scholarly journals COVID19 Prevention & Care; A Cancer Specific Guideline

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Motlagh ◽  
Maisa Yamrali ◽  
Samira Azghandi ◽  
Payam Azadeh ◽  
Mohammad Vaezi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Additional Risk ◽  
Cancer Centers ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Specific Guideline ◽  
Therapeutic Services

On March 11th 2020, the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the WHO. One of the groups that is considered high risk in this pandemic are cancer patients as they are treated with a variety of immune system suppressor treatment modalities and this puts them in a great risk for infectious disease (including COVID-19). Therefore, cancer patients require higher level measures for preventing and treating infectious diseases. furthermore, cancer patients may bear additional risk due to the restriction of access to the routine diagnostic and therapeutic services during such epidemic. Since most of the attention of health systems is towards patients affected with COVID-19, the need for structured and unified approaches to COVID-19 prevention and care specific to cancer patients and cancer centers is felt more than ever. This article provides the recommendations and possible actions that should be considered by patients, their caregivers and families, physician, nurses, managers and staff of medical centers involved in cancer diagnosis and treatment. We pursued two major goals in our recommendations: first, limiting the exposure of cancer patients to medical environments and second, modifying the treatment modalities in a manner that reduces the probability of myelosuppression such as delaying elective diagnostic and therapeutic services, shortening the treatment course, or prolonging the interval between treatment courses.

Developing a strategy for delivering educational information to patients with cancer.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 190-190
Author(s):  
Emily Elizabeth Monteleone ◽  
Meredith Rachek ◽  
Alison Ibsen ◽  
Cheryl M. Carrino ◽  
Edwin Wortham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Academic Medical Centers ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Panel Survey ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Educational Information

190 Background: Patients’ preferences and ability to receive information regarding their cancer diagnosis and treatment vary greatly. Large academic medical centers are skilled at diagnosing and treating cancer. The perceived patient experience can be influenced by the delivery of information provided to them by clinical teams, support staff, and online resources. This project identified nuances in how cancer patients absorb and reference information regarding their diagnosis and treatment; specifically, treatment modalities, side effects, and resources available. The objective was to develop a strategy to improve and standardize the delivery and availability of educational information in our large academic medical center. Methods: Development of a team that has influence and understanding in various communication functions throughout the enterprise. Primary focus was on cancer patients. Research was conducted in three phases. Phase one was a patient panel survey electronically administered. Phase two involved observations and interviews of current breast cancer patients. Phase three incorporated the feedback received and design concepts generated from research during phases one and two, and involved six cancer patient focus groups. Results: Panel survey results contained feedback from 777 participants previously diagnosed with or caring for someone with cancer. Observations and interviews encompassed over 40 hours of information gathering from all stages of the breast cancer treatment process, including survivorship. Focus groups involved 7-9 patients (50 total) each of varying ages and diagnoses, with 4 of the 6 groups treated at our cancer center. Conclusions: In getting to know patients, large academic medical centers can tailor their educational information to ensure everyone receives what is needed and wanted in the time and manner best suited for them. Core components of the strategy being developed are 1) formulating ways to personalize the delivery of information, 2) methods to allow patients’ caregivers to participate in educational discussions remotely, 3) enabling on demand access to content previously discussed in person, 4) setting expectations for the intent of appointments ahead of time.

Comorbidity burden in prostate cancer patients by ESRD status.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e17510-e17510
Author(s):  
Nagaraju Sarabu ◽  
Weichuan Dong ◽  
Austin Fernstrum ◽  
Al Ray ◽  
Lee Evan Ponsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
African American ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Comorbidity Burden ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Esrd Patients

e17510 Background: The co-occurrence of cancer and end-stage-renal disease (ESRD) may pose significant challenge in the management of both diseases. Further complicating clinical decisions is our limited understanding of the comorbidity burden (CB), which also affects their outcomes to a considerable extent. The purpose of this study is to characterize the CB in prostate cancer patients, with and without ESRD. Methods: Using SEER-Medicare database between years 2000-2016, we retrieved sociodemographic variables, including age (40-54, 55-64, 65-74, and 75+), race (African American vs. all others), marital status (married/partnered vs. all others), residence in a census tract with poverty rate > 20%, and dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollment status; chronic conditions identified in the year of cancer diagnosis; and ESRD status preceding prostate cancer diagnosis. We limited our study population to cancer patients enrolled in Medicare at the time of cancer diagnosis, and were receiving their care through the fee-for-service system. In this descriptive analysis, we compared the prevalence of these conditions between prostate cancer patients by ESRD status. Results: Our study population included 2,046 ESRD and 302,136 non-ESRD men diagnosed with incident prostate cancer during the study period. Compared to non-ESRD patients, a disproportionately higher percentage of ESRD patients were in the 40-54 and 55-64 age groups compared to non-ESRD (11.0 vs 0.95% and 32.2% vs. 8.51%, respectively). Similarly, the percentage of prostate cancer patients who were African American was 44.1% among ESRD patients, compared with 13.6% in their non-ESRD counterparts. With regard to comorbidities, several conditions were significantly higher in ESRD than non-ESRD patients, including: anemia (65.4% vs. 15.3%), congestive heart failure (31.1% vs. 8.9%), ischemic heart disease (38.9% vs. 25.2%), diabetes (40.7% vs. 17.0%), hypertension (68.0% vs. 42.6%), hypothyroidism (4.6% vs. 2.9%), hyperlipidemia (43.1% vs. 35.1%), and stroke (3.7% vs. 2.5%). Conclusions: Compared to their non-ESRD counterparts, ESRD patients present with high CB, severely compromising their physiologic reserve and tolerance for various cancer treatment modalities, and affecting outcomes. Future studies should compare the prevalence of specific combinations of conditions constituting multimorbidity between ESRD and non-ESRD patients, and identify multimorbidity profiles associated with a lower likelihood to receive standard treatment. Such detailed analysis will be foundational to clinical management and outcome studies.

scholarly journals Impact of cancer diagnosis on different aspects of life of patients of cancer breast and cancer cervix uteri: a cross sectional study at Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 2053
Author(s):  
Nandika Khullar ◽  
Tejbir Singh ◽  
Mohan Lal ◽  
Jasleen Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Cervix Uteri ◽  
Government Medical College ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Cancer Breast ◽  
The Impact

Background: Advancements in understanding about the etiology and pathogenesis of cancer has led to increased awareness regarding the clinical course of disease and its appropriate treatments. This is the major reason behind longer life expectancy in cancer patients. However, this longer life is not necessarily an easy one due to debilitating nature of both the disease and its treatment modalities. This study was done to assess the impact of cancer diagnosis on the psycho-social aspects of patient’s lives.Methods: All patients of cancer breast and cancer of cervix uteri, who reported between January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015; at Radiotherapy Department, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Government Medical College, Amritsar and were residents of Amritsar District, were listed and a total of 127 patients were included in the study. Patients were interviewed using a pre-tested, pre-designed questionnaire at their place of residence.Results: Assessing the demands of the altered lives of cancer patients in different aspects like modifications in daily living, loss of work and pleasure, reformed religious/spiritual opinions, social support received etc. It is seen that social life of patients is affected after diagnosis of cancer. However, social support received by the patients and families is similar as compared to before diagnosis.Conclusions:Maximal impact of cancer, its diagnosis and treatment is on various aspects of the life of patients not only immediate family but relatives, friends and neighbours lend psychological, social and economic support in such situations which helps a cancer survivor cope with the trauma and carry on with their lives.  

Role of Erlotinib in Influencing the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 07 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Purohit ◽  
Parijat Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Pancreatic Cancers ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Causes Of Deaths

Background:: Cancer is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients globally. Lung cancer, among other cancers, remains to be one of the principal causes of deaths in both men and women. The most common type of lung cancer is the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Apart from lung cancer, pancreatic cancer is also one of the common cancers currently. Objective:: The assessment of QoL in erlotinib-treated patients can also prove to be very useful in the establishment of this drug as the main treatment option for the patients with pancreatic and lung cancer. Methods:: Therapies that target EGFR-mediated signalling are the latest keystones for treating these two types of cancers. They comprise of two main treatment modalities: firstly, against the extracellular fields, that include monoclonal antibodies and secondly, mechanisms that create interferences in the signalling pathways, primarily the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Results:: Quality of life (QoL) is one of the key advantages in erlotinib therapy over chemotherapy. Conclusion:: The present review reports the role of erlotinib in improving the quality of life of cancer patients especially in NSCLC and pancreatic cancers. The studies or trials establishing the relations between erlotinib and QoL are discussed in detail in this review.

Selecting a PRO-CTCAE based subset for patient reported symptom monitoring during lung cancer treatment (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evalien Veldhuijzen ◽  
Iris Walraven ◽  
Jose Belderbos
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
European Organization ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Symptom Monitoring ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Reported

BACKGROUND The Patient Reported Outcomes Version of the Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) item library covers a wide range of symptoms relevant for oncology care. To enable implementation of PRO-CTCAE-based symptom monitoring in clinical practice, there is a need to select a subset of items relevant for specific patient populations. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to develop a PRO-CTCAE subset relevant for patients with lung cancer. METHODS The PRO-CTCAE-based subset for lung cancer patients was generated using a mixed methods approach based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) guidelines for developing questionnaires, consisting of a literature review and semi-structured interviews with both lung cancer patients and health care practitioners (HCPs). Both patients and HCPs were queried on the relevance and impact of all PRO-CTCAE items. Results were summarized and, after a final round of expert review, a selection of clinically relevant items for lung cancer patients was made. RESULTS A heterogeneous group of lung cancer patients (n=25) from different treatment modalities and HCPs (n=22) participated in the study. A final list of eight relevant PRO-CTCAE items was created: decreased appetite, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, sadness, and pain (general). CONCLUSIONS Based on literature and both professional and patient input, a subset of PRO-CTCAE items has been identified for use in lung cancer patients in clinical practice. Future work is needed to confirm the validity and effectiveness of this PRO-CTCAE lung cancer subset internationally, and in the real-world clinical practice setting.

scholarly journals Physical Comorbidities and Depression in Recent and Long-Term Adult Cancer Survivors: NHANES 2007–2018

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3368
Author(s):  
Dafina Petrova ◽  
Andrés Catena ◽  
Miguel Rodríguez-Barranco ◽  
Daniel Redondo-Sánchez ◽  
Eloísa Bayo-Lozano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Depression Risk ◽  
Adult Cancer Survivors ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

Many adult cancer patients present one or more physical comorbidities. Besides interfering with treatment and prognosis, physical comorbidities could also increase the already heightened psychological risk of cancer patients. To test this possibility, we investigated the relationship between physical comorbidities with depression symptoms in a sample of 2073 adult cancer survivors drawn from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2007–2018) in the U.S. Based on information regarding 16 chronic conditions, the number of comorbidities diagnosed before and after the cancer diagnosis was calculated. The number of comorbidities present at the moment of cancer diagnosis was significantly related to depression risk in recent but not in long-term survivors. Recent survivors who suffered multimorbidity had 3.48 (95% CI 1.26–9.55) times the odds of reporting significant depressive symptoms up to 5 years after the cancer diagnosis. The effect of comorbidities was strongest among survivors of breast cancer. The comorbidities with strongest influence on depression risk were stroke, kidney disease, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and arthritis. Information about comorbidities is usually readily available and could be useful in streamlining depression screening or targeting prevention efforts in cancer patients and survivors. A multidimensional model of the interaction between cancer and other physical comorbidities on mental health is proposed.

scholarly journals The patients’ perspective on coordinated action for cancer and AMR

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Apostolidis
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Coordinated Action ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Patients Perspective

Abstract The speaker will present the perspective of the cancer patients, and the challenges they encounter across the spectrum of care and what measures they consider relevant in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and, indeed, to raise awareness of the impact of AMR on rendering cancer treatments ineffective. She will elaborate on survivorship, and on the impact of AMR on the quality of life of patients, their carers, and families. Emphasis will be given on the implications of modern therapies, such as immunotherapy, representing a unique challenge in terms of better understanding the effect on overall health of patients, with the effect they have the immune system, further weakening the patient and leaving him/her exposed to infections potentially of higher risk than cancer itself.

scholarly journals How Does a COVID mRNA vaccine really work?

Ubiquity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (July) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Walter Tichy
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Foreign Protein ◽  
The Real ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
German Company ◽  
The Media ◽  
The U.S

The most potent weapon against COVID-19 is a vaccine based on messenger RNA (mRNA). The first of these vaccines authorized for use was developed by the German company BioNTech in cooperation with Pfizer, closely followed by the (U.S.-produced) Moderna vaccine. These vaccines send a piece of mRNA into cells of a host. The mRNA instructs the cells to produce masses of the same spike protein that also occurs on the shell of the real coronavirus. The immune system responds by learning to destroy anything showing that protein: if the real virus arrives, the immune system will attack it immediately. This much has been reported widely by the media. But important questions remain. How is mRNA actually synthesized as a transcription of the spike-producing segment of the virus' RNA? How is the selection and replication done? How does mRNA enter a host cell, and how long will it stay there? Will it produce the spike protein forever? Is it perhaps dangerous? And the biggest question of all: How does the immune system record the structure of the foreign protein, how does it recognize the invader, and how is the immune response cranked up? To answer these questions, we bring you a conversation between Ubiquity editor Walter Tichy and his daughter Dr. Evelyn Tichy, an infectious disease expert.

scholarly journals Dynamic changes in practical inflammation and immunity markers in cancer patients receiving immune-enhancing nutritional supplementation during concurrent chemoradiotherapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Nontiya Homkham ◽  
Pooriwat Muangwong ◽  
Veeradej Pisprasert ◽  
Patrinee Traisathit ◽  
Rungarun Jiratrachu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy ◽  
Absolute Lymphocyte Count ◽  
Diet Group ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Regular Diet ◽  
Over Time

BACKGROUND: Immune-enhancing nutrition (IMN) strengthens the systematic inflammatory response and the immune system. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) are affected during cancer therapies. OBJECTIVE: We carried out an analysis of the dynamic changes in NLR and ALC over time in cancer patients with or without IMN supplementation. METHODS: 88 cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were randomized into regular diet group, and regular diet and IMN group.Generalized estimation equation models were used to assess associations between patient’s characteristics, IMN, and dynamic changes in NLR and ALC over time. RESULTS: NLR and ALC at preCCRT were significantly associated with dynamic changes in NLR (adjusted β= 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64–1.52) and ALC (adjusted β= 0.41, 95% CI: 0.36–0.46). The magnitudes of the NLR and ALC changes through CCRT were lower in patients receiving IMN, although the differences were not statistically significant except ALC at the end of CCRT in head and neck cancer patients (P= 0.023). CONCLUSION: Dynamic negative changes in both markers were demonstrated throughout CCRT. There were non-significant trend in promising changes in both NLR and ALC values in the whole group in IMN supplementation.

scholarly journals On the diverse and opposing effects of nutrition on pathogen virulence

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1906) ◽  
pp. 20191220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria L. Pike ◽  
Katrina A. Lythgoe ◽  
Kayla C. King
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Pathogen Virulence ◽  
Disease Outcomes ◽  
Host Nutrition ◽  
Opposing Effects ◽  
The Impact

Climate change and anthropogenic activity are currently driving large changes in nutritional availability across ecosystems, with consequences for infectious disease. An increase in host nutrition could lead to more resources for hosts to expend on the immune system or for pathogens to exploit. In this paper, we report a meta-analysis of studies on host–pathogen systems across the tree of life, to examine the impact of host nutritional quality and quantity on pathogen virulence. We did not find broad support across studies for a one-way effect of nutrient availability on pathogen virulence. We thus discuss a hypothesis that there is a balance between the effect of host nutrition on the immune system and on pathogen resources, with the pivot point of the balance differing for vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Our results suggest that variation in nutrition, caused by natural or anthropogenic factors, can have diverse effects on infectious disease outcomes across species.

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