Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Feb 2012
Controlled Clinical TrialManaging chronic pain: results from an open-label study using MC5-A Calmare® device.
Despite state-of-the-art therapeutic strategies for pain, some types of chronic pain remain difficult to treat. We evaluated the effectiveness of an innovative neuromodulative approach to the treatment of chronic pain using electrical stimulus integrated with pharmacological support. ⋯ Our preliminary results suggest that cutaneous electrostimulation with the MC5-A Calmare© can be hypothesized as part of a multimodality approach to the treatment of chronic pain. Further studies on larger numbers of patients are needed to assess its efficacy, to quantify the effects of inter-operator variability, and to compare results obtained from the active device versus those from a sham machine.
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Support Care Cancer · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized controlled pilot trial of yoga in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: effects on quality of life and anthropometric measures.
To obtain estimates of time to recruit the study sample, retention, facility-based class attendance and home practice for a study of yoga in breast cancer survivors, and its efficacy on fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and weight change. ⋯ This study provides important information regarding recruitment, retention, and practice levels achieved during a 6-month, intensive yoga intervention in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors. Yoga may help decrease waist circumference and improve quality of life; future studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Support Care Cancer · Feb 2012
Body mass index and annual increase of body mass index in long-term childhood cancer survivors; relationship to treatment.
Evaluation of body mass index (BMI) at final height (FH) and annual BMI increase in adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS) after treatment with anthracyclines, platinum, and/or radiotherapy. ⋯ After treatment with anthracyclines, platinum, and/or radiotherapy, CRT-treated survivors have more overweight at FH, and a greater annual BMI increase, while anthracycline-treated survivors have more underweight at FH and a lower annual BMI increase.
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Support Care Cancer · Feb 2012
Characteristics and correlates of sleep disturbances in cancer patients.
Few studies of sleep disturbances in cancer patients have focused on the period before chemotherapy starts. Understanding sleep disturbances in this period is important since early intervention has the potential to reduce the severity or chronicity of these problems. The present study sought to characterize sleep disturbances in this period, examine if they could be predicted by demographic, clinical, or lifestyle factors, and identify their relationship to fatigue, depression, and physical and mental well-being. ⋯ Sleep disturbances are common before the start of chemotherapy and contribute to poorer physical well-being independent of fatigue and depression. Demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables had limited value in predicting sleep disturbances. However, depression and fatigue were highly correlated with sleep. Future research should seek to identify common etiological factors (e.g., cytokine production) and implement longitudinal designs to examine temporal relationships among these three symptoms in cancer patients.
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Support Care Cancer · Feb 2012
Opioid-taking self-efficacy amongst Taiwanese outpatients with cancer.
The purpose of this study was to describe the level of opioid-taking self-efficacy amongst Taiwanese outpatients with cancer pain, and to examine the associations between various demographic and medical characteristics and opioid-taking self-efficacy. ⋯ The results of this study suggest it is important to understand how patients perceive their ability to perform key tasks associated with effective opioid-taking, to effectively tailor educational and supportive interventions. Patients with lower levels of education and with side effects of opioids may be at risk of lower self-efficacy, requiring particular attention.