Clinical journal of oncology nursing
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The public and healthcare professionals have become increasingly aware and accepting of the benefit in physical, psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients with cancer. Patients with cancer often seek nonpharmacologic interventions to complement conventional care and decrease the pain associated with cancer and its treatment. Most often referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), these supportive therapies consist of a heterogeneous group of modalities used as adjuncts to allopathic health care. ⋯ This critical review of studies of biofield therapies emphasizes research using these modalities to decrease pain in patients with cancer. Although the therapies have demonstrated clinical efficacy, additional research is warranted. Oncology nurses should familiarize themselves with biofield therapies so they can offer informed recommendations to patients with cancer experiencing pain.
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Review Meta Analysis
Exercise interventions for upper-limb dysfunction caused by breast cancer treatment.
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The potential for medication error is great with chemotherapy agents because of their high toxicity profile, small therapeutic index, and numerous dose-limiting adverse effects. The oncology team involved with chemotherapy treatment planning and administration assumes an active role in preventing such events by obtaining and maintaining competency in dose calculations, having knowledge of dose-limiting toxicities, appropriate ordering of drug regimens, and participation in safety verification processes. This article will provide a review of evidence-based formulas and their rationale for use in dosing chemotherapy, case scenarios with practice calculations, and recommendations for safe verification of chemotherapy drug order accuracy.
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Half of all patients with cancer experience some level of pain, so pain management is an important topic for oncology nurses. Pharmacologic measures traditionally are the primary intervention for bone, visceral, neuropathic, and procedural pain; however, many patients are turning to an integrative approach of Western and complementary therapies for pain and symptom management. The authors explored the current evidence concerning the effectiveness of complementary therapies in relation to cancer pain and symptom control.