Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
-
Support Care Cancer · Dec 2007
Predictors of short and long-term outcome in patients with hematological disorders admitted to the intensive care unit for a life-threatening complication.
The admission of patients with hematological disorders to the intensive care unit (ICU) involves a complex resource usage and may be associated with high mortality. The decision making to transfer a severely ill patient to the ICU, therefore, presents an ethical dilemma. We assessed both early and long-term outcomes in relation to clinical characteristics with the aim to facilitate clinical decision making. ⋯ The current study provides encouraging results on long-term post-ICU outcome also in elderly patients with hematological diseases. For a substantial proportion of critically ill hematological patients, a short time care at an ICU is lifesaving. These patients should be offered intensive care unless or until it is clear that there is little prospect of recovery from the acute illness or that the underlying malignancy cannot be controlled.
-
Support Care Cancer · Dec 2007
Symptom and medication profiles among cancer patients attending a palliative care clinic.
Patients with advanced cancer frequently experience distressful symptoms and receive numerous medications. We describe the symptomatology and medication profile of ambulatory cancer patients receiving exclusively supportive care at the Princess Margaret Hospital. ⋯ Among patients with advanced cancer not receiving antineoplastic therapy, the most frequent and severe symptoms were fatigue, pain, and lack of appetite. The medication profile represented drugs that could both alleviate and contribute to these symptoms. Audit of patient symptoms and medication prescription in palliative care may inform clinical practice and help the development of research specific to patient symptoms.
-
Support Care Cancer · Dec 2007
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialAn extended maintenance dosing regimen of epoetin alfa 80,000 U every 3 weeks in anemic patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of epoetin alfa (EPO) at an initial dose of 60,000 Units (U) once weekly (QW) followed by extended dosing of 80,000 U every 3 weeks (Q3W) in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). ⋯ These results suggest that initiation of EPO 60,000 U SC QW is effective in the treatment of CIA and that EPO 80,000 U SC Q3W can be an effective extended dosing option.
-
Support Care Cancer · Dec 2007
Dying at home or in an institution: perspectives of Dutch physicians and bereaved relatives.
Previous studies have shown that most people prefer to die at their own home. We investigated whether physicians or bereaved relatives in retrospect differently appreciate the dying of patients in an institution or at home. ⋯ We conclude that most patients' preferences concerning the place of dying can be met. In about half of all cases, patients do not seem to have a clear preference concerning their place of dying, which is apparently not a major concern for many people. We found no indication that dying in an institution or at home involves major differences in the process and quality of dying.
-
Support Care Cancer · Nov 2007
Multicenter StudyPalonosetron plus dexamethasone for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin chemotherapy for germ cell cancer.
The aims of this study were to assess the safety and antiemetic efficacy of multiple-day dosing of palonosetron plus dexamethasone in patients receiving highly emetogenic multiple-day cisplatin-based chemotherapy for germ cell tumors. ⋯ Palonosetron on days 1, 3, and 5, along with a regimen of dexamethasone, was safe and well tolerated and effectively controlled both nausea and emesis in patients undergoing 5-day cisplatin-based chemotherapy for testicular cancer.