The lancet oncology
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2022
Impact of integrated palliative care in acute and aggressive medical care for patients with advanced haematological malignancies: a retrospective matched case-control study.
Aggressive medical care can increase suffering and the health-care burden on patients with advanced haematological malignancies. Our palliative care team has been pioneering an integrated palliative care (IPC) programme for patients with advanced haematological malignancies in Hong Kong since 2018. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of IPC on the administration of chemotherapy or other treatments within the 14 days before death; multiple (more than one) emergency department visits within the 90 days before death; multiple (more than one) unplanned hospitalisations within the 90 days before death; and intensive care unit admission within the 90 days before death. ⋯ None.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2022
Serious health-related suffering in Latin America: a secondary analysis.
Evidence from needs analysis can support health systems and improve morbidity and mortality rates related to life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and is essential for the development of health care and educational plans to respond adequately to the disease burden of the population. The aim of this study was to establish the number of people with serious health-related suffering, defined as a negative impact on the functioning (eg, physical, social, or emotional) of a patient with a serious illness that cannot be mitigated without medical intervention, in 19 Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking Latin American countries in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2019. ⋯ None.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2022
Observational StudyPlace of death of people with cancer in 12 Latin American countries: a total population study using national death registers.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in almost all Latin American countries. Knowing where people with cancer die and understanding the factors that affect where they die are public health issues, relevant for the development of policies that ensure the provision of adequate end-of-life care in alignment with patients' needs and preferences. The objective of this study was to describe and compare the place of death of people with cancer in 12 Latin American countries, and explore associated factors. ⋯ None.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2022
Cancer registry operations in the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic: a report of lessons learned and opportunities identified to support strong and sustainable health systems.
Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) are crucial for cancer prevention and control planning. Building and maintaining resilient information systems within cancer registries that enable consistent and uninterrupted operations during public health emergencies is important. We report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of Caribbean PBCRs, together with opportunities, lessons learned, and strategies to strengthen and sustain PBCR operation and data quality. ⋯ Financial support for the Hub is provided by the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the US National Cancer Institute, with in-kind support from International Agency for Research on Cancer, the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caribbean PBCRs are funded by their respective Governments. This work received no specific funding.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2022
Observational StudyNew strategies for standardised and appropriate access to a complete acute lymphocytic leukaemia diagnostic panel for children in Mexico: an observational study.
Approximately 50% of all childhood cancer cases in Mexico are acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Survival rates are suboptimal when compared with those in high-income countries, and poor access to standardised testing and treatment has been identified as a contributing factor. Mexico in Alliance with St Jude (MAS) is a multisite intersectoral collaboration created in 2016 to improve childhood cancer outcomes. MAS conducted a retrospective analysis of childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemia where diagnostic disparities and risk-group classification emerged as a challenge; 419 (72%) of 578 of patients with confirmed acute lymphocytic leukaemia did not have access supporting fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) testing and 226 (39%) of 578 patients did not have minimal residual disease evaluation. FISH results were reported in a median of 15 days (SD 17) and cytogenetic results were reported after a median of 22 days (SD 27). In response, MAS launched The Bridge Project, in 2019, to improve access, accuracy, and timeliness of diagnostic information for children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia in Mexico. ⋯ Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte (Mexico City, Mexico); Casa de la Amistad para niños con Cáncer (Mexico City, Mexico); St Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, TN, USA).