PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of foot reflexology on nausea, vomiting and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: The research was a quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent pre-post design and was conducted from Jan. 26, to Mar. 20, 2004. The subjects consisted of 34 patients with 18 in the experimental group and 16 in control group. A pretest and 2 posttests were conducted to measure nausea, vomiting and fatigue. For the experimental group, foot reflexology, which was consisted of 4 phases for 40 minutes, was given by a researcher and 4 research assistants. The collected data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA using the SPSS WIN 10.0 program. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in nausea, and vomiting in the experimental group compared to the control group over two different times. In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in fatigue in the experimental group compared to the control group over two different times. CONCLUSION: Foot reflexology was effective on nausea, vomiting and fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in this study. Therefore, foot reflexology can be usefully utilized as a nursing intervention in the field of cancer nursing for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Vomiting/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Nausea/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Middle Aged ; *Massage ; Humans ; *Foot ; Female ; Fatigue/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/nursing ; Antineoplastic Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Adult

Although various combinations of chemotherapy regimens have been tried for patients with esophageal cancer, their duration of survival is extremely poor. In this study, we investigated the safety and clinical efficacy of paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy in metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer. 32 patients enrolled in this study and the median age was 60 yr. Of all the 32, 28 patients (88%) had been treated previously, 22 of them with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. All patients in the study received biweekly paclitaxel (90 mg/m2) followed by cisplatin (50 mg/m2). One patient (3%) responded completely, and 12 patients (38%) showed a partial response; in 9 patients (28%) the disease remained stable, and in 10 patients (31%) it progressed. The objective response rate was 41%. The median duration of response was 4.8 months, and the median overall survival in all patients was 7 months. The 1-yr and 2-yr survival rates were 28.1% and 7.1%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 of neutropenia and anemia were observed in 6 (19%) and 5 (16%) patients, respectively. The major non-hematologic toxicity was fatigue, but most of them could manageable. In conclusion, biweekly paclitaxel and cisplatin is effective in patients with metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer.
Aged ; Anemia/chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy/secondary ; Cisplatin/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Diarrhea/chemically induced ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Fatigue/chemically induced ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy/secondary ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy/secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea/chemically induced ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Paclitaxel/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Survival Analysis ; Thrombocytopenia/chemically induced ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting/chemically induced

Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; Fever ; chemically induced ; Headache ; chemically induced ; Hepatitis C ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pain ; chemically induced ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the effects of sorafenib monotherapy on advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in a clinical setting. METHODS: In total, 143 consecutive patients with unresectable HCC were treated with sorafenib. Among these patients, 30 patients with advanced HCC and PVTT (Vp3 or 4) were treated with sorafenib monotherapy. RESULTS: All patients had a performance status of 1 to 2 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 1/2, 20/10) and Child-Pugh class A or B (A/B, 17/13). Eleven patients had modified Union for International Cancer Control stage IVA tumors, whereas 19 had stage IVB tumors. All patients had PVTT (Vp3, 6; Vp4, 24). Following sorafenib monotherapy, three patients (10.0%) had a partial response with PVTT revascularization, and nine (30.0%) had stable disease, with a disease control rate of 33.3%. The median overall survival was 3.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.70 to 3.50), and the median progression-free survival was 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.96 to 2.05). Fatigue and hand-foot skin reactions were the most troublesome side effects. CONCLUSIONS: A limited proportion of patients with advanced HCC and PVTT exhibited a remarkable outcome after sorafenib monotherapy, although the treatment results in this type of patient is extremely poor. Further studies to predict good responders to personalized therapy are warranted.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anorexia/chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy/pathology ; Diarrhea/chemically induced ; Disease-Free Survival ; Fatigue/chemically induced ; Female ; Hand-Foot Syndrome/etiology ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea/chemically induced ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Niacinamide/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Phenylurea Compounds/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Portal Vein/*pathology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Venous Thrombosis/*drug therapy/pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effective mechanism and side effects of thalidomide to multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSTen cases of MM were studied, of which 3 were previously untreated and 7 refractory or relapsed. Bone marrow microvascular density (MVD) was detected by factor-VIII related antigen and CD(34) immunohistological staining and serum concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) before and after treatment was determined by ELISA. The initial dosage of thalidomide was 100 approximately 200 mg/d with a weekly escalation of 50 mg/d to 450 approximately 650 mg/d. The therapeutic effectiveness is classified into partial remission, improvement and uneffective according to the decrease of serum M protein and bone marrow myeloma cells. Anemia, renal function and blood electrolytes were also observed.

RESULTSBefore treatment, MVD was 73.32 +/- 28.80 and 32.30 +/- 12.50 in MM and control group, respectively, (P < 0.01). MVD in MM group decreased to 56.12 +/- 19.34 after treatment, and was of significant difference (P < 0.05) as compared to the pretreatment value. However, there was still a significant difference as compared to control (56.12 +/- 19.34 vs 32.30 +/- 12.50, P < 0.01). The concentration of VEGF significantly decreased after treatment [from (178.23 +/- 26.56) ng/L to (78.48 +/- 19.98) ng/L, P < 0.01)]. The total effective rate was 70%. There were no serious side effects.

CONCLUSIONMVD and VEGF concentration were decreased obviously by thalidomide treatment. The dosage of 450 approximately 650 mg/d might be effective in refractory or initial MM.

Aged ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Bone Marrow ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Constipation ; chemically induced ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; blood ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Lymphokines ; blood ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; chemically induced ; Thalidomide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; von Willebrand Factor ; analysis

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of RNCE regimen in the treatment of relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

METHODSFrom January 2000 to December 2005, 46 patients with relapsed or refractory B cell NHL were treated by RNCE regimen with or without radiotherapy for the involved field. The clinical characteristics, response, toxicity and long-term survival results were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 46 patients were eligible. The complete response rate of second-line therapy was 52.17% (24/46), and the overall response rate was 82.61% (38/46). The median follow-up duration in this series was 69 months (range:6 to 102 months). The overall 1, 3, 5-year survival rate was 74.8%, 48.3%, 40.1%, respectively, with a median survival time of 30.2 months (5 to 65 months), and median progression free survival time of 10.9 months (2 to 31 months). The major toxicities were myelosuppression, GI toxicity, fatigue, fever and alopecia.

CONCLUSIONOur data show that RNCE regimen treatment is effective and well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alopecia ; chemically induced ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Survival Rate ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Young Adult

The effects of treatment with oral capecitabine vs. bolus 5-FU, administered concurrently with preoperative radiotherapy, were compared in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). One hundred and twenty-seven patients with LARC received concurrent preoperative chemoradiation using two cycles bolus 5-FU (500 mg/m2/day) plus leucovorin (LV, 20 mg/m2/day) (Group I). Another LARC group received concurrent chemoradiation using two cycles 1,650 mg/m2/day of oral capecitabine and 20 mg/m2/day of LV (Group II, 97 patients). Radiation was delivered to the primary tumor at 50.4 Gy in both groups. Definitive surgery was performed 6 weeks after the completion of chemoradiation. A pathologic complete remission was achieved in 11.4% of patients in Group I and in 22.2% of patients in Group II (p= 0.042). The down-staging rates of the primary tumor and lymph nodes were 39.0/ 68.7% in Group I and 61.1/87.5% in Group II (p=0.002/0.005). Sphincter-preserving surgery was possible in 42.1% of patients in Group I and 66.7% of those in Group II (p=0.021). Grade 3 or 4 leucopenia, diarrhea, and radiation dermatitis were statistically more prevalent in Group I than in Group II, while the opposite was true for grade 3 hand-foot syndrome. Preoperative chemoradiation using oral capecitabine was better tolerated than bolus 5-FU and was more effective in the promotion of both down-staging and sphincter preservation in patients with LARC.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Comparative Study ; Deoxycytidine/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Diarrhea/chemically induced ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Fatigue/chemically induced ; Female ; Fluorouracil/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukopenia/chemically induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Complications/therapy ; Rectal Neoplasms/*drug therapy/radiotherapy/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To study the relevance between cancer related fatigue and coping styles in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. METHODS: A survey was conducted in 396 patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy on cancer related fatigue scale and Jalowiec coping scale, and the relation was analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of overall fatigue in breast cancer patients was 96.97%, mostly moderate fatigue. The rate of fatigue dimensions from high to low was physical fatigue, feeling fatigue and cognitive fatigue, respectively. The score of coping styles in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy from high to low was optimistic coping, facing bravely, support seeking, self-reliance, emotional catharsis, avoidance, fatalism, and conservation. The most widely used coping style was optimistic coping style, and the least was emotional catharisis. There was a positive correlation between coping style of emotional catharsis and cancer related fatigue of all dimensions (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between emotional fatigue and optimistic,facing bravely, support seeking, self-reliance, or conservation (P<0.05). There was also a negative correlation between physical fatigue and optimistic or support seeking (P<0.05), but there was a positive correlation between avoidance or fatalism and the dimensions of general fatigue, physical fatigue, and cognitive fatigue (P<0.05). CONCLUSION There is prevalent cancer related fatigue in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy. We should guide the patients to more active coping styles, to enhance the ability of psychological adaption in patients, reduce cancer related fatigue, and improve the quality of life.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; psychology ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Yiqi Jianpi Recipe (YJR) in treating cancer-related fatigue (CRF) after chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Methods Totally 124 lung cancer patients were assigned to the treatment group (63 cases) and the control group (61 cases) according to random digit table. All patients received pre-set chemotherapy regimens according their conditions. Patients in the treatment group took YJR Decoction from the 1st day of chemotherapy, one dose per day for 2 successive weeks, while those in the control group took no Chinese medical decoction. Changes of each dimensional scoring and the total scoring were observed by cancer fatigue scale (CFS) in the two groups one day before chemotherapy, on the 3rd day and the 14th day after chemotherapy. The degree of bone marrow depression and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CFS) doses were also observed after chemotherapy.

RESULTSCompared with one day before chemotherapy in the same group, scorings for emotional, perceptional, and somatologic dimensions, and the total scoring significantly increased on the 3rd day in the treatment group, as well as on the 3rd and the 14th day in the control group (P <0. 01). Scorings for emotional, perceptional, and somatologic dimensions, and the total scoring significantly decreased more at the fourteenth day after chemotherapy than at the 3rd day after chemotherapy (P <0. 01). There was statistical difference in the scoring for perceptional dimension at day 3 between the treatment group and the control group (P <0.01). However, scorings for emotional, perceptional, and somatologic dimensions, and the total scoring significantly decreased more at the fourteenth day after chemotherapy in the treatment group, with statistical difference when compared with those in the control group (P <0. 01). The occurrence rate of bone marrow depression was 70. 97% (44/62) in the treatment group and 68. 85% (42/61) in the control group. There was no significant difference in the occurrence rate between the two groups (χ2=0. 540, P >0.05). There was no statistical difference in rhG-CFS doses between the two groups (χ2=0. 696, P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONYJD could significantly relieve CRF after chemotherapy in lung cancer patients, and obviously attenuate the effect of CRF on their daily life.

Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Biomedical Research ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Recombinant Proteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness and safety of domestically produced recombinant human interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) for the treatment of chemotherapy- induced thrombocytopenia.

METHODSA total of 32 solid cancer patients who developed chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia ( _70 x 10(9)/L) after the first cycle of chemotherapy was studied by self-cross control. The patients were given subcutaneous injection of rhIL-11 (25 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 7 to 14 consecutive days or until platelet count > or = 100 x 10(9)/L during the second cycle of chemotherapy using the identical regimen as in the first cycle.

RESULTSThe mean platelet count of the patients after rhIL-11 treatment was higher at different time points during the second cycle of chemotherapy than that during the first cycle of chemotherapy with the mean platelet count of (110.2 +/- 53.5) x 10(9)/L in the first cycle of chemotherapy versus (55.6 +/- 46.8) x 10(9)/L in the second cycle of chemotherapy (P < 0. 01). Patients with platelet count < or = 50 x 10(9)/L was 4/32 (12.5%) in the first cycle of chemotherapy and 12/32 (37.5%) in the second cycle of chemotherapy (P < 0.01). The time recovery to the normal platelet count was 2 - 18 days (median 5 days) in the first cycle of chemotherapy versus 5 - 27 days (median 12 days) in the second cycle of chemotherapy (P < 0.01). The case/frequency of the platelet transfusion was 2/2 in the first cycle of chemotherapy, while it was 7/9 in the second cycle of chemotherapy (P < 0.01). The major adverse reactions relative to rhIL-11 treatment were fatigue, myalgia/arthralgia, ache, headache, palpitation, edema and fever, most of which could be relieved automatically without any specific treament. However, some 3 grade side effects such as fatigue, myalgia/arthralgia and headache needed proper medication.

CONCLUSIONrhIL-11 is safe and effective for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia with mild and manageable side effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interleukin-11 ; adverse effects ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Platelet Count ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome