Oncology nursing forum
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To review strategies to optimize the management of chronic pain in patients with cancer, with an emphasis on the role of opioid analgesics. ⋯ Opioid rotation may be useful for opening the therapeutic window and establishing a more advantageous analgesic-to-toxicity ratio in patients with cancer.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
ReviewOpioids and cancer survivors: issues in side-effect management.
To describe the most common side effects associated with the use of opioid treatment in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain; to discuss research findings specific to the use of opioids for cancer pain in long-term cancer survivors. ⋯ Oncology nurses recognize that patients often require the long-term use of opioids when they experience chronic pain as a result of their disease or its treatment. The long-term physical and cognitive effects of such opioid use are not well known, despite the advances that have been made in cancer pain control and research. Survivors should communicate their concerns about side effects to the treatment team. In addition, patients and family members must be encouraged to inform their providers about personal attitudes, beliefs, and practices that may affect decisions about taking their analgesics as prescribed. Most importantly, oncology nurses must teach patients and their families to self-advocate for optimal pain relief with minimal side effects.
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Oncology nursing forum · Sep 2008
Multicenter StudyExploring patient-physician communication in breast cancer care for African American women following primary treatment.
To investigate patient-physician communication from the patient's perspective about guidelines and sources of information used in developing survivorship care and preferred avenues for information delivery to African American breast cancer survivors. ⋯ The present study's findings highlight the need expressed by breast cancer survivors for comprehensive guidance from healthcare providers in developing plans of care that improve patients' quality of life and target recurrence risk. Guidelines are available for dissemination and use in medical settings; however, the guidelines have not been incorporated into standard medical practice for patients with cancer. Information about long-term follow-up care after primary treatment should target the specific needs of survivors from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds to promote understanding of surveillance to detect recurrence, long-term effects of cancer treatments, and general health maintenance.
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Oncology nursing forum · Sep 2008
Strength, physical activity, and age predict fatigue in older breast cancer survivors.
To determine whether clinical characteristics, physical fitness, or physical activity predict fatigue in older, long-term breast cancer survivors. ⋯ A physical activity program aimed at improving lower body strength could mitigate persistent fatigue in older, long-term breast cancer survivors.
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Oncology nursing forum · Jul 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of exercise on biomarkers, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms in older women with breast cancer receiving hormonal therapy.
To compare the effectiveness of a prescribed home-based walking exercise intervention with usual care in older women receiving hormonal treatment for breast cancer, and to examine relationships among levels of the cortisol, serotonin, interleukin-6, and bilirubin biomarkers and fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms. ⋯ Clinicians need to be aware that older women receiving hormonal treatment for their breast cancer may experience fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms. Homebased walking activity may reduce symptom severity in this group.