Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialPhase II randomized, controlled trial of 1 day versus 3 days of dexamethasone combined with palonosetron and aprepitant to prevent nausea and vomiting in Japanese breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy.
Dexamethasone, plus a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and an NK-1 receptor antagonist are recommended for controlling the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) of highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Several days of dexamethasone are effective for CINV; however, dexamethasone also has side effects. The purpose of this trial was to investigate whether the use of a second-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and an NK-1 receptor antagonist could allow a reduced dose of dexamethasone for breast cancer patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. ⋯ The results suggest that the antiemetic effect provided by dexamethasone administered for 3 days can be obtained by dexamethasone administered for 1 day.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2016
Differences of symptoms in head and neck cancer patients with and without lymphedema.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are at risk for developing external and internal lymphedema. Currently, no documentation of symptom differences between individuals with and without head and neck lymphedema is available. The purpose of this analysis was to examine symptom differences among HNC patients with and without lymphedema. ⋯ Findings suggest that HNC-related lymphedema may be associated with substantial symptom burden. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to replicate the findings.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2016
Validation of the Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-BM22 in patients with bone metastases.
Our aim is to test the validity, reliability, and acceptability of the Chinese version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bone Metastases 22 (EORTC QLQ-BM22) module to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with bone metastases in China. ⋯ The Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-BM22 is a reliable and valid instrument, which is appropriate for measuring the HRQOL of patients with bone metastases in China.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2016
ReviewInterventional options for the management of refractory cancer pain-what is the evidence?
Pain is the most common symptom in cancer patients. Standard pain treatment according to the WHO three-step analgesic ladder provides effective pain management in approximately 70-90% of cancer patients. Refractory pain is defined as not responding to "standard" treatments. Interventional analgesic techniques can be used in an attempt to control refractory pain in patients in whom conventional analgesic strategies fail to provide effective pain relief or are intolerable due to severe adverse effects. This systematic review aims to provide the latest evidence on interventional refractory pain management in cancer patients. ⋯ Overall, very few RCTs have been conducted on interventional pain techniques. In reality, it is very difficult to undertake large controlled trials for a number of reasons. Therefore, today's best evidence for practice may be from large case series of comparable patients with careful response and toxicity evaluation and follow-up.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2016
Review Case ReportsChemotherapy at end-of-life: an integration of oncology and palliative team.
Palliative chemotherapy is increasingly used in cancer patients near end of life. With the development of newer anticancer agents which have less side effects and higher expected efficacy, the decision on palliative chemotherapy in patients near end of life is complex. This article illustrates how oncologist and palliative care physicians can work together effectively. This article also gives an overview about the risks of palliative chemotherapy near end of life, patients' and physicians' perspectives in choosing the aggressive treatment and describes what an oncologist should do when facing this challenging situation.