Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2018
Meta AnalysisGoshajinkigan for prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) limits the dose of chemotherapy and reduces patients' quality of life. Goshajinkigan is a Japanese herbal medicine used to alleviate neuropathy and general pain. A clinical guideline for prevention and management of CIPN stated that the prophylactic efficacy of goshajinkigan against CIPN was inconclusive. We conducted a systematic review to examine whether goshajinkigan prevents CIPN in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. ⋯ Goshajinkigan is unlikely to prevent CIPN in patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy. Given the low quality and insufficient amount of the evidence, use of goshajinkigan as standard of care is not currently recommended.
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of exercise during chemotherapy on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.
Over half of all cancer patients receiving taxane-, platinum-, or vinca alkaloid-based chemotherapy experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which includes numbness, tingling, pain, cold sensitivity, and motor impairment in the hands and feet. CIPN is a dose-limiting toxicity, potentially increasing mortality. There are no FDA-approved drugs to treat CIPN, and behavioral interventions such as exercise are promising yet understudied. This secondary analysis of our nationwide phase III randomized controlled trial of exercise for fatigue examines (1) effects of exercise on CIPN symptoms, (2) factors that predict CIPN symptoms, and (3) factors that moderate effects of exercise on CIPN symptoms. ⋯ Exercise appears to reduce CIPN symptoms in patients receiving taxane-, platinum-, or vinca alkaloid-based chemotherapy. Clinicians should consider prescribing exercise for these patients.
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2018
Assessment of content validity for patient-reported outcome measures used in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review.
Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a chronic condition requiring ongoing treatment and endoscopic examinations that are frequent and can be life-long. To ensure the comprehensive assessment of the benefits and harms of treatments for NMIBC, the impact on important and relevant patient-reported outcomes (PROs) should be determined. We systematically reviewed the NMIBC PRO literature to determine the suitability of available PRO measures (PROMs) for use in evaluating patient outcomes in NMIBC research. ⋯ Currently, some outcomes important in NMIBC are inadequately covered by generic and cancer-specific measures despite similar conceptual models. This review identified gaps in the literature regarding assessment of symptoms and other PROs considered important by NMIBC patients. Careful consideration of PROM item content is required when selecting outcome measures for use in future NMIBC clinical trials to ensure that appropriate measures are used to assess outcomes that matter to patients.
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2018
Adolescent-young adults (AYA) with cancer seeking integrative oncology consultations: demographics, characteristics, and self-reported outcomes.
Integrative Oncology (IO) consultations offer cancer patients counseling regarding complementary integrative medicine (CIM). We explored the CIM interests and symptom burden of AYA cancer patients presenting for an IO consultation. ⋯ AYA patients make up a small number of overall referrals to an IO consultation, presenting with a low to moderate symptom burden. Physical CIM interventions such as yoga and pilates are of greater interest to the AYA population, suggesting the importance of making such interventions available in cancer programs serving this population.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2018
Prevalence of delirium in advanced cancer patients in home care and hospice and outcomes after 1 week of palliative care.
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of delirium in advanced cancer patients admitted to different palliative care services in Italy and possible related factors. The secondary outcome was to assess the changes of delirium after 1 week of palliative care. ⋯ Although the prevalence of delirium seems to be similar to that reported in other acute settings, delirium tended to worsen or poorly responded to a palliative care treatment. Some clinical factors were independently associated with delirium. This information is relevant for decision-making when delirium does not change despite a traditional intervention. Continuous assessment of delirium should be performed in these settings to detect deterioration of cognitive function. Further studies should elucidate whether an earlier approach to palliative care would decrease the prevalence of delirium at a late stage of disease.