Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2014
Bridging cross-cultural gaps: monitoring herbal use during chemotherapy in patients referred to integrative medicine consultation in Israel.
The high prevalence of the use of traditional herbs among patients with cancer is a cause for concern with regard to potentially adverse interactions with conventional oncology treatments. In this study, we explore herbal use among patients with cancer in northern Israel who are referred by their health care providers to complementary and traditional medicine (CTM) consultations provided to them within the conventional oncology department. The study's objectives were to identify which herbs patients use and to examine the scope of current research on the efficacy and safety regarding the identified herbs. ⋯ Herbal use by patients with cancer in northern Israel is widespread and calls for further study in order to address issues of safety and effectiveness. We recommend constructing a multinational and multidisciplinary team of researchers with ethnopharmacological and clinical expertise that will explore the use of herbs among patients with cancer in a cross-cultural perspective attuned with patients' affinity to traditional herbal medicine.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAre orange lollies effective in preventing nausea and vomiting related to dimethyl sulfoxide? A multicenter randomized trial.
Nausea and vomiting (NV) related to DMSO affect patients undergoing auto-SCT despite antiemetic measures. Orange flavoring may reduce gastrointestinal symptoms. ⋯ The vasoconstrictive action of ice may prevent NV related to DMSO in the acute phase and reduce the need for rescue antiemetic therapy. Ice lollies offer a simple, noninvasive, and economic means for relieving nausea and vomiting related to this preservative.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
Observational StudyDoes a regional comprehensive palliative care program improve pain in outpatient cancer patients?
Pain is still a major problem for cancer patients, and the effect of a population-based approach on patients' experience of pain is not fully understood. ⋯ The regional palliative care program failed to demonstrate improvement of the pain intensity of cancer outpatients. One possible interpretation is that they are less likely to be regarded as target populations and that the study population experienced generally well-controlled pain. Future study including patients with more severe pain is needed, but to improve pain levels of cancer outpatients, intensive, patient-directed intervention seems to be more promising than region-based intervention.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
Exploring the role of the partner in couples' sexual recovery after surgery for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer survivors' post-surgery sexual problems are well documented and long lasting. Partners' distress in this context leads to psychological morbidity which is poorly understood. Given the prevalence of prostate cancer diagnoses in older men, partners' distress represents a public health concern. This study elucidates an important aspect of partners' distress which has hitherto been undocumented. It can lead to further research and health-care provisions that will support couples in prostate cancer survivorship towards improved mental health and health outcomes. ⋯ Partners' sexual and support needs during couples' sexual recovery after prostatectomy should be acknowledged and addressed as a legitimate aspect of research and care for men recovering from prostatectomy.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyFeasibility and acceptance of electronic monitoring of symptoms and syndromes using a handheld computer in patients with advanced cancer in daily oncology practice.
We investigated the feasibility and acceptance of electronic monitoring of symptoms and syndromes in oncological outpatient clinics using a PALM (handheld computer). ⋯ Electronic symptom and clinical benefit monitoring is feasible in oncology outpatient clinics and perceived as useful by patients, oncology nurses, and oncologists. E-MOSAIC is tested in a prospective randomized trial.