Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2017
Outcomes across the return-to-work process in PC survivors attending a rehabilitation measure-results from a prospective study.
Approximately 60% of patients are able to work following a cancer diagnosis. The return-to-work (RTW) process after disability can be conceptualized as a multi-phase construct. This study investigated RTW outcomes throughout the RTW process among survivors of prostate cancer (PC) attending a cancer rehabilitation measure. ⋯ Survivors reported many favorable RTW outcomes, but low SES might be a barrier at various stages of the RTW process. Thus, special attention must be paid to the role of social inequalities during rehabilitation and work reintegration to help survivors managing the RTW process.
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Integration of oncology and palliative care (PC) should be the standard model of care for patients with advanced cancer. An expert panel developed criteria that constitute integration. This study determined whether the PC service within this Health Service, which is considered to be fully "integrated", could be benchmarked against these criteria. ⋯ The integration criteria relating to service delivery are medically focused and do not lend themselves to interdisciplinary review. The objective criteria can be audited and serve both as a benchmark and a basis for improvement activities.
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Immune checkpoint inhibitors, a new class of cancer therapeutic agents, play an important role in the management of melanoma, NSCLC, and other malignancies. A workshop organized by three MASCC Study Groups: Oral Care, Skin Toxicities, and Neutropenia, Infection, and Myelosuppression during the MASCC Annual Meeting held in Adelaide, Australia on 23-25 June, 2016 focused on the new class of anti-cancer therapeutic agents. Topics in the workshop included the mechanism of action and clinical uses of immune anti-CTL4 and anti-PD1 antibodies, checkpoint inhibitor toxicities, including skin adverse events, gastrointestinal toxicities, oral complications, pulmonary toxicities, and endocrinological and immune-related infections. ⋯ Although most irAEs are low-grade and manageable, they have the potential to be life-threatening and extremely severe if not promptly treated. Additionally, irAEs could even lead to death, if managed incorrectly. The MASCC workshop addressed the various irAEs, per organ system, clinical presentation, management recommendations, and individual toxicities.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2017
Review Meta AnalysisEffects of resistance exercise in prostate cancer patients: a meta-analysis.
The aim of the present meta-analysis was to quantify effects of resistance exercise (RE) on physical performance and function, body composition, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and fatigue in patients with prostate cancer. ⋯ RE seems to be a promising approach in order to counteract loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in patients suffering from prostate cancer and its treatment-related side effects. RE should play part in interdisciplinary cancer rehabilitation and care of this patient group. Nevertheless, further research should investigate RE further to determine which protocols are the most pragmatic, yet yielding best patient outcomes.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2017
Impact of dyspnea on advanced cancer patients referred to a palliative radiotherapy clinic.
Dyspnea is a debilitating symptom commonly experienced by advanced cancer patients that can lead to negative effects on function and quality of life (QOL). The present study aims to determine the relationship between dyspnea and other Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) symptoms in palliative cancer patients referred to a radiotherapy clinic. ⋯ Cancer patients often experience dyspnea along with a multitude of other symptoms. Moderate and severe dyspnea should be assessed and optimally managed to reduce functional and QOL debilitations. As presence of increased dyspnea severity is associated with worse overall survival, interventions should occur at the end of life to reduce symptom burden in palliative patients.