Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Physical exercise and therapy in terminally ill cancer patients: a retrospective feasibility analysis.
Physical exercise (PE) and/or therapy (PT) shows beneficial effects in advanced cancer patients and is increasingly implemented in hospice and palliative care, although systematic data are rare. This retrospective study systematically evaluated the feasibility of PE/PT in terminally ill cancer patients and of different modalities in correspondence to socio-demographic and disease- and care-related aspects. ⋯ PE/PT were feasible in >90 % of terminally ill cancer patients to whom PE/PT had been offered. Physical exercises, relaxation therapy, and breathing training were the most frequently applicable methods. Prospective trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of specific PE/PT programs in terminally ill cancer patients.
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Spiritual care is reported as important for cancer patients, but the role of the doctor in its provision is unclear. We undertook to understand the nature of spiritual support for Australian cancer patients and their preferences regarding spiritual care from doctors. ⋯ Spirituality is a universal phenomenon. Patients in a secular society want their doctor to take an interest in their spiritual support and facilitate access to it during illness.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyOral alpha-lipoic acid to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is frequently a dose-limiting factor in cancer treatment and may cause pain and irreversible function loss in cancer survivors. We tested whether alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) could decrease the severity of peripheral neuropathy symptoms in patients undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy. ⋯ This strategy of oral ALA administration was ineffective at preventing neurotoxicity caused by oxaliplatin or cisplatin. High attrition rates due to poor patient compliance and manner of dosage administration in this trial demonstrated a lack of feasibility for this intervention. Future studies to explore ALA as a neuroprotective agent should take heed of the barriers confronted in this study.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialCryotherapy for docetaxel-induced hand and nail toxicity: randomised control trial.
This study investigated the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy, in the form of frozen gel gloves, in relation to docetaxel-induced hand and fingernail toxicities. ⋯ While cryotherapy in the form of frozen gloves for the cutaneous toxicities associated with docetaxel is safe, its limited efficacy, patient discomfort and some logistical issues preclude its use in our clinical setting.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialPreferences for aggressive care in underserved populations with advanced-stage lung cancer: looking beyond race and resuscitation.
This paper examines the relationship between race, religiousness, spiritual well-being, antitumor treatment and preference for aggressive care among Black and White patients with advanced stage lung cancer receiving ambulatory cancer care in an urban setting. ⋯ After controlling for multiple factors, race was associated only with CPR, but not with other measures of preference for aggressive care. In addition, receipt of active antitumor treatment was positively associated with preference for CPR and spiritual well-being was important to setting end-of-life care goals and perspectives. Future directions for tailoring end-of-life care decision-making initiatives should move beyond race and discussions of CPR alone and focus on a full spectrum of patient beliefs and preferences at the end of life.