Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2014
Bone health issues in breast cancer survivors: a Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) study.
Breast cancer treatments (chemotherapy and hormone therapy) can cause a rapid loss in bone mineral density, leading to osteoporosis and fractures later in life. Fortunately, preventative measures (vitamin D, exercise, etc.) can delay bone loss if employed early enough. This study compares the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related discussions with physicians among female breast cancer survivors and females with no cancer history to determine if breast cancer patients are being correctly advised on their high risk of bone loss. ⋯ A breast cancer diagnosis was associated with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis and falls. Nevertheless, breast cancer respondents were not more likely to discuss osteoporosis with their physician nor were they more likely to be considered high risk for osteoporosis. Increased dialogue between physician and breast cancer patient pertaining to bone loss is needed.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2014
Impact of symptom burden in post-surgical non-small cell lung cancer survivors.
Pain, fatigue, dyspnea, and distress are commonly reported cancer-related symptoms, but few studies have examined the effects of multiple concurrent symptoms in longer-term cancer survivors. We examined the impact of varying degrees of symptom burden on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and performance status in surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivors. ⋯ Two or more clinically significant symptoms are identified as the "tipping point" for showing adverse effects on HRQOL and functioning. This highlights the need for incorporating multiple-symptom assessment into routine clinical practice. Comprehensive symptom management remains an important target of intervention for improved post-treatment HRQOL and functioning among lung cancer survivors.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2014
The symptom burden of non-small cell lung cancer in the USA: a real-world cross-sectional study.
Disease symptom management in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a critical aspect of therapy. The main objective of our study was to assess patient-reported outcomes and the degree of concordance between physician and patient perceptions of symptom severity in advanced NSCLC in the USA. ⋯ Symptom burden in patients with advanced NSCLC is high and has a negative impact on the quality of life. Patient-reported outcomes data could help optimize disease outcomes and therapy management in NSCLC.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2014
Consultation with specialist palliative care services in palliative sedation: considerations of Dutch physicians.
Palliative sedation is considered a normal medical practice by the Royal Dutch Medical Association. Therefore, consultation of an expert is not considered mandatory. The European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) framework for palliative sedation, however, is more stringent: it considers the use of palliative sedation without consulting an expert as injudicious and insists on input from a multi-professional palliative care team. This study investigates the considerations of Dutch physicians concerning consultation about palliative sedation with specialist palliative care services. ⋯ Consultation about palliative sedation with specialist palliative care services is regarded as supportive and helpful when physicians lack expertise. However, Dutch physicians have both practical and theoretical objections against mandatory consultation. Based on the findings in this study, there seems to be little support among Dutch physicians for the EAPC recommendations on obligatory consultation.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyDevelopment and validation of a prognostic scale for hospitalized patients with terminally ill cancer in China.
The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a scale prognostic of survival in hospitalized, terminally ill cancer patients in China. ⋯ We identified eight indicators predictive of poor survival in Chinese patients hospitalized with terminal cancer. A prognostic scale that includes these indicators may help in making decisions about end-of-life care.