Posts by tag
quality of life
Seeking to get pregnant when the cancer is advanced
Faced with the sudden knowledge that the life they had expected will be suddenly cut short, some women find hope and existential meaning in trying for a child that that will be theirs for their remaining time, and carry their…
Tailoring palliative care visits to patients’ needs saves resources without harm
Stepped palliative care, with visits occurring only at key points in the patient’s cancer journey, resulted in fewer palliative care visits than conventional early palliative care. The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, held May…
Regular symptom reporting can help your patients live better, and possibly longer
An older woman receiving treatment for breast cancer sits at home wondering whether to call her physician and go into the hospital. She’s on a new dose of a drug which she hasn’t had before and is struggling with nausea.…
Making sense of recent progress in advanced breast cancer
Every two years breast cancer specialists and patient advocates gather at the Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) International Consensus Conference to discuss challenges and uncertainties in treatment and care of people with advanced breast cancer, to explore how evidence, knowledge and…
Exercise boosts quality of life in metastatic breast cancer
People with metastatic breast cancer taking part in a nine-month structured exercise programme report less fatigue and improved quality of life in comparison to controls. The study, abstract GS02-10, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held December 5–9,…
Prehabilitation programmes benefit breast cancer patients and save healthcare resources
Referring patients with early-stage breast cancer to exercise programmes prior to surgery not only improves health-related quality of life measures but also lowers overall healthcare costs. The study, abstract 1385675, was presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual…
Long-term health: is it time to update the priorities of cancer research?
“I was told that cancer was a temporary condition ‒ just get through treatment and things will go back to normal. I quickly realised that this is not true.” Gregory Aune was treated for Hodgkin’s disease when he was 17.…
Chemobrain: it’s real, it’s troublesome and it deserves more attention
Fiona Henderson was part way through her psychology degree when she received her breast cancer diagnosis. Right after treatments finished, she returned to her studies – initially without a problem. “Three or four months later, I really struggled. I was…
Innovations in supportive care: cancer treatment side effects
The association between cancer treatments and dramatic side effects such as uncontrolled nausea and vomiting retains a powerful hold over public perceptions and parts of the media. Recent decades have seen a big improvement in many of these, partly due…
EC publishes route map for tackling cancer
A plan from the European Commission provides a roadmap for Europe to tackle the entire cancer pathway from prevention to improving the quality of life for cancer survivors. The aim of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (published 3 February), accompanied…