Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
-
The need to treat dehydration in terminally ill patients has become a very controversial topic. Numerous reports in the literature illustrate opposing view-points from both clinical and ethical perspectives. Arguments for the maintenance of hydration in terminally ill patients have tended to come from "the traditional medical model". ⋯ This review presents a summary of the traditional arguments, a different perspective on the controversy, biochemical parameters reported in terminally ill cancer patients, recent dehydration research, and the use of hypodermoclysis and rectal hydration. We conclude that the data reported to date are insufficient to allow a final conclusion on the benefit or harm of dehydration in terminally ill patients. Nevertheless, it is worth considering that while some dying patients may not suffer any ill effects from dehydration, there may be others who do manifest symptoms, such as confusion or opioid toxicity, that might be alleviated or prevented by parenteral hydration.
-
Support Care Cancer · May 1997
Oral dolasetron mesilate (MDL 73,147EF) for the control of emesis during fractionated total-body irradiation and high-dose cyclophosphamide in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral dolasetron mesilate in the prevention of nausea and vomiting that might otherwise be induced by total-body irradiation (TBI) and high-dose cyclophosphamide. In an open non-comparative study 20 patients who received TBI for 3 days and high-dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for 2 days as part of their preparation for bone marrow transplantation were given oral dolasetron mesilate at dosages ranging from 50 to 200 mg 1 h before each fraction of radiotherapy and cyclophosphamide administration. Initial rescue therapy consisted of intravenous dolasetron mesilate. ⋯ No unexpected abnormalities were observed in haematology, biochemistry or urinalysis, and vital signs were unaffected throughout the study period. The data suggest that oral dolasetron mesilate is effective and safe for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during TBI and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy prior to bone marrow transplantation. Future controlled studies should evaluate combination antiemetic therapy with dolasetron mesilate for this indication.
-
Dyspnea, or breathlessness, is a very distressing and prevalent symptom for patients with terminal cancer. Assessment for this symptom is generally poorly conducted, and it is therefore frequently underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. This paper outlines several tools found in the literature that may be beneficial to us in assessing this symptom. ⋯ We also found that patients experiencing dyspnea were 39% more likely to complain of other symptoms than patients with no shortness of breath and were 55% more likely to report other symptoms as being severe. A short section will also outline the medical and nursing management of dyspnea and will include a discussion of possibly correcting the cause of breathlessness, environmental issues, and pharmacological management of dyspnea. It is advocated that during the terminal stages of a patient's illness, when assessment tools are no longer feasible or possible, that a "breathing comfortably" approach be adopted for patient and family comfort.
-
Support Care Cancer · Mar 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTreatment of cancer chemotherapy-induced toxicity with the pineal hormone melatonin.
Experimental data have suggested that the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) may counteract chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and immunosuppression. In addition, MLT has been shown to inhibit the production of free radicals, which play a part in mediating the toxicity of chemotherapy. A study was therefore performed in an attempt to evaluate the influence of MLT on chemotherapy toxicity. ⋯ Alopecia and vomiting were not influenced by MLT. This pilot study seems to suggest that the concomitant administration of the pineal hormone MLT during chemotherapy may prevent some chemotherapy-induced side-effects, particularly myelosuppression and neuropathy. Evaluation of the impact of MLT on chemotherapy efficacy will be the aim of future clinical investigations.
-
Support Care Cancer · Mar 1997
Scalp cooling in the prevention of alopecia in patients receiving depilating chemotherapy.
To assess any difference in the incidence of alopecia during treatment and of skull metastases during follow-up among breast cancer patients undergoing scalp cooling during chemotherapy and those treated at ambient temperatures. A series of 35 breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were consecutively assigned either to a scalp cooling regimen (19 patients) or to an ambient temperature regimen (16 patients). Hypothermia was administered with electrically cooled caps (SCS II: Amit Technology, Jerusalem) for 1 h after treatment. ⋯ Patient comfort levels were high. Follow-up (median time 14 months) has disclosed no scalp metastases. The implementation of routine scalp hypothermia as part of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, especially in cancers without tendencies to bone metastases, should be seriously considered.