The Journal of community and supportive oncology
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J Community Support Oncol · May 2015
Health professionals' attitudes toward the detection and management of cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, and a proposal for standardized assessment.
The identification and management of patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) can be a challenge despite recent international consensus on the definition of the condition. ⋯ Most oncologists and nurses recognize the core criteria for the CACS, although there may be under-recognition of the condition's prevalence, particularly earlier in the course of treatment. There is considerable interest in adopting a brief assessment tool for screening, management, and referral of patients who are affected by or at-risk of CACS.
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J Community Support Oncol · Nov 2014
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and impact on quality of life 6 months after treatment with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major dose-limiting toxicity of cytostatics. With improved survival among cancer patients, CIPN may have a major impact on quality of life (QoL) of cancer survivors. ⋯ After a median follow-up of 6.5 months after cessation of therapy with oxaliplatin or taxanes, CIPN is common and leads to impairment in patient QoL. More research is needed to assess the impact of neurotoxicity on QoL.
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Breast cancer during pregnancy is a therapeutic challenge. Evidence to guide management in metastatic breast cancer during pregnancy is limited, mainly because of a lack of randomized trials. Care needs to be individualized with interdisciplinary collaboration. ⋯ Surgery is also safe after the first trimester. Brain metastasis from breast cancer during pregnancy is an especially challenging clinical situation and has been reported only in one other case. We present the case of a young woman with HER2/neu overexpressed inflammatory breast cancer who became pregnant while on treatment, refused termination of pregnancy, and developed brain metastasis during the second trimester of pregnancy, posing a management dilemma.
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J Community Support Oncol · Aug 2014
Moving beyond the one-size-fits-all formula for breast cancer treatments.
Major advances in the understanding of breast cancer biology have led to new treatment options that have dramatically improved the prognosis for breast cancer patients in the past few decades. Yet, breast cancer remains a signifcant health problem; in 2011 it was estimated that about 2.9 million women were living with breast cancer in the United States and median survival in the metastatic setting is only 2 years. Thus, the development of new and efective treatment options remains a priority. Here, we discuss the most signifcant advances in recent years that are changing oncology practice today and for the future.
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J Community Support Oncol · Jul 2014
Palonosetron versus older 5-HT3 receptor antagonists for nausea prevention in patients receiving chemotherapy: a multistudy analysis.
No clinical standard currently exists for the optimal management of nausea induced by emetogenic chemotherapy, 7particularly delayed nausea. ⋯ Dr Schwartzberg is a consultant to and Dr Cox an employee at Esai. Mr Ballinari is a member of staff at and Dr Thorn consults for Helsinn Healthcare SA. Funding to support this study and the preparation of this manuscript was provided by Eisai Inc.