Regardless of the stage of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), previously referred to as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, treatment decisions must take into account an individual’s preferences as well as comorbidities, bleeding, the urgency to increase the platelet count, and potential advantages and adverse effects of each treatment.
A preliminary report of a meta-analysis of clinical trials of molecularly targeted therapies shows that they are not benign and can add to the toxicity of standard chemotherapy. In particular, increased rates of oral mucositis and diarrhea are reported with several US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agents. Increased mucositis seen with bevacizumab and erlotinib does not appear to be clinically significant, but severe diarrhea occurs with a number of targeted agents and has a potential impact on quality of life (QOL) and healthcare resource utilization.
A program conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, improved oncology nurses’ awareness of dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer. Sarah Kang, RN, MSN, described the program at the 37th Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society.
An automated computer-based telephone remote monitoring system with a built-in follow-up component involving nurse practitioners (NPs) appears to be feasible and effective for managing cancer patients’ unrelieved symptoms following chemotherapy. A study presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology showed that use of this system during chemotherapy cut the number of days with severe symptoms by two-thirds and the number of moderate symptom days by half, at the same time increasing the number of asymptomatic days and mild symptom days.
With advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the estimated 5-year survival rate for cancer patients has significantly improved to approximately 67%.1 The most common malignancies in men and women in the United States—breast and prostate cancers— have 2 of the highest 5-year survival rates reported, at 90% and 99%, respectively.1 As oncology patients are living longer, bone health has become a pertinent issue in the treatment of both metastatic and nonmetastatic oncology patients.2
Outpatient management of febrile neutropenia is appropriate for carefully selected lowrisk patients, according to Ashley Morris Engemann, PharmD, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, who spoke at the 2012 Pharmacy Program held in Hollywood, Florida, during the 17th Annual Conference of the National Comp - rehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
Engemann noted that treating patients at home is clearly the patient’s preference and is cost saving.
Spring is upon us, and with it comes the prospect of new beginnings with flowers blooming and trees, plants, and bushes budding with the fruits and vegetables of the season. The warm breeze of spring brings motivation to start the “spring cleaning” of our diets. There is no better way to shape up a diet than to start incorporating more cruciferous vegetables into the diet.
Pain is a frequent and pervasive problem for older persons with cancer, affecting approximately 80% of this population.1 Treating older adults with cancer can be complex because of the presence of comorbid conditions that may impact chronic pain.2 Once pain is identified and the cause is known, it is sometimes necessary to target specific pain mechanisms.3 Hence, a comprehensive assessment of each individual patient is essential in order to identify all of the conditions contributing to pain.
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