Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
Does perceived control predict Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among patients with lung cancer? A cross-sectional survey.
Scant literature exists on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with lung cancer. Preliminary data indicates that perceived control is an important factor leading patients to CAM. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between perceived control and CAM use in patients with lung cancer. ⋯ Over half of lung cancer patients have used CAM since diagnosis. Greater perceived control over the cause of cancer was associated with CAM use. Given the high prevalence of CAM, it is essential that oncologists caring for patients with lung cancer discuss its use.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
The association of presurgery psychological symptoms with postsurgery pain among cancer patients receiving implantable devices for pain management.
Psychological symptoms are a common part of the cancer pain experience, yet little is known about how these factors relate to implantable device outcomes in patients with cancer pain. The purpose of this study was to examine how psychological symptoms relate to implantable device outcomes in cancer pain management. ⋯ Presurgery psychological symptoms should be considered, along with other medical, psychosocial, and individual characteristics in multidisciplinary treatment planning. Multidisciplinary care which includes aspects of mood management or supportive psychotherapy would likely be beneficial to cancer patients presenting with high psychological symptoms.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
Comparative StudyReferral practices of pediatric oncologists to specialized palliative care.
The aims of this study are to describe the attitudes and referral practices of pediatric oncologists (POs) to specialized palliative care (SPC), and to compare them with those of adult oncologists (AOs). ⋯ Although POs acknowledge the importance of early referral to SPC for children with cancer, there remain resource and attitudinal barriers to overcome in this regard.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
The impact of radiotherapy on quality of life for cancer patients: a longitudinal study.
The aim of this study was to assess for changes in quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy (RT) and to identify factors that influence QOL in this group. ⋯ While RT negatively affects cancer patients' QOL, restoration tends to be rapid and patients report significant improvement by 1 month post-RT. Various patient- and disease-specific factors and RT modality affect QOL in this patient group. We advocate measuring cancer patients' QOL regularly as part of routine patient management.