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Showing 51 - 1002016 Quality Care Symposium: New Triage System Decreases Emergency Room Visits by Oncology Patients in Florida
A quality improvement initiative to reduce patients’ reliance on emergency room (ER) visits to treat cancer treatment side effects has shown to be highly effective, according to early findings from a new study. The strategy, involving a telephone triage service coupled with patient education, ...
Palliative Care Offers Greater Cost Savings for Cancer Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions
Patients with incurable cancer and numerous other serious health conditions who consulted with a palliative care team within 2 days of hospitalization had significant savings in hospital costs, according to a new study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Published by...
CancerCare® Awarded $1.5 Million Grant From Susan G. Komen®
CancerCare, a leading national nonprofit organization providing free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer, has received a $1.5 million grant to assist people diagnosed with breast cancer. The grant will support a CancerCare program in partnership with Susan G. Komen called...
Patient Symptom Surveys Linked to Reduced ER Visits, Improved Survival and Quality of Life
Systematic collection of cancer patients’ symptoms using computer surveys was linked to less frequent emergency room admissions, longer average chemotherapy adherence, greater quality-of-life improvements, and improved survival, according to a new randomized, controlled trial spearheaded by a ...
ASH 2015: Two Studies Focus on Treatment for Cancer-Associated Thrombosis
Two studies presented at the 57th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting examine the common problem of cancer-associated thrombosis. One looked to validate dosing guidelines for avoiding chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, a common autoimmune response to therapy; the second compared ...
Researchers Find Experimental Drug Reduces Ascites With Minimal Side Effects in Preclinical Studies
Women who have ovarian cancer often develop a condition called ascites, which is a buildup of fluids in the abdomen. The most common treatment for ascites is puncturing the abdomen and manually draining the fluid, which is painful, risky, and must be repeated every few weeks. University of...
Yoga Helps Maintain Quality of Life, May Lessen Side Effects in Men Undergoing Prostate Cancer Treatment
Men with prostate cancer who are undergoing radiation therapy can benefit from yoga, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported at the Society for Integrative Oncology’s 12th International Conference. The new, first-of-its-kind study, led...
Researchers Call for Hospitals to Establish Bereavement Programs for Families of Deceased Patients
Backed by a growing body of research, investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are calling for all hospitals to establish bereavement programs for families of deceased patients. In a report published by Morris and Block in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, researchers say such...
Telotristat Etiprate Shows Clinical Benefit in Treating Carcinoid Syndrome in Cancer Patients When Added to Standard of Care
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc's telotristat etiprate was shown to have clinical benefit in treating carcinoid syndrome in cancer patients not adequately controlled by long-acting somatostatin analog therapy, the current standard of care, according to data from the phase III TELESTAR study presented...
ASTRO 2015: Coordinated Radiation Therapy and Palliative Care Based on Patient Feedback Lead to Better Quality of Life, Reduced Health-Care Costs
A collaborative, patient-reported outcome–based approach by palliative care and radiation oncology teams results in better outpatient symptom management and a decrease in end-of-life hospitalizations and costs for late-stage cancer patients, according to research presented by Read et al...
ASTRO 2015: Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Reduces Bowel Side Effects in Cervical Cancer Patients
For cervical cancer patients undergoing postsurgical radiation therapy, image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) resulted in a 14% reduction in moderate-to-severe bowel side effects when compared to conventional three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT), according to...
ASTRO 2015: Frequent Post-Treatment Follow-up by Advance Practice Nurses Improves Care for Patients With High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer
For high-risk patients who receive chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer, frequent follow-up appointments conducted by advance practice nurses (APNs) in a clinical outpatient setting allowed for more intensive symptom management, resulting in fewer post-treatment emergency room visits and...
ASTRO 2015: Patients With Bone Metastases Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Symptom Control Have Lower Pain Flare Rates With Steroid Use
The steroid dexamethasone reduces radiation-induced pain flare in cancer patients with painful bone metastases, according to research presented by Chow et al (Abstract LBA1) October 18, 2015 at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO’s) 57th Annual Meeting in San Antonio,...
Palliative Care 2015: Collaboration Between Radiation Oncologists and Palliative Care Specialists Improves Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer
An innovative service model that partners radiation oncology with palliative care leads to better results for patients, according to a new analysis. The model of care, established at Mount Sinai Medical Center, is one of only a handful in the country. The study (Abstract 110) will be presented at...
WCLC: Results From ROMANA Trials of Anamorelin in Advanced NSCLC Patients With Cachexia
Two phase III studies of anamorelin found that the medication effectively combats wasting and increases body weight and lean body mass in certain patients with lung cancer. Results (Abstract ORAL29.01) from the ROMANA 1 and ROMANA 2 phase III trials of anamorelin were presented at the 16th...
FDA Approves Rolapitant for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rolapitant (Varubi) to prevent delayed-phase chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Rolapitant is approved in adults in combination with other antiemetic agents that prevent nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of...
Fertility Concerns and Side Effects Keep Many Young Women With Breast Cancer From Taking or Completing Tamoxifen
Concerns about fertility kept one-third of young women with breast cancer surveyed in a recent study from taking tamoxifen, despite its known benefit in reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence. In addition, the study found fertility concerns led one-quarter of women who started...
Study Finds Music Therapy Lowers Anxiety During Surgical Breast Biopsies
A first-of-its-kind study published by Bradley Palmer et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that music therapy lessened anxiety for women undergoing surgical breast biopsies for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The 2-year study, conducted at University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center, ...
Researchers Identify Vital Gene for Preserving Gastrointestinal Health During Cancer Treatment
The stem cells in the gut divide so fast that they create a completely new population of epithelial cells every week. However, this quick cell division is also why radiation and chemotherapy wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal systems of patients with cancer, as such therapies target rapidly...
MASCC/ISOO 2015: Phase III Study of Single-Dose Fosaprepitant Dimeglumine in Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Researchers from Merck presented results from a phase III study investigating the safety and efficacy of single-dose fosaprepitant dimeglumine (Emend) for injection, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, in combination with other antivomiting medicines, for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced...
ESMO World GI 2015: SENRI Trial Evaluates NK1 Antagonists for Emesis Prevention in Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy
The SENRI trial has opened the window to evaluate neurokinin 1 (NK1) antagonists for emesis prevention in patients taking oxaliplatin chemotherapy, said European Society for Medical Oncology World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (ESMO) spokesperson and antiemetics expert Fausto Roila, MD....
Latina Patients With Breast Cancer Need More Culturally Relevant, Language-Specific Stress Management Tools
It is estimated that one of every three Latina women will be diagnosed with cancer during her lifetime. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers, along with collaborators at the University of South Florida, recently published a study about the attitudes and cultural perspectives of Latinas undergoing...
Study Supports Early Intervention for Prostate Cancer Patients Who Experience Significant Emotional Distress
A study led by the University at Buffalo (UB) and Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has identified beliefs and personality traits associated with higher levels of distress in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. The findings support the value of emotional and informational support for...
Study Recommends Brain Cancer Patients Be Screened for Depression
Depression in brain cancer patients is a common but often overlooked condition, and oncologists should regularly screen tumor patients for depression, according to an article by Pranckeviciene and Bunevicius in CNS Oncology. The authors, both of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences,...
Long-Term Study Shows Stress Management Techniques Improve Mood and Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients
A new study showed that providing women with skills to manage stress early in their breast cancer treatment can improve their mood and quality of life many years later. Published by Stagl et al in Cancer, the findings suggest that women given the opportunity to learn stress management techniques...
Inherited Gene Variation Leaves Young Leukemia Patients at Risk for Peripheral Neuropathy
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have identified the first genetic variation that is associated with an increased risk and severity of peripheral neuropathy following treatment with a widely used anticancer drug. Investigators also found evidence of how it may be possible to...
Study Identifies Eight Signs Associated With Impending Death in Cancer Patients
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified eight highly specific physical and cognitive signs associated with imminent death in cancer patients. The findings, published by Hui et al in Cancer, could offer clinicians the ability to better communicate with...
FDA Approves Denosumab for the Treatment of Hypercalcemia of Malignancy Refractory to Bisphosphonate Therapy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new indication for denosumab (Xgeva) for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy refractory to bisphosphonate therapy. Denosumab was approved and granted Orphan Drug designation by the FDA, which is reserved for drugs that are intended for...
FDA Approves Extended-Release, Single-Entity Hydrocodone Product With Abuse-Deterrent Properties
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved hydrocodone bitartrate (Hysingla ER), an extended-release opioid analgesic to treat pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. The product...
‘Smart Technology’ System for Home Hospice Symptom Management and Care Helps Both Patients With Cancer and Family Caregivers
Early findings from a study of 319 families suggest that use of an innovative, telephone-based symptom monitoring and coaching system during home hospice care leads to significantly decreased patient symptoms in the final weeks of life. The findings will be presented at the 2014 Palliative Care in...
Partnership Between Medical Oncologists and Palliative Care Specialists Improves Outcomes at an Inpatient Oncology Unit
First evaluation of a pioneering “co-rounding” partnership between medical oncologists and palliative care specialists at Duke University Medical Center shows improvements in both health system–related and patient-related outcomes. The first year of the new partnership—set...
Having Dependent Children Motivates Parents With Advanced Cancer to Pursue More Aggressive, Life-Extending Treatments
Findings from a pilot study of 42 parents with advanced cancer indicate that parental status is an important factor in treatment decision-making. When asked how having children influences their treatment decisions, the majority of parents (64%) responded that being a parent motivates them to pursue ...
Single-Day Education Program Mitigates Psychosexual Side Effects of Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy
More women are undergoing salpingo-oophorectomy as a cancer prevention measure, but many are unaware of the potential sexual or psychological side effects of the procedure. A new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute demonstrated that a half-day educational program can help ...
FDA Approves Netupitant and Palonosetron Combination Capsule for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved a combination of netupitant and palonosetron (Akynzeo) to treat nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. The new drug, also known as NEPA, is a fixed-combination capsule comprised of two agents: oral palonosetron,...
Acupuncture Provides Significant Quality-of-Life Improvements Among Breast Cancer Patients With Aromatase Inhibitor–Related Joint Pain
Use of electroacupuncture—a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles—produces significant improvements in fatigue, anxiety, and depression in as little as 8 weeks for early-stage breast cancer patients experiencing joint pain...
Blocking Tumor-Derived Protein Halts Cachexia in Preclinical Study
New research raises the prospect of more effective treatments for cachexia, a profound wasting of fat and muscle occurring in about half of all cancer patients, raising their risk of death, according to scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In a study reported in Nature, Spiegelman et al...
FDA Approves Palonosetron Hydrochloride to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved palonosetron hydrochloride (Aloxi) injection for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, including highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, in children aged 1...
ASCO Releases Adapted Guideline on Screening, Assessment, and Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer
A majority of cancer patients experience some level of fatigue during their course of treatment, and approximately 30% contend with persistent fatigue for years after treatment. Fatigue is among the most common and distressing long-term effects of cancer treatment and significantly affects patient...
Experts Call for More Awareness of Sexual Dysfunction in Lung Cancer Patients
Many lung cancer patients suffer difficulties with sexual expression and intimacy, yet for too long the topic has been ignored by doctors and researchers, experts said at the 4th European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) in Geneva, Switzerland. Researchers have estimated that sexual dysfunction...
NCCN Cancer Survivorship Guidelines Expanded to Address Two Common Conditions
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has expanded its Survivorship Guidelines to include a section on cancer-associated cognitive impairment, and to include chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy as a component of the Adult Cancer Pain section. The inaugural guidelines for...
Epigenetic Imprint of Chemotherapy Linked to Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors
Many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue and other debilitating symptoms that persist months to years after their course of treatment has ended. Now researchers at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have found clues that may explain how these symptoms can linger. Chemotherapy...
Teenagers and Young Adults Diagnosed With Cancer Are at Increased Risk of Suicide
Teenagers and young adults are at increased risk of suicide after being diagnosed with cancer, according to a study published today in Annals of Oncology. A study of nearly 8 million Swedes aged 15 and over found that among the 12,669 young people diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and...
FDA Approves First Extended-Release, Single-Entity Hydrocodone Product
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release capsules (Zohydro ER) for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. The drug, a Schedule ...
Abiraterone Acetate/Prednisone Combination Delays Decline in Quality of Life in Men With Metastatic Prostate Cancer
According to a study published in The Lancet Oncology, abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) taken in conjunction with prednisone significantly delays progression of pain and quality of life deterioration in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study was led by Ethan Basch, MD,...
FDA Announces Class-Wide Safety Labeling Changes for Long-Acting Opioid Analgesics to Combat Abuse
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced class-wide safety labeling changes and new postmarketing study requirements for all extended-release and long-acting opioid analgesics intended to treat pain. “The FDA is invoking its authority to require safety labeling changes and ...
Swallowing Exercises Preserve Function in Patients Receiving Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer
A study from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) has found that patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation as part of their treatment were less likely to suffer unwanted side effects such as worsening of diet, need for a feeding tube, or narrowing of the throat passage if...
Integrative Medicine Interventions Found to Significantly Reduce Pain, Improve Quality of Life
An integrative approach to treating chronic pain significantly reduced pain severity and improved mood and quality of life, according to a new study from the Bravewell Practice-based Research Network (BraveNet) published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Researchers found a reduction...
Oral Apixaban Lowers Rates of Major Bleeding in Patients with Acute Venous Thromboembolism
Single-agent apixaban (Eliquis) may simplify the treatment of patients with acute venous thromboembolism, according to a new study published online in The New England Journal of Medicine. In the phase III AMPLIFY trial, the oral factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulant was found to be as effective as ...
ASCO 2013: Adapting to Ongoing Shortages of Common Cancer Drugs
A survey of 214 U.S. oncologists and hematologists found that more than 80% encountered cancer drug shortages between March and September of 2012, and many reported that shortages affected the quality of patient care they were able to provide. As physicians were forced to substitute more expensive...
Antidepressant Helps Relieve Pain from Chemotherapy, Study Finds
The antidepressant drug duloxetine (Cymbalta) helped relieve painful numbness and tingling feelings caused by chemotherapy in 59% of patients, a new study finds. This is the first clinical trial to find an effective treatment for this pain. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common...
