Living with advanced cancer and an uncertain disease trajectory: an emerging patient population in palliative care?

BMJ Support Palliat Care 2015; vol/is 5/4, p 352-357
Elizabeth A Lobb, Judith Lacey, John Kearsley, Winston Liauw, Lesley White and Annmarie Hosie

Participants in this study represent an emerging cancer patient population who are receiving palliative therapies. Our study suggests that a flexible model of care is needed to support the needs of people who may still be receiving some form of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and remain well. This model may need to take more of an intermittent approach, that is, as required for specific symptom management, rather than patients being linked continuously to a palliative care service for long periods of time.

Available in print in Arthur Rank Hospice Library, Brookfields Hospital

Cancer survivors' perceived need for supportive care and their attitude towards self-management and eHealth

Supportive Care in Cancer, June 2015, 23(6):1679-88

Jansen F; van Uden-Kraan CF; van Zwieten V; Witte BI; Verdonck-de Leeuw IM.

The authors conclude that the perceived need for supportive care including healthy lifestyle programs was high, and in general, cancer survivors had a positive attitude towards self-management and eHealth. Need and attitude were associated with sociodemographic and clinical variables and quality of life. Therefore, a tailored approach seems to be warranted to improve and innovate supportive care targeting cancer survivors.

Fulltext available in Supportive Care in Cancer

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Working toward a good life as a cancer survivor: a longitudinal study on positive health outcomes of a rehabilitation program for young adult cancer survivors

Cancer Nursing, January 2015, vol./is. 38/1(3-15)

Hauken MA, Holsen I, Fismen E, Larsen TM

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a complex rehabilitation program improved the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical capacities of young adult cancer survivors.  The authors conclude the program especially tailored for YACS seems to build positive health outcomes such as HRQOL and physical capacity in a long-term perspective.

Are exercise programs effective for improving health-related quality of life among cancer survivors? a systematic review and meta-analysis

Oncology Nursing Forum, 01 November 2014, vol./is. 41/6(0-)

Mishra, Shiraz I., Scherer, Roberta W., Snyder, Claire, Geigle, Paula, Gotay, Carolyn

  

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise interventions on overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its domains among cancer survivors who have completed primary treatment.  Evidence presented in this review supports the inclusion of exercise programs in clinical guidelines for the management of cancer survivors who have completed treatment.

Available in print in the Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Perspectives of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on adjuvant endocrine therapy-related symptoms

Oncology Nursing Forum, 01 November 2014, vol./is. 41/6(660-668)

van Londen, G. J., Donovan, Heidi S., Beckjord, Ellen B., Cardy, Alexandra L., Bovbjerg, Dana H., Davidson, Nancy E., Morse, Jennifer Q., Switzer, Galen E., Verdonck-de Leeuw, Irma M., Dew, Mary Amanda

The objective of this qualitative focus group study was to investigate women's experiences related to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) and managing AET-related symptoms.  The findings suggest multiple opportunities to better prepare patients for AET and to improve assessment and management of AET-related symptoms and so promote AET adherence in breast cancer survivors.

Available in print in the Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Factors associated with haematological cancer survivors experiencing a high level of unmet need across multiple items of supportive care: a cross-sectional survey study

Supportive Care in Cancer, November 2014, vol./is. 22/11(2899-909)

Hall A, D'Este C, Tzelepis F, Lynagh M, Sanson-Fisher R

Of the 696 survivors included in this study, 175 (n=25 %) reported a "high/very high" level of unmet need on seven or more items of the Survivor Unmet Needs Survey. Additional and intensive supportive care may be needed for this subgroup of haematological cancer survivors. Assistance with accessing relevant financial support and highly accessible services that provide emotional and information support, such as online and telephone peer support programs, may prove beneficial in addressing their needs.

'Cancer changes everything!' Exploring the lived experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, July 2014, vol./is. 20/7(334-42)

Krigel S, Myers J, Befort C, Krebill H, Klemp J

The aim of this study was to further explore the lived experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), to inform the development of interventions to enhance survivorship care for women with advanced disease. 

Full text available in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print in Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

Survivorship care plans

Oncology Nursing Forum, 01 July 2014, vol./is. 41/4(447-448)

Behrend, Susan Weiss

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of a telephone counseling program for cancer survivors. The Cancer Survivor Telephone Education and Personal Support (C-STEPS) program was developed to address psychosocial and health behavior outcomes among cancer survivors. According to Garrett et al. (2013), this was the first telephone counseling intervention to simultaneously address psychosocial and health behavior in this patient population.

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital

A multimodal physiotherapy programme plus deep water running for improving cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors

European Journal of Cancer Care, January 2014, vol./is. 23/1(15-21)

Cuesta-Vargas AI, Buchan J, Arroyo-Morales M

A controlled clinical trial was conducted in 42 primary breast cancer survivors recruited from community-based Primary Care Centres.   The results suggest that a multimodal physiotherapy programme incorporating  deep water running decreases cancer-related fatigue and improves general health and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Further, the high level of adherence and lack of adverse events indicate such a programme is safe and feasible.

Fulltext available in European_Journal_of_Cancer_Care (you may need to log-in with your Athens account details)
Available in print at Arthur Rank House, Brookfields Hospital

Achieving effective control in cancer pain: a review of current guidelines

International Journal of Palliative Nursing, December 2013, vol./is. 19/12(584-91)

Fielding F, M Sanford T, P Davis M

Progress in cancer treatment means people will live longer with the sequelae of cancer and disease-directed treatments. Current guidelines go beyond the unidimensional World Health Organization step-wise approach to pain management model by addressing comprehensive assessment, pharmacological management of opioids and adverse effects associated with opioid use, the role of adjuvants, and the application of non-pharmacological treatments. By following current guidelines promoting a multifaceted approach to the management of cancer-related pain and advocating for patient-centered care, nurses are uniquely positioned to champion effective cancer pain management.

Available in fulltext in International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Available in print at Arthur Rank House Library, Brookfields Hospital