Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2017
The influence of dyadic symptom distress on threat appraisals and self-efficacy in advanced cancer and caregiving.
Physical and psychological symptoms experienced by patients with advanced cancer influence their well-being; how patient and family caregiver symptom distress influence each other's well-being is less understood. This study examined the influence of patient and caregiver symptom distress on their threat appraisals and self-efficacy to cope with cancer. ⋯ Patient and caregiver symptom distress influenced their own and in some cases each other's cognitive appraisals. Limitations of this study include the use of cross-sectional data and assessments of individually-focused (vs. family-focused) threat appraisals. These findings highlight the need to consider the management of patient and caregiver symptoms during advanced cancer.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2017
Four-week prehabilitation program is sufficient to modify exercise behaviors and improve preoperative functional walking capacity in patients with colorectal cancer.
High complication rates following colorectal surgery render many patients unable to fully regain functional capacity, thus seriously compromising quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether a 4-week trimodal prehabilitation program (exercise, nutritional supplementation, and counseling on relaxation techniques), implemented during the preoperative period, is sufficient to modify exercise behaviors and improve functional capacity of elderly patients scheduled for colorectal cancer surgery. ⋯ These findings highlight the positive effects of a trimodal prehabilitation program on patients' physical activity levels and functional walking capacity and demonstrate that modifying exercise behaviors and improving physical function within the 4-week preoperative period are an achievable goal.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of lipegfilgrastim compared with placebo in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy: post hoc analysis of elderly versus younger patients.
Lipegfilgrastim, a glycoPEGylated recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), reduces neutropenia duration and febrile neutropenia (FN) incidence in patients with cancer receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. A phase 3 trial of lipegfilgrastim was conducted in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving cisplatin/etoposide (which produces mild-to-moderate myelosuppression). Because patients aged >65 years are at higher risk for FN versus younger patients, this post hoc analysis compared outcomes in elderly (>65 years) versus younger participants in this trial. ⋯ This analysis suggests that in patients with a higher FN risk, such as the elderly patients of this study, lipegfilgrastim reduces not only the duration of severe neutropenia but also the incidence of FN.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2016
Transitions in the labor market after cancer: a comparison of self-employed workers and salaried staff.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the labor market mobility of a population of cancer survivors 2 years after diagnosis differed compared to the French general population by focusing on the differences between self-employed workers and salaried staff. ⋯ French workers surviving cancer face the same difficulties that were observed in the National Cancer Survey of 2004: unemployment and inactivity caused by the diagnosis of cancer. Among cancer survivors, self-employed workers do not seem to be particularly more affected by inactivity than salaried staff. However, unemployment insurance is not compulsory for them, contrary to salaried staff. In this regard, self-employed workers might be a more vulnerable group.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2016
Lymphedema self-care in patients with head and neck cancer: a qualitative study.
Lymphedema is a frequent side effect from head and neck cancer and/or its treatment. As a chronic and progressive condition, it requires an individual's long-term involvement in self-care for management of lymphedema. This study aimed to report head and neck cancer patients' perceived lymphedema education, self-care practices, and suggestions related to self-care of head and neck lymphedema. ⋯ Opportunities exist to improve lymphedema self-care in head and neck cancer patients. Healthcare professionals should focus on delivering high quality and targeted information about self-care for management of head and neck lymphedema. Interventional research is warranted to address gaps in long-term self-care of head and neck lymphedema.