scholarly journals The Potential of Ultrasound Technology and Chemotherapy Carriers in Breast Cancer Treatment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghaleb Husseini ◽  
Yassmine Abbas ◽  
Nahid Awad

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women, and chemotherpy is widly used to treat it. However, chemotherapy drugs are not able to differentiate between the cancerous and healthy tissues. This leads to the well-known, harmful side effects of this treatment, which include hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and a weakened immune system. This paper argues for the potential effectiveness of delivering chemotherapy drugs to tumors in protective barriers (drug encapsulation in a nano-carrier) that isolate the drug from healthy tissues, minimizing side effects and increasing the quality of life of patients and their families. When injected into the bloodstream, these nanocarriers will diffuse into the tumor and ultrasonic waves can then be administered at the tumor site in order to release the chemotherapy drug from its capsule. This will restrict the drug to the physical location of the cancerous cells. This policy paper offers a number of recommendations related to furthering this research for the benefit of UAE citizens, residents, and those impacted by breast cancer around the world.

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 377-381
Author(s):  
Leonessa Boing ◽  
Gustavo Soares Pereira ◽  
Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira ◽  
Taysi Seemann ◽  
Allana Alexandre Cardoso ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: Breast cancer treatment can cause different side effects on the quality of life of women. Physical activity, in turn, can reduce these side effects. Objective: To investigate the physical activity and quality of life of women during and after breast cancer treatment. Methods: Sample of 174 women (57.0±9.5 years) during or after clinical treatment for breast cancer. Interview questionnaire composed of general information, physical activity (IPAQ short version) and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23). For statistical analysis chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, student's t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test and multiple logistic regression analyses (p <0.05). Results: Most women did not achieve the physical activity guidelines, particularly those undergoing clinical treatment. Results showed longer walking time, moderate physical activity, vigorous physical activity, moderate + vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity among the women following completion of treatment. The quality of life scores were also higher among women after clinical treatment. Logistic regression indicated that every 10-minute increment to walking time results in a 19% decrease in the probability of worse functional capacity and a 26% decrease in the probability of worse symptoms associated with treatment side effects. Conclusion: During treatment, women with breast cancer undertake less physical activity and have worse quality of life. Walking appears to be an effective type of physical activity for these women, improving quality of life during and after breast cancer treatment. Level of evidence II; Prognostic studies - Investigation of the effect of patient characteristics on the disease outcome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Sondang Khairani ◽  
Sesilia A Keban ◽  
Meyke Afrianty

Breast cancer is the number one cancer type discovered at women in the world. Most causes are genetic factors and hormonal factors. One cancer treatments with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs active in cells dividing and reproducing, but cells normally to be affected by chemotherapy and side effects from chemotherapy drugs affect quality of life. The aim of the study to evaluate side effects of chemotherapy drugs on the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Sampling technique observational prospective breast cancer patients with completed the chemotherapy cycle from September 2017 to April 2018 with descriptive analysis and statistics by looking correlation between drug side effects and Quality of Life (QoL). Results of the study were side effects of fatigue 100%, nausea 67,5%, vomiting 60%, no appetite 63,75%, fever 42,5%, joint pain 43,75%, diarrhea 16,25%, difficulty swallowing 16,25%, allergies 5%, itching 1,25%, mouth sores 3,75%, swollen right hand 1,25%, constipation 3,75%. QoL results are physical 6,2%; psychology 5,3%; social 4,9%; spiritual 6,8%. Results of Sperman test showed no correlation between the side effects of chemotherapy and QoL P> 0,05. This study shows that there is no relationship between the side effects drug chemotherapy and QoL in breast cancer patients.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 4400
Author(s):  
Ali Sartaj ◽  
Zufika Qamar ◽  
Farheen Fatima Qizilbash ◽  
Annu ◽  
Shadab Md ◽  
...  

This manuscript aims to provide the latest update on polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery system for breast cancer treatment after 2015 and how research-oriented it is based on the available research data. Therefore, the authors have chosen breast cancer which is the most frequent and common reason for mortality in women worldwide. The first-line treatment for breast cancer treatment is chemotherapy, apart from surgery, radiation and hormonal therapy. Chemotherapy is associated with lesser therapeutics and undesirable side effects and hence. In addition, drug resistance affects the therapeutic dose to the target site. Although various nano-based formulations have been developed for effective treatment, the polymeric nanoparticles effectively avoid the lacunae of conventional chemotherapy. There has been an effort made to understand the chemotherapy drugs and their conventional formulation-related problems for better targeting and effective drug delivery for breast cancer treatment. Thus, the polymeric nanoparticles as a strategy overcome the associated problems with resulting dose reduction, enhanced bioavailability, reduced side effects, etc. This present review has compiled the research reports published from 2015 to 2021 from different databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, which are related to breast cancer treatment in which the drug delivery of numerous chemotherapeutic agents alone or in combination, including phytoconstituents formulated into various polymer-based nanoparticles.


Author(s):  
Camila Salata ◽  
Carlos E. deAlmeida ◽  
Samara C. Ferreira-Machado ◽  
Regina C. Barroso ◽  
Liebert P Nogueira ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mads G. Jørgensen ◽  
Navid M. Toyserkani ◽  
Frederik G. Hansen ◽  
Anette Bygum ◽  
Jens A. Sørensen

AbstractThe impact of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) on long-term quality of life is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of BCRL on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) up to 10 years after breast cancer treatment. This regional population-based study enrolled patients treated for breast cancer with axillary lymph node dissection between January 1st 2007 and December 31th 2017. Follow up and assessments of the included patients were conducted between January 2019 and May 2020. The study outcome was HRQoL, evaluated with the Lymphedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire and the Short Form (36) Health Survey Questionnaire. Multivariate linear logistic regression models adjusted for confounders provided mean score differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals in each HRQoL scale and item. This study enrolled 244 patients with BCRL and 823 patients without BCRL. Patients with BCRL had significantly poorer HRQoL than patients without BCRL in 16 out of 18 HRQoL subscales, for example, in physical function (MDs 27, 95%CI: 24; 30), mental health (MDs 24, 95%CI: 21; 27) and social role functioning (MDs 20, 95%CI: 17; 23). Age, BMI, BCRL severity, hand and dominant arm affection had only minor impact on HRQoL (MDs < 5), suggesting a high degree of inter-individual variation in coping with lymphedema. This study showed that BCRL is associated with long-term impairments in HRQoL, especially affecting the physical and psychosocial domains. Surprisingly, BCRL diagnosis rather than clinical severity drove the largest impairments in HRQoL.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e035337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost Wolfs ◽  
Jop Beugels ◽  
Merel Kimman ◽  
Andrzej A Piatkowski de Grzymala ◽  
Esther Heuts ◽  
...  

IntroductionEarly breast cancer detection and advancements in treatment options have resulted in an increase of breast cancer survivors. An increasing number of women are living with the long-term effects of breast cancer treatment, making the quality of survivorship an increasingly important goal. Breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is one of the most underestimated complications of breast cancer treatment with a reported incidence of 20%. A microsurgical technique called lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) might be a promising treatment modality for patients with BCRL. The main objective is to assess whether LVA is more effective than the current standard therapy (conservative treatment) in terms of improvement in quality of life and weather it is cost-effective.Methods and analysisA multicentre, randomised controlled trial, carried out in two academic and two community hospitals in the Netherlands. The study population includes 120 women over the age of 18 who have undergone treatment for breast cancer including axillary treatment (sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection) and/or axillary radiotherapy, presenting with an early stage lymphoedema of the arm, viable lymphatic vessels and received at least 3 months conservative treatment. Sixty participants will undergo the LVA operation and the other sixty will continue their regular conservative treatment, both with a follow-up of 24 months. The primary outcome is the health-related quality of life. Secondary outcomes are societal costs, quality adjusted life years, cost-effectiveness ratio, discontinuation rate of conservative treatment and excess limb volume.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Maastricht University Medical Center (METC) on 19 December 2018 (NL67059.068.18). The results of this study will be disseminated in presentations at academic conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals and other news media.Trial registration numberNCT02790021; Pre-results.


Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonessa Boing ◽  
Tatiana do Bem Fretta ◽  
Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira ◽  
Gustavo Soares Pereira ◽  
Jéssica Moratelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Breast cancer is a global public health issue. The side effects of the clinical treatment can decrease the quality of life of these women. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is essential to minimize the physical and psychological side effects of treatment. Physical activity has several benefits for women with breast cancer, and Pilates solo and belly dancing can be an enjoyable type of physical activity for women with breast cancer undergoing clinical treatment. The purpose of this study is to provide a Pilates solo and a belly dance protocol (three times per week/16 weeks) for women undergoing breast cancer treatment and compare its effectiveness with that in the control group. Methods The participants will be allocated to either the intervention arm (Pilates solo or belly dance classes three times per week for 16 weeks) or a control group (receipt of a booklet on physical activity for patients with breast cancer and maintenance of habitual physical activity routine). The Pilates solo and belly dance classes will be divided into three stages: warmup and stretching, the main stage, and relaxation. Measurements of the study outcomes will take place at baseline; postintervention; and 6, 12, and 24 months after the end of the intervention (maintenance period). The data collection for both groups will occur with a paper questionnaire and tests covering general and clinical information. The primary outcome will be quality of life (EORT QLQ-C30 and EORT QLQ-BR23), and secondary outcomes will be physical aspects such as cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk test and cycle ergometer), lymphedema (sum of arm circumference), physical activity (IPAQ short version), disabilities of the arm (DASH), range of motion (goniometer test), muscular strength (dynamometer test) and flexibility (sit and reach test), and psychological aspects such as depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), body image (Body Image After Breast Cancer Questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg), fatigue (FACT-F), pain (VAS), sexual function (FSFI), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Discussion In view of the high prevalence of breast cancer among women, the implementation of a specific protocol of Pilates solo and belly dancing for patients with breast cancer is important, considering the necessity to improve their physical and psychological quality of life. Pilates solo and belly dancing are two types of physical activity that involve mental and physical concentration, music, upper limb movements, femininity, and social involvement. An intervention with these two physical activities could offer options of supportive care to women with breast cancer undergoing treatment, with the aim being to improve physical and psychological quality of life. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03194997. Registration date 12 August 2017. Universal Trial Number (World Health Organization), U1111-1195-1623.


Author(s):  
Marilot C. T. Batenburg ◽  
Wies Maarse ◽  
Femke van der Leij ◽  
Inge O. Baas ◽  
Onno Boonstra ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To evaluate symptoms of late radiation toxicity, side effects, and quality of life in breast cancer patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Methods For this cohort study breast cancer patients treated with HBOT in 5 Dutch facilities were eligible for inclusion. Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity treated with ≥ 20 HBOT sessions from 2015 to 2019 were included. Breast and arm symptoms, pain, and quality of life were assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and -BR23 before, immediately after, and 3 months after HBOT on a scale of 0–100. Determinants associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT were assessed. Results 1005/1280 patients were included for analysis. Pain scores decreased significantly from 43.4 before HBOT to 29.7 after 3 months (p < 0.001). Breast symptoms decreased significantly from 44.6 at baseline to 28.9 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001) and arm symptoms decreased significantly from 38.2 at baseline to 27.4 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001). All quality of life domains improved at the end of HBOT and after 3 months follow-up in comparison to baseline scores. Most prevalent side effects of HBOT were myopia (any grade, n = 576, 57.3%) and mild barotrauma (n = 179, 17.8%). Moderate/severe side effects were reported in 3.2% (n = 32) of the patients. Active smoking during HBOT and shorter time (i.e., median 17.5 vs. 22.0 months) since radiotherapy were associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT. Conclusion Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity reported reduced pain, breast and arm symptoms, and improved quality of life following treatment with HBOT.


Author(s):  
Eduardo Ribeiro Almeida ◽  
Helio F. Dos Santos ◽  
Priscila V. S. Z. Capriles

Cisplatin (cddp)-based chemotherapy is one of the most effective therapeutic alternatives for breast cancer treatment, the most common form of cancer, despite the severe side effects related to the high...


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document