Annals of palliative medicine最新文献

Background and objective: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer among women, with over 2.3 million women being diagnosed in 2022. In addition to the emotional and physical toll that comes with a new cancer diagnosis, treatments such as chemotherapies, endocrine therapies, and radiation therapies may cause undesirable side effects. Side effects from cancer treatments can be detrimental to the quality of life of patients and their support systems. This narrative review consolidates current research on the impacts of alopecia on breast cancer survivors and provides a comprehensive overview of the various preventative options and treatments available.

Methods: Current literature on alopecia and breast cancer was searched using PubMed and Google Scholar. The search strategy utilized a combination of keywords related to breast cancer, alopecia, body image, and alopecia prevention and treatment. Retrievable and English articles from January 2000 to April 2024 were included in the review.

Key content and findings: Women with breast cancer cited alopecia, or hair loss, as the third-most undesirable side effect from chemotherapy, only trailing behind nausea and vomiting. Other studies have further supported this notion, expressing that alopecia negatively impacts patients' body image, social functioning, and sense of self. Further research has indicated that alopecia could hinder individuals from accessing essential cancer therapies. Breast cancer patients use a variety of coping strategies for cancer treatment-induced alopecia, including preventive measures, treatments to accelerate hair regrowth, camouflaging tools, and psychosocial supports.

Conclusions: Alopecia, as a result of cancer treatment, has many significant and distressing effects on breast cancer patients. Customized interventions may help breast cancer patients feel more comfortable about themselves, after experiencing chemotherapy-induced alopecia. These findings indicate the need for further research on preventative options and treatments for cancer treatment-induced alopecia.

Breast cancer survival rates have shown notable improvements over the years thanks to advancements in detection, treatment modalities, and supportive care. However, survivors often encounter challenges when reintegrating into daily life and managing persistent physical and psychological concerns. This review article aims to delve into the multifaceted emotional complexities faced by survivors, encompassing a spectrum of issues from fear of recurrence to body image insecurities, thus emphasizing the imperative for comprehensive support. Articles were reviewed through searches of PubMed and through searches of the author's own file. We will examine not only the risk factors contributing to heightened psychological distress but also the periods of vulnerability and the most common unmet needs encountered by these individuals. Additionally, we will discuss various psychological interventions and strategies designed to promote resilience and enhance the quality of life post-diagnosis. Furthermore, we will underscore the pressing need for ongoing, specific research endeavors aimed at addressing the long-term psychological impacts of cancer recurrence on survivorship. By shedding light on these critical aspects, we aim not only to provide insight into the challenges faced by survivors but also to advocate for the importance of integrating comprehensive psychological support into survivorship care. Through this thorough exploration, we seek to empower both survivors and healthcare professionals alike, facilitating a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in the breast cancer survivorship journey. Ultimately, our aim is to highlight the crucial aspects that must be considered by healthcare professionals in providing holistic care to breast cancer survivors.

Breast cancer (BC) diagnoses not only present physical challenges but profoundly affect survivors' psychosocial well-being leading to sexual health challenges. This clinical practice review aimed to discuss the current literature and outline the knowledge gaps related to care for sexual health after BC, including survivors' sexual health concerns, as well as available prospective surveillance programs. Current literature on the sexual health challenges of BC survivors was identified and sorted into contributing factors, treatments and interventions, and practice recommendations. This evidence was then used to identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations for future research. BC survivors experience a variety of physical symptoms, such as pain during sex or dyspareunia, which impair sexual well-being. Additionally, dissatisfaction with sexual function may arise due to psychosocial stressors (e.g., depression or body image concerns) and the inverse may worsen psychological well-being. Treatments can have lasting effects that may impact sexual function, often reciprocally related to physical and psychosocial factors. Current treatments for sexual dysfunction involve topical products for vaginal symptoms (e.g., creams, pH-balanced gels, hyaluronic acid or vitamin E suppositories, natural oils, topical estrogen, or lubricants) and various counseling and educational interventions (e.g., mental health counseling, sex therapy, or couples-based psychotherapy). There is a general lack of research considering the ways in which intersectional concerns can impact sexual health experiences after BC. Existing studies do not often consider potential differences in needs that may arise due to ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic background. To address these limitations a significant paradigm shift in survivorship care. This requires moving beyond disease management towards a more holistic, comprehensive, patient-centered approach prioritizing comfort and sexual well-being.

Background: Over half the countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are experiencing conflict or are socially fragile, compromising cancer care. Nonetheless, throughout the EMR, competent nurses are major players in the cancer care team. The aim of this paper is to portray the challenges and opportunities for oncology nursing in the EMR.

Methods: This paper draws upon the relevant literature on oncology nursing across EMR with a focus on Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somaliland, and Iran. To enhance the scant nursing literature and obtain real-life experiences, short interviews were undertaken with nine nurses and two doctors, personal contacts of the authors, working in cancer care in those countries.

Results: Against the general background of vast economic constraints in health services, the lack of recognition of oncology nursing as a speciality and high rates of nurse migration, many oncology nurses in EMR are fighting for professional recognition and some are working under unsafe conditions. Undeterred by these circumstances, nurses are making every effort to care compassionately for people with cancer.

Conclusions: The perspectives of the cancer workforce in EMR both foster an appreciation of cultural diversity and provide the evidence and motivation for oncology nurses worldwide to further collaborate via global nursing organisations to strive for country-specific recognition and change in nursing practice.

Background: Cultural competence is important in approaching serious illness communication with diverse patients about goals of care. Culture colors patients' perspectives on many healthcare issues, including end-of-life care, and impacts how clinicians make decisions with patients. Communication about serious neurological illnesses can be additionally challenging due to disease impact on patients' cognition and decision-making abilities. We aim to understand provider experiences regarding cross-cultural serious neurological illness communication with diverse patients and families.

Methods: Using non-stratified purposive and snowball sampling, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 multidisciplinary participants, including neurosurgeons, neurologists, and social workers, who provide care for patients diagnosed with serious neurological disorders, at three hospital settings between 2021 and 2022. We used standard qualitative content analysis methods with dual review.

Results: Five themes reflected provider perspectives about serious neurological illness communication with diverse patients and families. Theme 1: providers recognize that patients' personal biases and lived experiences impact attitudes about healthcare and communication. Theme 2: challenges in communication can arise when providers miss chances to identify important cultural values. Theme 3: understanding how to engage with family members is important for effective communication about serious neurological illness. Theme 4: providers want to accommodate patients. Theme 5: cultivating trust builds a strong patient-provider partnership, even when racial or cultural discordance is present.

Conclusions: Our study highlights elements of cross-cultural communication and opportunities for providers to approach diverse patients and families within a racial or culturally discordant context. Effective communication, fostered through respecting individual experiences and variation, eliciting cultural perspectives, engaging family, and cultivating trust reflects processes and learned skills required of high-quality teams caring for patients with serious neurological conditions.

Background: Inoperable malignant bowel obstruction, which results in chronic nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, often requires nasogastric tube decompression. However, these tubes are often uncomfortable for patients and require hospitalization during the end-of-life care. Cervical esophago-gastric (CEG) decompression tubes are a potential palliative solution. The objective of this study is to present the outcomes of CEG tubes in 11 patients with malignant bowel obstruction.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients requiring nasogastric tube decompression who received CEG decompression tubes for inoperable malignant bowel obstructions between 2016-2022. CEG tube placement was performed percutaneously through the left neck using a guidewire and an endoscopic technique.

Results: The average age of patients was 58 years (31-72 years), with metastatic colorectal cancer (36.4%) and ovarian cancer (27.3%) being the most common causes of malignant bowel obstruction. All procedures were completed percutaneously, without requiring conversion to open procedures. The morbidity of the procedure was 27%, which included tube dislodgement, local cellulitis, or bleeding at the insertion site. None of the patients required reoperation, with most of the patients successfully treated conservatively. Most patients were discharged home after the procedure (82%); however, 45% were readmitted (mostly due to abdominal pain). Most patients (73%) were able to continue additional chemotherapy after tube placement. The average survival from cancer diagnosis was approximately six months, whereas the average survival after the procedure was about four months. No mortalities occurred due to CEG tube placement.

Conclusions: A CEG decompression tube is safe for patients with malignant bowel obstruction. The procedure allows patients to undergo additional chemotherapy and be discharged home with a more comfortable tube.

Background and objective: With the significant advances in breast cancer treatment, the survival rates have improved. Consequently, improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors has emerged an important issue. In this study, we examined the management of post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) in breast cancer patients thorough a comprehensive literature review. We introduce the preventive measures and pharmacotherapy for PMPS in breast cancer patients and discuss the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions.

Methods: We conducted a literature search for relevant articles in Medline ALL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and nine other databases from October 2023 to January 2024. Chronic pain was defined as pain persisting for more than 3 months after breast cancer surgery. The search included terms related to PMPS, psychological interventions, and breast cancer. Data extraction was done independently by two reviewers, and any discrepancies will be discussed to ensure consensus or by a third reviewer.

Key content and findings: Studies have investigated surgical anesthetics, postoperative medications, and surgical procedures for PMPS prevention, but few have focused on treatment. Our literature search about the usefulness of psychosocial interventions yielded two articles, one was about the usefulness of mindfulness and the other was about the efficacy of yoga.

Conclusions: Mindfulness and yoga show potential efficacy for PMPS treatment, but the evidence is limited. More research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore other psychosocial interventions.

Background and objective: Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) face unique survivorship challenges due to being diagnosed at a more vulnerable stage in life and receiving gonadotoxic and/or antiestrogen therapy during their reproductive years. The purpose of this article is to elaborate on these challenges and demonstrate how specialized supportive care programs tailored specifically for YWBC, can greatly facilitate the provision of interventions to address these challenges.

Methods: The databases used were PubMed and Medline. Articles included those that involve young women with breast cancer and survivorship care needs.

Key content and findings: Compared to older breast cancer patients, YWBC generally require more aggressive treatments and are more likely to have a hereditary basis for their disease. Common challenges include childbearing concerns, premature menopause, body image issues, excessive fear of cancer recurrence, difficulties with intimate relationships, and financial toxicity. A possible solution to addressing these needs are longitudinal care in a specialized supportive care program, such as the PYNK Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Examples of such interventions include fast-tracking fertility preservation, aggressive management of symptoms of iatrogenic menopause, peer support groups, as well as individualized psycho-social support for the patient and her family.

Conclusions: By addressing the unique needs of this population, supportive care programs can play a crucial role in empowering young women with breast cancer to cope with the physical, emotional, and practical challenges they may face during and after treatment. The limitation lies in resource availability and funding for sustainability. Ongoing research is required to better understand the needs of YWBC patients in survivorship and ensure the sustainability of programs designed to address these challenges.