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Treatment of hormone-naïve metastatic prostate cancer
Purpose of review Until 2015, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone was the standard-of-care for metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC). In the last decade, important landmark therapeutic advances occurred in the management of these patients permitting improvement of their survival. Recent findings At least two prospective randomized trials proved upfront docetaxel (DOC) + ADT benefit consequently providing strong evidence for guidelines modifications. Second, similar benefit results were demonstrated when using upfront abiraterone acetate + ADT in mHNPC. Summary Both DOC-based chemotherapy an...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RENAL AND UROLOGICAL PROBLEMS: Edited by Fred Saad Source Type: research

Role of immunotherapy in kidney cancer
Purpose of review To summarize current knowledge on promising immunotherapeutic agents and to provide a brief outline of current use of immunotherapeutic agents in patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recent findings Immunotherapy with mAbs directed against programed death cell protein 1, programed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 has become new first-line standard of care for moderate and poor-risk metastatic RCC patients. Similarly, the combination immune-oncology treatment and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mAbs also showed promising results ...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RENAL AND UROLOGICAL PROBLEMS: Edited by Fred Saad Source Type: research

Improving outcome in patients with prostate and kidney cancer: heading in the right direction?
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RENAL AND UROLOGICAL PROBLEMS: Edited by Fred Saad Source Type: research

Peer support for people with advanced cancer: a systematically constructed scoping review of quantitative and qualitative evidence
Purpose of review The number of people living with advanced cancer is increasing, and appropriate support to this population is essential. Peer support is increasingly advocated as a component of care, but little is known about how to provide this in the context of advanced cancer. This review describes the experience and impact of different forms of peer support for people with advanced cancer. Recent findings Data from 22 articles were reviewed, primarily descriptive studies. They describe three forms of peer support (one-to-one, group, and online), reaching primarily those who are women, middle-aged, and well educa...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

Supporting self-management in palliative care throughout the cancer care trajectory
Purpose of review Despite increased survivorship and the subsequent need for chronic management of cancer, the association of self-management and palliative care is still emerging within cancer care. Routine and timely use of self-management strategies in the palliative setting can help reduce self-management burden and maximize quality of life. In this review, we consider the complementary relationship of self-management and palliative care and how they support living with cancer as a chronic illness. Recent findings Recent studies provide evidence of support among patients, family caregivers and healthcare professio...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

Towards a framework for reporting self-guided interventions for people with cancer
This article builds on a previous systematic review on self-guided interventions, finding that the recent literature demonstrates that evidence for these interventions is mixed. The field is limited by descriptions of these interventions, and it is not possible to ascertain what aspects of interventions are more successful. Recent findings Development of a reporting framework whereby self-guided interventions could be clearly presented, would be a substantial contribution to understanding the evidence for these studies. Recent findings also support the need to understand patient adherence and engagement, which could be ...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

Psychological support for patients with cancer: evidence review and suggestions for future directions
This article reviews contributions to that literature published since January 2017. Recent findings The majority of new psychological intervention research in cancer has used cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness-based interventions. CBT has been considered a gold-standard intervention and recent evidence justifies continuation of this. Recent reviews call into question the validity of evidence for mindfulness-based interventions. A smaller number of trials using acceptance and commitment therapy, meta-cognitive therapy, dignity therapy and coaching have emerged, and whereas findings are promising, addition...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

The emerging role of digital health in monitoring and supporting people living with cancer and the consequences of its treatments
This article reviews current evidence, practice and developments, and identifies emerging issues and opportunities. Recent findings Digital health innovations, primarily using internet or smartphone-enabled applications, have been successfully developed, particularly in the areas of symptom management, decision-making, survivorship and follow-up care and palliative care. The research is characterized by much developmental activity, and evidence is accruing for efficacy and effectiveness. Opportunities afforded by digital health include timelier and patient-centred evidence-based care, offering improved clinical outcomes...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

The role of primary care in supporting patients living with and beyond cancer
Purpose of review The prevalence of cancer survivors is increasing. Those living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis have a range of physical, psychosocial and practical needs. This review aims to discuss the role of primary care in meeting these needs. Recent findings Patients have increased contact with primary care after a cancer diagnosis but the role of the primary care team in the formal delivery of cancer aftercare is not clearly defined and varies depending on setting and context. Research suggests that both patients and health professionals are receptive to greater involvement of primary care, with information...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

Understanding survivors’ needs and outcomes: the role of routinely collected data
Purpose of review The number of cancer survivors is growing due to population ageing, earlier detection and more effective therapies. Routinely collected data (RCD), generally cancer registry data, has been used to investigate survivors’ needs and outcomes. We reviewed uses of RCD since 2017, identifying novel findings and research directions. Recent findings Survival is improving internationally but continues to vary between subgroups. Longitudinal survivor surveys suggest malignancy-specific temporal patterns in unmet needs and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL). Unmet needs are a risk factor for future depres...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

Supporting self-management in cancer care
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: LIVING WITH CANCER AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT: Edited by Lynn Calman and Natasha Campling Source Type: research

Positive airway pressure devices for the management of breathlessness
Purpose of review Breathlessness is a common symptom in many chronic diseases and may be refractory to pharmacotherapy. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of breathlessness and the role of positive airway pressure (PAP) devices to ameliorate it. Recent findings Breathlessness is directly related to neural respiratory drive, which can be modified by addressing the imbalance between respiratory muscle load and capacity. Noninvasive PAP devices have been applied to patients limited by exertional breathless and, as the disease progresses, breathlessness at rest. The application of PAP is focussed on addressing...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by David C. Currow and Miriam J. Johnson Source Type: research

Pathophysiological mechanisms of exertional breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease
Purpose of review Breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD), particularly during exercise. Effective medical management of exertional breathlessness in people living with COPD and fibrotic ILD is challenging for healthcare providers and requires an understanding of its mechanisms. Thus, in this brief review we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of exertional breathlessness in COPD and fibrotic ILD. Recent findings The collective results of recent physiolog...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by David C. Currow and Miriam J. Johnson Source Type: research

Breathlessness in the emergency care setting
Purpose of review Breathlessness is one of the most common reasons for presentation at the emergency department (ED). The present review summarizes work published from 2017, which focuses on the symptom of breathlessness in its own right rather than as a signpost to diagnosis in relation to presentation to the ED. Recent findings Seven relevant papers are included in the present review. Five describe the epidemiology of breathlessness presentation showing: a prevalence of approximately 5% all ED presentations, a high likelihood of hospital admission especially for those with heart failure, breathlessness as a predicto...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by David C. Currow and Miriam J. Johnson Source Type: research

Integrated breathlessness services for people with chronic conditions
Purpose of review Optimal management of breathlessness requires generally more than one component. Breathlessness services aim to provide specific interventions and support for patients suffering from breathlessness due to any advanced disease and their carers. This review aims to describe recent studies evaluating the effects of breathlessness services for patients with advanced chronic conditions. Recent findings Various breathlessness services have been tested and vary regarding structure, duration, frequency and professionals involved. Four randomized controlled trials demonstrated a positive and significant effec...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - August 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by David C. Currow and Miriam J. Johnson Source Type: research