Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2012
The management of procedural pain at the Italian Centers of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology: state-of-the-art and future directions.
The quality of life of children with cancer can be affected by the experience of cancer-related pain, treatment-related pain, procedural pain, generalized pain, and long-term chronic pain, and the consequences may be permanent. Treatment-related pain and procedural pain are often reportedly the most painful experiences relating to their illness. Procedural pain treatment is therefore now considered essential. This multicenter survey investigated how procedural pain is managed at Italian Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Centers. ⋯ A nationwide multicentre survey has been conducted for the first time to verify the management of procedural pain in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology patients. The results indicate that many aspects in the management of procedural pain appear consistent with the international guidelines. Some problems still remain, including the inability to ensure adequate sedation-analgesia in all the patients--often due to the lack of adequate staff, the frequent use of the operating room, and an underdeveloped use of non-pharmacological therapies.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of two dosing schedules of palonosetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting due to interleukin-2-based biochemotherapy.
Treatment of metastatic melanoma with interleukin-2-based biochemotherapy involves administration of a combination of moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapies over 5 days. Corticosteroids for the prevention of biochemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are contraindicated because they cause lysis of LAK cells produced in response to interleukin-2. Palonosetron is a long-acting, highly potent, second-generation serotonin receptor antagonist. The recommended dosing schedule of palonosetron for the control of CINV due to biochemotherapy is not known. ⋯ Both dosing schedules of palonosetron were tolerated well. Alternate day dosing of palonosetron was more effective in controlling CINV in this patient population.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2012
Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of palonosetron as salvage treatment in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC).
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) palonosetron in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with cancer who had incomplete control of CINV during their previous cycle of low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC). ⋯ Among the patients with cancer who had a history of CINV with LEC, palonosetron was effective in preventing CINV in both the acute and delayed post-chemotherapy phases, and was well tolerated. Randomized comparative studies in larger populations of patients receiving LEC are needed to confirm these findings.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2012
Identification of distinct subgroups of breast cancer patients based on self-reported changes in sleep disturbance.
The purposes of this study were to identify distinct subgroups of patients based on self-reported sleep disturbance prior to through 6 months after breast cancer surgery and evaluate for differences in demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics among these latent classes. ⋯ A high percentage of women has significant sleep disturbance prior to surgery that persists during subsequent treatments (i.e., radiation therapy and chemotherapy). Clinicians need to perform routine assessments and initiate appropriate interventions to improve sleep prior to and following surgery.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2012
A pilot study to examine patient awareness and provider discussion of the impact of cancer treatment on fertility in a registry-based sample of African American women with breast cancer.
Fertility is a concern for many cancer patients diagnosed during their reproductive years. Although African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with early breast cancer (i.e., ≤age 40), little is known about patient awareness of or provider discussion related to fertility in this group. We examined African American women's awareness of the possible impact of cancer treatment on fertility. ⋯ Study results suggest potential health disparities in reproductive health among early-onset breast cancer patients and demonstrate missed clinical opportunities to provide information about fertility that may impact long-term quality of life in early-onset African American breast cancer patients.