-containing gel. To our knowledge, this is the first report about managing hiccups by oral application of a lidocaine solution.