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Ir Med J 2018 09 10;111(8):801. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

University Hospital Waterford

Introduction Delirium is common in palliative care. It effects up to 88% of patients with advanced cancer at end of life and has a point prevalence of 20% in the acute hospital setting across all diagnoses. It is under diagnosed and not optimally treated. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Oncology, Division of Palliative Care Medicine, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada.

Purpose: Currently, there is no approved therapy for cancer cachexia. According to European and American regulatory agencies, physical function improvements would be approvable co-primary endpoints of new anti-cachexia medications. As physical functioning is in part dependent on cardiac functioning, we aimed to explore the cardiac status of a group of patients meeting current criteria for inclusion in cachexia clinical trials. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 28;8:558. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.

A subset of metastatic brain tumors occurs in deep-seated locations. Accessing and resecting these lesions can be associated with significant morbidity because it involves large craniotomies, extensive white matter dissection, prolonged retraction, and risk of inadvertent tissue injury. As a result, only palliative treatment options are typically offered for these lesions including observation, needle biopsies, and/or radiation therapy. Read More

Mol Clin Oncol 2018 Dec 5;9(6):666-672. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Oncology Research Group, Santa Terezinha University Hospital, Joaçaba, SC 89600-000, Brazil.

Although the mortality rate of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been decreasing over the last 30 years, there has been a significant increase in the frequency of diagnosis of this type of cancer in several countries. Beyond the classic prognostic factors, such as TNM stage, there is a lack of predictive factors for recurrence and treatment response. A retrospective analysis of patients with OPSCC treated at the Oncology Department of the Santa Terezinha University Hospital between 2007 and 2012 was performed, with the aim of identifying new prognostic factors. Read More

Eur Respir J 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

The assessment of objective measurement of cardiopulmonary status has helped us achieve better clinical outcomes for patients and develop new therapies through to the point of market access; however, patient surveys indicate that more can be done to improve holistic care and patient engagement. In this multidisciplinary review, we examine how clinical teams can acknowledge and embrace the individual patient's perspective, and thus improve the care for individual patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension by cultivating the importance and relevance of health-related quality of life in direct clinical care. At the individual level, patients should be provided with access to accredited specialist centres which provide a multidisciplinary approach where there is a culture focused on narrative medicine, quality of life, shared decision making and timely access to palliative care, and where there is participation in education. Read More

Haematologica 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.

Ruxolitinib is the frontline non-palliative treatment for myelofibrosis; however, a significant number of patients lose or present suboptimal response, are resistant or have unacceptable toxicity. In an attempt to improve the response and avoid the adverse effects of this drug, we evaluated the combination of 17 drugs with ruxolitinib in ex vivo models of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with myelofibrosis and cell lines. We found that the combination ruxolitinib and nilotinib had a synergistic effect against myelofibrosis cells (ΔEC50 nilotinib = -21. Read More

JMIR Res Protoc 2018 Dec 13;7(12):e11256. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Background: In patients with prostate cancer (PCa) with histopathologically proven pelvic lymph node (LN) metastasis (pN1) after extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND), multimodality treatment consisting of treatment of the primary tumor and whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) offers promising results, leading to better cause-specific survival rates compared with ADT alone. However, in case more than one pelvic LN is invaded by the tumor, approximately 40% of the patients relapse biochemically and clinically. Clinical relapse is present in the para-aortic LNs (M1a disease) in up to 77% of the relapsing cases. Read More

Am J Kidney Dis 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Section of Nephrology, Palliative Medicine, and Hospice, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV; Section of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, and Hospice, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV. Electronic address:

Aust Crit Care 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Intensive Care Unit, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia.

Background: There is a lack of knowledge about tasks intensive care unit liaison nurses (ICU LNs) perform during patient review, despite this role operating in at least 31 acute care hospitals in Australia.

Objectives: To evaluate the tasks that ICU LNs perform during patient review in the following referral subcategories: review after ICU discharge, rapid response team (RRT) review, and ward referral.

Methods: A 2-month prospective observational study using standardised case report forms to collect data on patients reviewed by ICU LNs in 20 Australian hospitals was conducted. Read More

Pharmacy (Basel) 2018 Dec 12;6(4). Epub 2018 Dec 12.

School of Pharmacy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.

To determine UK pharmacists' experiences of their current communication skills and undergraduate training and to identify communication skills training and teaching at UK schools of pharmacy. Two surveys were developed. The first survey was sent to UK practicing pharmacists examining their current communication skills and interest in behavioural counselling techniques such as Motivational Interviewing (MI). Read More

Biomolecules 2018 Dec 10;8(4). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Istanbul University, 34452 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey.

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal malignancy. Various diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic biomarkers have been evaluated. This study was conducted to investigate the serum levels of neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 9 (NEDD9) in patients with PC and the relationship between tumor progression and known prognostic parameters. Read More

Children (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;5(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA.

Limited studies exist regarding the timing, location, or physicians involved in do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order placement in pediatrics. Prior pediatric studies have noted great variations in practice during end-of-life (EOL) care. This study aims to analyze the timing, location, physician specialties, and demographic factors influencing EOL care in pediatrics. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), University Pain Centre Maastricht (UPCM), 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Despite increased attention to cancer pain, pain prevalence in patients with cancer has not improved over the last decade and one third of cancer patients on anticancer therapy and half of patients with advanced disease still suffer from moderate to severe pain. In this review, we explore the possible reasons for the ongoing high prevalence of cancer pain and discuss possible future directions for improvement in personalised pain management. Among possible reasons for the lack of improvement are: Barriers for patients to discuss pain with clinicians spontaneously; pain measurement instruments are not routinely used in daily practice; limited knowledge concerning the assessment of undertreatment; changes in patients' characteristics, including the ageing of the population; lack of significant improvement in the treatment of neuropathic pain; limitations of pharmacological treatment and lack of evidence-based nonpharmacological treatment strategies. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Departments of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyaun 333, Taiwan.

Background: Few studies have reported the epidemiology and clinical outcome of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Asian patients with pancreatic cancer. This study investigated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcome of VTE in patients with pancreatic cancer following palliative chemotherapy.

Methods: The medical records of 838 patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who underwent palliative chemotherapy between 2010 and 2016 at four institutes in Taiwan were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13525

Department of Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

The objectives of this systematic review and pooled analysis were to examine long-term survival, morbidity, and mortality following thermal ablation of gastric cancer hepatic metastases and to identify prognostic factors that improve survival.Patients with hepatic metastases from gastric cancer are traditionally treated with palliative chemotherapy. Surgical resection is an alternative treatment of hepatic metastases. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13453

College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China.

Background: Morbidity of poststroke depression (PSD) remains high worldwide. Additionally, PSD causes multiple sequelae. Although sertraline has been reported to be effective in treating PSD, many studies remain inconsistent. Read More

J Neurosurg 2018 Nov 1:1-6. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

OBJECTIVEData on the survival effects of supportive care compared to second-line multimodal treatment for glioblastoma progression are scarce. Thus, the authors assessed survival in two population-based, similar cohorts from two European university hospitals with different treatment strategies at first progression.METHODSThe authors retrospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated at two neurooncological centers. Read More

Transl Behav Med 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.

Recruitment challenges hinder behavioral intervention research in cancer survivors. The purpose was to examine the reasons for declining and intervention preferences of study-eligible breast cancer survivors declining a trial of a four-session couple-based Intimacy Enhancement intervention (refusers) and explore whether refusers differed from participants on key characteristics. Partnered, post-treatment breast cancer survivors reporting sexual concerns who were eligible for but declined participation in the intervention trial were approached to complete a standardized 5-min telephone survey assessing reasons for declining and support preferences. Read More

J Cardiovasc Nurs 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Marianne K. Schallmo, DNP, ANP-BC Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, Indiana. Sharon Dudley-Brown, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN Associate Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Delaware, Newark. Patricia M. Davidson, PhD, MEd, BA, FAAN Dean of Nursing, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

Context: Heart failure is a chronic complex syndrome that is common and burdensome. International clinical practice guidelines recommend that healthcare providers communicate palliative care options with patients with heart failure.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct an integrative review to evaluate how healthcare providers perceived communication barriers to offering information to individuals in the palliative phase of heart failure. Read More

J Palliat Med 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

OhioHealth Riverside, Columbus, Ohio.

Orv Hetil 2018 Sep;159(39):1593-1601

Egészségügyi Központ, Diagnosztikai és Onkoradiológiai Intézet, Kaposvári Egyetem Kaposvár, Szent Imre u. 14/B, 7400.

Introduction And Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate changes in clinical staging N (lymph node) and M (distant metastasis) in patients who receive PET/CT-based 3D radiotherapy within complex oncological treatment, and compare to conventional cross-sectional imaging staging technique. We also investigated the presence of PET/CT-detected second tumors and the effect of PET/CT on therapeutic decisions.

Method: From the 1st of January 2015 to the 30th of November 2016, 192 patients (n = 192) were treated with PET/CT-based radiation (109 head, 44 lung, 28 rectum and 11 cervical localization) in the Oncoradiology Institute of the Health Center of the University of Kaposvár. Read More

J Gen Intern Med 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Palliative Care, 1531 Wakendaw Road, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, SC, 29464, USA.

Recent Results Cancer Res 2019 ;213:7-23

, Stockholm, Sweden.

Healthcare expenditures for cancer account for a low share of total healthcare expenditures, compared to the relative burden of the disease. The share has also not changed very much over the last decades. Cost for cancer drugs has increased as a share of total expenditures, but this has been offset by a reduction of inpatient hospital care for cancer. Read More

Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Miyazaki University Hospital, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.

Approximately half of the patients with esophageal cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage with inoperable disease. The technique of bypass surgery, which is one of the palliative procedures for esophageal cancer, usually requires the insertion of a drainage tube for clearing secretions from the blind remnant esophagus. Since the artificial drainage tube is sometimes problematic for the patient after discharge from the hospital, drainage tubeless (DRESS) surgery might be preferable. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Dec 12;18(1):955. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Faculty of Health Sciences, SHARE - Centre for Resilience in Healthcare, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.

Background: Thirty-day hospital readmissions represent an international challenge leading to increased prevalence of adverse events, reduced quality of care and pressure on healthcare service's resources and finances. There is a need for a broader understanding of hospital readmissions, how they manifest, and how resources in the primary healthcare service may affect hospital readmissions. The aim of the study was to examine how nurses and nursing home leaders experienced the resource situation, staffing and competence level in municipal healthcare services, and if and how they experienced these factors to influence hospital readmissions. Read More

BMC Cancer 2018 Dec 13;18(1):1247. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Oncology Unit, Alexandra Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias, 80, Athens, Greece.

Background: Uterine sarcomas consist a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal gynecological malignancies with unclear therapeutic recommendations and unspecific but poor prognosis, since they usually metastasize and tend to recur very often, even in early stages.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all female patients with uterine sarcomas treated in our institution over the last 17 years. Clinico-pathological data, treatments and outcomes were recorded. Read More

Death Stud 2018 Dec 13:1-5. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

b Department of Nursing , Towson University , Towson , MD , USA.

To identify the most common end-of-life reflections among terminally ill patients, 124 nurses from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) completed an online, open-ended survey. Common themes of these reflections included concern for loved ones, regret, morbidity and mortality, gratitude, spirituality, legacy, and thoughts about acceptance or non-acceptance of impending death. Nurses reported that their patients were more concerned about their loved ones than their own morbidity and mortality. Read More

Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2018 Dec 13:1049909118817740. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

4 Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Whole-person care is a new paradigm for serious illness, but few programs have been robustly studied. We sought to test the effect of LifeCourse (LC), a person-centered program for patients living with serious illness, on health-care utilization, care experience, and quality of life, employing a quasi-experimental design with a Usual Care (UC) comparison group. The study was conducted 2012 to 2017 at an upper-Midwest not-for-profit health-care system with outcomes measured every 3 months until the end of life. Read More

Klin Onkol 2018 ;31(4):293-295

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a frequent malignant disease which tends to develop distant metastases, but only very rarely in the head and neck region.

Case Report: We present two case reports of patients with metastases of invasive BC in this area. They are of different clinical manifestation with different time relation to the primary tumor and different symptomatology. Read More

Cesk Slov Oftalmol 2018 ;73(5-6):204-210

Introduction: Malignant melanoma of the ciliary body (corpus ciliare) represents 10 to 15 percent of tumors of the uveal tract. The aim of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery performed on LINAC linear accelerator and the occurrence of postoperative complications.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with ciliary body melanoma treated with stereotactic radiosurgery on linear accelerator in the period 1/2011 to 12/2016 in Slovakia. Read More

Cancer Med 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Palliative care (PC) aims to improve quality of life for patients and their families. The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that PC starts at diagnosis for children with cancer. This systematic review describes studies that reported PC timing in the pediatric oncology population. Read More

Br J Soc Psychol 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Since first being proposed 25 years ago, system justification theory has become a paradigm-shifting framework for understanding intergroup relations and political psychology. Based on the thesis that people are motivated to defend and bolster the societal status quo, system justification theory helps to explain varied phenomena, including resistance to change, outgroup favouritism, and other instances of false consciousness. This paper summarizes four tenets of the theory including the following: (1) antecedents to system justification, (2) palliative effects of system justification, (3) status-based asymmetries in conflict between justification motives, and (4) societal consequences of system justification. Read More

Front Psychol 2018 20;9:2235. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Politics, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Human activity in Antarctica has increased sharply in recent years. In particular during the winter months, people are exposed to long periods of isolation and confinement and an extreme physical environment that poses risks to health, well-being and performance. The present study aimed to gain a better understanding of processes contributing to psychological resilience in this context. Read More

J Cancer Educ 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

7th Naval Hospital, Gdansk, Poland.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in the world and the second cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite the search for new therapeutic agents, there are still many doubts concerning the quality of life (QOL) improvement in palliative patients. In this study, we assessed the impact of oncology knowledge on QOL and the relationship between QOL and various environmental factors and unconventional treatment methods in patients with CRC treated with chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Read More

Eur Respir J 2018 Dec 6;52(6). Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

BMJ Support Palliat Care 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Brixton, London, UK.

Background: Driving is a complex activity that requires physical abilities and adequate executive and cognitive functioning. There is concern among specialist palliative care services about patients continuing to drive despite having progressive incurable illnesses, comorbidities and medications to manage their symptoms.

Objectives: To determine the quality of literature available about driving that would apply to palliative care patients, specifically in relation to road test or simulated driving scores and neurocognitive testing. Read More

BMJ Support Palliat Care 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Division of Cardiology, Toronto General Hospital - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Physicians face uncertainty when predicting death in heart failure (HF) leading to underutilisation of palliative care. To facilitate decision-making, we assessed the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) as a referral tool by evaluating its performance in predicting 1-year event-free survival from death, heart transplant (HTx), and ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of consecutive patients with advanced ambulatory HF with New York Heart Association Class III/IV HF and a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤40% from 2000 to 2016. Read More

Mayo Clin Proc 2018 Dec;93(12):1720-1727

Section of Palliative Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Center for Palliative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:

Objective: To characterize the end-of-life care of all international patients who died at a global destination medical center from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2015.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all adult international patients who died at a global destination medical center from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2015.

Results: Eighty-two international patients from 25 countries and 5 continents died during the study period (median age, 59. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Dec 6;18(1):303. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

International Observatory on End of Life Care, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, UK.

Background: Seventy percent of people with advanced dementia live and die in care homes. Multisensory approaches, such as Namaste Care, have been developed to improve the quality of life and dying for people with advanced dementia but little is known about effectiveness or optimum delivery. The aim of this review was to develop an explanatory account of how the Namaste Care intervention might work, on what outcomes, and in what circumstances. Read More

Mikrobiyol Bul 2018 Oct;52(4):439-443

Kocaeli State Hospital, Clinic of Chest Diseases, Kocaeli, Turkey.

Myiasis; is defined as the infestation of dead or living tissues of humans and animals by the diptera larvae. It is prevalent all over the world, especially in tropical and subtropical countries with low socioeconomic status. Myiasis of humans has been associated with low socioeconomic status, alcoholism, mental or neurological diseases, poor personal hygiene, patients with varicose veins, diabetes, malnutrition, advanced stage cancer, pediculosis, immunosuppression, sexually transmitted disease, gingivitis and other oral cavity lesions. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2018 Dec;108(6):1196-1208

Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Background: There is great overlap between the presentation of cachexia, sarcopenia, and malnutrition. Distinguishing between these conditions would allow for better targeted treatment for patients.

Objectives: The aim was to systematically review validated screening tools for cachexia, sarcopenia, and malnutrition in adults and, if a combined tool is absent, make suggestions for the generation of a novel screening tool. Read More

Anticancer Drugs 2019 Jan;30(1):110-115

Department of Oncology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.

Trabectedin is used routinely in the palliative management of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. It is not generally considered to be cardiotoxic, and there is no specific caution for its use in patients with a history of cardiac disease or risk factors. Here, we report six cases from a single academic centre where life-threatening cardiotoxicity occurred acutely during treatment with trabectedin. Read More

J Palliat Med 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

2 International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University , Lancaster, United Kingdom .

Background: For children with life-shortening illness, achieving a "good death" can be a tacit goal. There is little understanding of how different stakeholders perceive what a "good death" might be.

Objective: To review empirical literature to construct an understanding of a "good death" for children with life-shortening conditions. Read More

Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2018 Dec 10;73(suppl 1):e543s. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo (ICESP), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.

Objectives: Surgery remains the cornerstone treatment modality for gastric cancer, the fifth most common type of tumor in Brazil. The aim of this study was to analyze the surgical treatment outcomes of patients with gastric cancer who were referred to a high-volume university hospital.

Methods: We reviewed all consecutive patients who underwent any surgical procedure due to gastric cancer from a prospectively collected database. Read More

Rev Bras Enferm 2018 ;71(suppl 6):2635-2642

Universidade Federal Fluminense, Aurora de Afonso Costa Nursing School. Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objective: To understand the spiritual needs of the patients' family caregiver under Oncology palliative care.

Method: A descriptive, qualitative study with 20 family caregivers of patients hospitalized in an Oncology palliative unit. The data were collected through a phenomenological interview, and analyzed by the method of Amadeo Giorgi supported in the Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception. Read More

Acta Biomed 2018 Dec 7;89(7-S):78-88. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Università di Parma.

Background: The 38/2010 law has widened the supply of palliative care for patients with chronic and degenerative illness. Dementia is a chronic and debilitating illness and it requires specific, complex and constant assistance, involving the health professionals' community and family, and should also benefit from palliative care. But what do the caregivers of these patients think about it?

Aim: To explore the point of view of caregivers accompanying dementia patients regarding palliative care and the accompaniment of the medical team. Read More

Qual Health Res 2018 Dec 12:1049732318816298. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

1 Universidad de Navarra, ICS, Grupo ATLANTES, Pamplona, Spain.

Literature suggests that it is possible to live well with advanced cancer but little is known about the process. In this article, we present a secondary analysis of experiences of living with advanced cancer ( n = 22) that refines the theory of "Living Well with Chronic Illness" for a different context and population. The refined theory explains the experience of living well with advanced cancer illuminating a five-phase iterative process: struggling, accepting, living with advanced cancer, sharing the illness experience, and reconstructing life. Read More

J Palliat Care 2018 Dec 12:825859718810718. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

1 Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Background:: As the spiritual family for many African Americans, the church presents an opportunity to improve communication about palliative care and hospice (PCH). However, sustainable change in church-based, practices related to PCH requires a compreshensive, multilevel approach.

Objectives:: Our primary goal was to encourage churches to embrace palliative care and hospice as acceptable alternatives for end-of-life care by creating venues to improve communications about PCH. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2018 ;995:65-95

Thoracic Oncology Program, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.

The management of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) has changed dramatically in the last 10 years with an increase in the understanding of the biology and with the development of new and multiple treatments. Chemotherapy being the first systemic treatment used in the setting of advanced disease, proving benefit for patients over palliative care. With the identification of oncogenic drivers, innovative targeted therapies were developed and tested, leading to important changes in the management of certain patients and giving to some of them the possibility to be treated in first line with oral inhibitors. Read More

Case Rep Oncol Med 2018 14;2018:9140593. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

In this report, we describe a case of a gastric cancer in young age group with delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. We report a rare case of a 16-year-old teenager with an advanced moderately differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma without any relevant history. He presented mainly with dysphagia, postprandial vomiting, and eventually hematemesis. Read More