Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2005
ReviewSystematic review of specialist palliative day-care for adults with cancer.
To inform future practice, research and policy in specialist palliative day-care by systematically reviewing the evidence for how the structure and process of this form of care relate to outcomes for adults with cancer. ⋯ There is evidence for high satisfaction among patients selected into day-care, but not yet sufficient to judge whether this improves symptom control or health-related quality of life. Further research should explore selection and access into care, the most effective models of care, its cost, and potential benefits for relatives and carers. Comparison with models of care for older adults and those with mental illness would also be informative.
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2005
Multicenter StudyFactors influencing preferences for place of terminal care and of death among cancer patients and their families in Korea.
This study examined cancer patient and family member preferences-and the reasons for the preferences-regarding place of terminal care and of death. ⋯ A majority of cancer patients preferred to receive terminal care at home. Cancer patients and family members with strong support groups were more likely to prefer the home as the place of terminal care and dying. Hence, improving support networks might increase the proportion of patients receiving home care and dying at home.
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2005
Discussing end-of-life issues with terminally ill cancer patients and their carers: a qualitative study.
Discussing end-of-life issues is of key importance to terminally ill cancer patients and their families, and a challenging topic for both health professionals and patients/carers. There is a lack of research evidence in the literature to guide clinical practice. The objective of this study was to explore the optimal content and phrasing of information when discussing the dying process and end-of-life issues with terminally ill cancer patients and their carers. ⋯ This paper provides strategies, words and phrases which may inform discussions about the process of dying and end-of-life issues. Further research is needed to determine the generalizability of these findings.
-
Support Care Cancer · Jul 2005
Changes in quality of life during palliative chemotherapy for solid cancer.
We conducted this prospective study to assess the changes in quality of life (QOL), anxiety and depression in patients receiving palliative chemotherapy for solid cancers. ⋯ Palliative chemotherapy treatment in patients with solid cancer improved cancer-related symptoms, lessened anxiety and did not disturb the QOL of cancer patients.
-
Support Care Cancer · Jul 2005
Clinical TrialA phase II trial of olanzapine for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a Hoosier Oncology Group study.
In a previous phase I study, olanzapine was demonstrated to be a safe and effective agent for the prevention of delayed emesis in chemotherapy-naïve cancer patients receiving cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and/or cisplatin. Using the maximum tolerated dose of olanzapine in the phase I trial, a phase II trial was performed for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy-naïve patients. The regimen was 5 mg/day of oral olanzapine on the 2 days prior to chemotherapy, 10 mg on the day of chemotherapy, day 1, (added to intravenous granisetron, 10 mcg/kg and dexamethasone 20 mg), and 10 mg/day on days 2-4 after chemotherapy (added to dexamethasone, 8 mg p.o. ⋯ There were no grade 3 or 4 toxicities and no significant pain, fatigue, disturbed sleep, memory changes, dyspnea, lack of appetite, drowsiness, dry mouth, mood changes, or restlessness experienced by the patients. Complete response and control of nausea in subsequent cycles of chemotherapy (25 patients, cycle 2; 25 patients, cycle 3; 21 patients, cycle 4) were equal to or greater than cycle 1. Olanzapine is safe and highly effective in controlling acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.