Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
-
Support Care Cancer · Jul 2013
Falls and functional impairments in cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): a University of Rochester CCOP study.
This study was conducted in order to characterize the prevalence of falls and functional impairments (FIs) and their association with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in cancer survivors. ⋯ CIPN, primarily motor, is associated with falls and FIs. Future prospective research should investigate the ability of motor neuropathy severity to predict falls.
-
Support Care Cancer · Jul 2013
Multicenter StudyA potentially neuroprotective role for erythropoietin with paclitaxel treatment in ovarian cancer patients: a prospective phase II GINECO trial.
A prospective phase II multicenter study was performed in two steps in paclitaxel-treated ovarian cancer patients in France. A French version of the four-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire was validated. This was then used to evaluate neurotoxicity in relation to erythropoietin treatment. ⋯ The French FACT/GOG-Ntx questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for assessing chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. This study raises the possibility that erythropoietin might play a neuroprotective role when administered with paclitaxel.
-
Support Care Cancer · Jul 2013
Use of cancer therapy at the end of life in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is considered a treatment-resistant disease. We determined the proportion of patients who received treatment in the last month of life and potential factors associated with use of chemotherapy at the end of life. ⋯ Chemotherapy utilisation in the last month of life is not uncommon in this series of MPM patients. Patients who failed previous chemotherapy were more likely to receive chemotherapy near the end of life. More careful consideration of when to cease chemotherapy needs to be made as patients who received chemotherapy at the end of life had poorer survival outcome.
-
Support Care Cancer · Jul 2013
Symptom burden in palliative care patients: perspectives of patients, their family caregivers, and their attending physicians.
The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the perspectives of palliative care patients, their family caregivers, and their attending palliative care specialists on frequency, intensity, distress, and treatment requirement of the patient's physical and psychological symptoms. ⋯ While physicians tended to underestimate, family caregivers tended to overestimate the patient's symptoms. Therefore, adequate symptom treatment can only be successful in a close dialog between patients, their caregivers, and a multidisciplinary team.
-
The purpose of this work is to study the prevalence, intensity, and treatment of pain in Portuguese palliative care teams. ⋯ The general prevalence of pain is similar to that reported by other. The prevalence of moderate to severe pain is also similar to that reported in other studies, although severe pain is somewhat lower than indicated in most reports. According to the PMI, pain control was acceptable to good.