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Symptom Management

Cancer pain often undertreated, especially among minorities

Delicia Honen Yard May 16, 2012

One-third of outpatients with breast, prostate, colon/rectum, or lung cancer were receiving insufficient pain treatment, particularly minorities.

Walking wards off fatigue in pancreatic, periampullary cancers

Delicia Honen Yard May 07, 2012

A home walking program significantly improves fatigue levels and physical functioning in persons with pancreatic and periampullary cancers.

Opioids may spur tumor growth

Delicia Honen Yard April 20, 2012

Although opioid-based painkillers are a standard treatment for relieving cancer pain, they may actually contribute to disease progression.

Using a palliative approach to  maintain nutrition and reduce discomfort in patients with EC

Bette Weinstein Kaplan April 18, 2012

Prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer is poor. Care options focus on minimizing discomfort and maintaining nutritional status.

Distress: Assessing the effects of coping with cancer

Rosemarie A. Tucci, RN, MSN April 11, 2012

A cancer diagnosis can cause high levels of distress. Nurses should assess patients frequently and know how to intervene promptly.

Meditation techniques for cancer patients

April 04, 2012

The many benefits of meditation include reduce anxiety, ease pain, increase flexibility, and improve overall health. Although medication is not a cure, it may improve quality of life for patients with cancer.

Integrative care options

April 02, 2012

Various activities can help patients cope with cancer and its treatments. These techniques should not replace medical care, but they can enhance patients' quality of life.

Abscopal effect strengthens combination therapy in a melanoma patient

Delicia Honen Yard March 21, 2012

Combination therapy may be a promising treatment approach for patients with advanced melanoma who experience the abscopal effect.

Psychosocial approach useful in managing cancer pain

Delicia Honen Yard February 03, 2012

Psychosocial interventions, including skills instruction and education, can help reduce pain in persons with cancer, confirm the results of a recent meta-analysis.

Proton therapy effective against prostate cancer

Delicia Honen Yard January 19, 2012

Two studies published in International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics indicate that proton therapy is a useful treatment for prostate cancer.

Troubleshooting complications of vascular access devices

Dawn Camp-Sorrell, MSN, FNP, AOCN December 15, 2011

VADs enable long-term IV therapy; however, the devices and their use pose a unique set of challenges for nurses.

Oncologists need to sharpen their pain-management skills

Delicia Honen Yard November 25, 2011

The results of a recent survey suggest that pain-related knowledge and practice may not be up to par within the oncology community.

Keep checking on thyroid during use of antineoplastic agents

Delicia Honen Yard November 08, 2011

People with cancer who are being treated with antineoplastic agents should undergo routine testing for thyroid abnormalities.

Many men not prepared for ED after colorectal treatment

Delicia Honen Yard November 07, 2011

Unlike men with prostate cancer, those with colorectal cancer are not routinely offered information and treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), charge the authors of a new study.

Methylnaltrexone (Relistor)

Bette Weinstein Kaplan October 19, 2011

Methylnaltrexone is a peripheral acting narcotic antagonist, opioid reversing agent. It is indicated for treatment of opioid-induced constipation.

After breast cancer, fatigue plagues women who are depressed and in pain

Delicia Honen Yard October 05, 2011

Women most affected by fatigue following treatment for breast cancer also suffer episodes of depression and body-image deterioration, neck and shoulder pain, and limited arm movement

Ears like a wolf ...when perspective clouds judgment

Ann J. Brady, RN, BSN August 01, 2011

The patient's constant complaining and irritating personality almost overwhelmed his need for care.

"FATE" survey assesses end of life in head and neck cancer

Delicia Honen Yard May 12, 2011

Palliative treatments, death outside of the hospital, and involvement by a palliative care team all improve the end-of-life experience for persons with head and neck cancer.

Symptom burden in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Debra Hughes April 28, 2011

Preliminary analysis of a study to determine validity and reliability of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (MDASI-CML) has found that patients with CML experience moderate levels of symptom burden over long periods of time. The data were presented at the Oncology Nursing Society 36th Annual Congress.

Treatment algorithm helps manage tivozanib-related hypertension

Debra Hughes April 28, 2011

Physicians and nursing staff effectively managed hypertension—an established target-related side effect of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors—using home blood pressure monitors and a treatment algorithm in patients enrolled in a phase 2 randomized discontinuation trial of tivozanib, a potent and selective inhibitor of all three VEGFR kinases. The data were presented at the Oncology Nursing Society 36th Annual Congress.

Quality of life improves after any of several uterine-fibroid treatments

Delicia Honen Yard March 17, 2011

A study comparing health-related quality-of-life measures among three different interventions for uterine fibroids showed quality of life to increase subsequent to each treatment.

ASTRO issues guideline for palliative radiotherapy in bone metastases

Delicia Honen Yard March 09, 2011

Radiotherapy is a successful and time-efficient means by which to palliate pain and/or prevent the morbidity of bone metastases, according to the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

Morphine sulfate label revised to avoid dosing errors

February 01, 2011

Roxane Laboratories has made labeling and product-packaging changes to its morphine sulfate oral solution 100 mg per 5 mL (20 mg/mL) due to accidental overdoses that resulted in adverse events and deaths.

Abstral approved for breakthrough cancer pain

Delicia Honen Yard January 27, 2011

A tablet delivering transmucosal fentanyl, Abstral is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients who are already using opioids around the clock.

Drug-related skeletal effects and managing vaginal dryness

Lisa A. Thompson, PharmD, BCOP January 18, 2011

What should nurses be aware of when administering denosumab? What are the best strategies for managing vaginal dryness caused by hormonal therapy for breast cancer?

Managing cancer-related fatigue and drug-induced neuropathy

Lisa A. Thompson, PharmD, BCOP November 04, 2010

What role does medication play in managing fatigue? Can neuropathy from oxaliplatin therapy be effectively treated or prevented?

Palliative care in endstage renal failure

Joanna Peasegood; Aine Burns January 22, 2010

For some patients with end stage renal failure, management with options other than dialysis is preferred, and this article reviews the symtoms these patients experience.