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Opioid addiction, diversion, and abuse in chronic and cancer pain
Purpose of review The primary cause of overdose death in the United States is related to pharmaceutical opioids. A few particular populations that struggle with adverse outcomes related to opioid abuse are those in palliative care, those with chronic pain, and those receiving pain treatments secondary to cancer or chemotherapy. Recent findings There have been massive efforts to decrease the use of opioid abuse in patient care in a gestalt manner, but palliative care provides unique challenges in applying these reduction tactics used by other specialties. Summary We explore behavioral interventions, provider educati...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - May 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: PAIN: CANCER: Edited by Anthony H. Dickenson and Paul Farquhar-Smith Source Type: research

Chronic postsurgical pain and cancer: the catch of surviving the unsurvivable
Purpose of review Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an important and well recognized cause of much long-term suffering, which in some cases may be preventable and affects many people living with cancer. Unfortunately, general consensus is lacking as to how best reduce the risk of developing CPSP. Recent findings Cancer is now not always a short-lived, fatal disease and is now moving towards a chronic illness. Poorly managed perioperative pain is the greatest risk factor for CPSP. Recent trials have examined preventive strategies for CPSP associated with breast surgery and thoracotomy, two operations used in cancer t...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - May 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: PAIN: CANCER: Edited by Anthony H. Dickenson and Paul Farquhar-Smith Source Type: research

A critical appraisal of gabapentinoids for pain in cancer patients
Purpose of review Gabapentinoids are frequently used in the management of cancer pain. In recent Cochrane systematic reviews, although there was an abundance of evidence relating to non-cancer pain, only a few studies related to cancer pain. This review summarizes recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the use of gabapentinoids for tumour-related (as monotherapy or part of combination therapy) and treatment-related pain. Recent findings For tumour-related pain, ten out of thirteen studies showed statistically significant benefits in favour of gabapentinoids. When used, as part of monotherapy or combinat...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - May 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: PAIN: CANCER: Edited by Anthony H. Dickenson and Paul Farquhar-Smith Source Type: research

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cancer pain
Purpose of review This review aims to appraise the most recent evidence for the use of NSAIDS in cancer pain. Recent findings The Cochrane review reveals the paucity of high-quality evidence for the use of NSAIDS for cancer pain, highlighting methodological considerations for future research. There is limited evidence for the role of combined NSAIDs (celecoxib and diclofenac) alongside opioids for cancer pain. Recent retrospective data suggests NSAIDS may contribute to better pain control in hospitalized patients. In elderly patients in the last weeks of life, retrospective data shows a reduction in NSAID prescribing,...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - May 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: PAIN: CANCER: Edited by Anthony H. Dickenson and Paul Farquhar-Smith Source Type: research

Editorial for Pain: Cancer in 2018
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - May 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: PAIN: CANCER: Edited by Anthony H. Dickenson and Paul Farquhar-Smith Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - May 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Editorial Introductions Source Type: research

Supported self-management for cancer survivors to address long-term biopsychosocial consequences of cancer and treatment to optimize living well
Purpose of review As individuals are living longer with cancer as a chronic disease, they face new health challenges that require the application of self-management behaviors and skills that may not be in their usual repertoire of self-regulatory health behaviors. Increasing attention is focused on supported self-management (SSM) programs to enable survivors in managing the long-term biopsychosocial consequences and health challenges of survivorship. This review explores current directions and evidence for SSM programs that enable survivors to manage these consequences and optimize health. Recent findings Cancer survi...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Ongoing Issues in Survivorship Source Type: research

Screening for distress in survivorship
Purpose of review The current review provides an overview of recent research and other initiatives aimed at increasing and/or systematizing screening for distress in cancer survivors. It is timely given an increasing drive internationally to implement distress screening as part of routine cancer care. Recent findings Screening using brief validated tools is recommended and the single-item distress thermometer continues to be the international screening tool of choice. Although debate continues regarding the most appropriate cut-off distress thermometer score to identify clinically distressed patients, review of checke...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Ongoing Issues in Survivorship Source Type: research

Management of work through the seasons of cancer survivorship
Purpose of review Survival from cancer has expanded enormously over the past decades. It is estimated that 40–50% of all cancer survivors are of working age at time of diagnosis and thus potentially part of the labor force. The seasons of survivorship can be used as a steppingstone to describe issues regarding employability survivors are dealing with. Recent findings The acute survival stage begins at the point of diagnosis. Disclosure of diagnosis, and flexibility of both employers and (occupational) healthcare professionals are important factors in this stage. Extended survival starts when the survivor has complet...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Ongoing Issues in Survivorship Source Type: research

Transition to survivorship: can there be improvement?
Purpose of review The transition from primary cancer treatment to posttreatment follow-up care is seen as critical to the long-term health of survivors. However, relatively little attention has been paid to understanding this pivotal period. This review will offer a brief outline of the significant work surrounding this pivotal time published in the past year. Recent findings The growing number of cancer survivors has stimulated an emphasis on finding new models of care, whereby responsibility for survivorship follow-up is transitioned to primary care providers. A variety of models and tools have emerged for follow-up...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Ongoing Issues in Survivorship Source Type: research

The experience of head and neck cancer survivorship (including laryngectomy): an integrated biopsychosocial model
Purpose of review The head and neck cancer (HNC) survivorship experience is unique among cancer populations. This review seeks to explore the HNC survivor experience associated with altered upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) function using principles of survivorship. Recent findings HNC survivors experience complex physical, functional, and psychosocial challenges related to UADT dysfunction. Interventions need to address all of these dimensions being mindful of the survivor experience. Studies reveal related unmet needs of both HNC survivors and their family members. An expose of the HNC survivorship experience is time...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Exploring the Psychosocial Impact of and Coping With Specific Effects Post Cancer Treatment Source Type: research

Palliative care during and following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to synthesize recent literature regarding the provision of palliative care to patients during and following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), highlighting factors which mediate impairments in health-related quality of life in this patient population, and the intervention approaches and models of care delivery that clinicians can consider to address unmet needs for palliative care and to strengthen patient and family resiliency. Recent findings Provision of palliative care simultaneous with the delivery of treatment directed at the underlying mali...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: Exploring the Psychosocial Impact of and Coping With Specific Effects Post Cancer Treatment Source Type: research

Caregiver anticipatory grief: phenomenology, assessment and clinical interventions
Purpose of review This review aims to synthesize recent findings on anticipatory grief in caregivers, referring to its phenomenology, assessment and clinical interventions. Recent findings Recent literature illustrates the wide scope of the current use of the term anticipatory grief, reflecting caregivers’ experiences in different end-of-life trajectories. The anticipation of death is the distinctive aspect of anticipatory grief in the predeath grief continuum, encompassing several progressive losses, past and future. Recently developed assessment instruments capture key aspects of this experience, such as separatio...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: The Silent Struggles in Survivorship Source Type: research

Existential distress and meaning-focused interventions in cancer survivorship
Purpose of review Cancer can challenge fundamental assumptions about security, controllability and life priorities, which may lead to clinically relevant existential distress. We review recent studies on the prevalence of existential distress in cancer survivors, its distinctness from other distress concepts and interventions to address cancer-specific existential challenges. We further describe psychological mechanisms that may underlie change resulting from such interventions. Recent findings One-third to one-half of cancer survivors experienced existential fears and concerns related to reduced control, identity and...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: The Silent Struggles in Survivorship Source Type: research

The fear of cancer recurrence literature continues to move forward: a review article
Purpose of review The volume of literature addressing fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is rapidly increasing. A summary of key developments in the research and treatment of FCR was published by Sharpe et al. in 2017, and the current review focuses on works published thereafter. Recent findings A comprehensive literature review was conducted to provide an up-to-date summary of peer-reviewed publications focusing on FCR. The search consisted of the most recent FCR reports published between 2016 and 2017, which can be broadly categorized as: methods of assessment; associations with FCR; FCR and caregivers; and FCR interve...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - February 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: The Silent Struggles in Survivorship Source Type: research