• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.695-701
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• 2014

The main objective of palliative treatment for cancer patients has been to maintain, if not improve, the quality of life (QoL). There is a lack of local data on satisfaction and QoL among cancer patients receiving palliative treatment in Malaysia. This study covers patients with incurable, progressive cancer disease receiving palliative treatment in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, comparing the different components of QoL and correlations with patient satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey using Malay validated SF36 QoL and PSQ-18 (Short Form) tools was carried out between July 2012 -January 2013 with 120 cancer patients receiving palliative treatment, recruited into the study after informed consent using convenient sampling. Results showed that highest satisfaction were observed in Communication Aspect ($50.6{\pm}9.07$) and the least in General Satisfaction ($26.4{\pm}5.90$). The Mental Component Summary ($44.9{\pm}6.84$) scored higher when compared with the Physical Component Summary ($42.2{\pm}7.91$). In this study, we found that patient satisfaction was strongly associated with good quality of life among cancer patients from a general satisfaction aspect (r=0.232). A poor significant negative correlation was found in Physical Component (technical quality, r=-0.312). The Mental Component showed there was a poor negative correlation between time spent with doctor (r=-0.192) and accessibility, (r=-0.279). We found that feeling at peace and having a sense of meaning in life were more important to patients than being active or achieving good physical comfort. More studyis needed to investigate patients who score poorly on physical and mental component aspects to understand their needs in order to achieve better cancer care.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2547-2554
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the perception of cancer patients toward treatment services and influencing factors and to inquire about the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). Materials and Methods: Information was obtained through pre-tested structured questionnaires completed by cancer patients during treatment at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Results: Of 242 patients, 137 (64.6%) accepted to enter this study. Most were Saudi (n=93, 68%), female (n=80, 58%), educated at university (n=71, 52%), married (n=97, 72%) and with breast cancer (n=36, 26%). One-hundred (73%) patients were satisfied with the services provided; 61% were Saudi. Ninety-four (68%) respondents were satisfied with the explanation of their cancer. Twenty-eight (21.6%) patients received CAM, of them 54.0% received herbal followed by rakia (21.0%), nutritional supplements/vitamins (7.0%) and Zamam water (18.0%), with significant differences among them (p =0.004). Seven (5%) patients believed this therapy could be used alone; 34 (25%) patients believed it could be used with other treatments, regardless of whether they themselves used this therapy. Fifty-three (53%) satisfied patients felt they received enough support; 31 (58%) patients received support from family and friends; 22 (41.6%) patients received support from the health-care team. Patients who received information about their disease from their physicians and those who felt they had enough support were more satisfied. The patients who took alternative treatment were older age, mostly female and highly educated but values did not reach significance. Conclusions: We stress enhancing the educational and supportive aspects of cancer-patient services to improve their treatment satisfaction and emphasize the need for increasing the educational and awareness programs offered to these patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6663-6667
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• 2013

Purpose: The current research was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed given continuously as a basement agent for first-, second- to third line chemotherapy of patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Patients and Methods: Patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who were diagnosed in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Insitute, were enrolled. All received pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ (intravenous; on day 1), and another chemotherapieutic agent every 3 weeks until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. Then the patients were changed to a second line chemotherapy that was still based on pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ and another chemotherapeutic agent differing from the first line example, until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. When third line chemotherapy was needed, pemetrexed 500 $mg/m^2$ and another new chemotherapeutic agent were combined until disease progression. Evaluation of efficacy was conducted after two cycles of chemotherapy using the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors. Toxicity was recorded according to NCI Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Results: From January 2010 to September 2013, 15 patients were enrolled. Their median age was 56 years (range 43 to 77 years). Eight patients were male and 7 female. Five patients (33.3%) achieved PR, while 6 patients (40.0%) remained stable, no CR on first line; and 1 PR (7.7%), 5 stable (38.5%) were recorded when pemetrexed was ordered in second line; 5 patients (41.7%) were stable after pemetrexed was combined in third line; no complete response was observed. Main side effects were grade 1 to 2 neutrophil suppression and thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities included elevated transaminase and oral mucositis, but no treatment related death occurred. Conclusions: Pemetrexed continuously as a basement agent from first-, second- to third line chemotherapy is mildly effective in treating patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with tolerable toxicity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.708-716
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct a clinical analysis of gastrointestinal cancer patients treated with Korean medical therapy. Methods: We analyzed a retrospective review of 226 gastrointestinal cancer patients treated in the cancer center of a Korean medicine hospital from February 2012 to August 2017. The patients' general characteristics, including the tumor, origin, stage of cancer, type of treatment, and chief complaint, were investigated before and after the treatment. Results: The largest proportion of tumor origins in total patients and inpatients was gastric cancer. Overall, 54.9% of the patients' tumors were stage IV. In total, 65.9% of patients visited the Oriental hospital for combination treatment with conventional medicine. The patients' chief complaints were abdominal discomfort, general weakness, and general cancer-related pain. Conclusions: This study presented the characteristics of patients with gastrointestinal cancer treated with Oriental medicine. Further advanced studies of Oriental medical cancer treatments are needed, based on the findings of this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.755-758
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• 2016

Background: There is little information about the objectivity of posttraumatic growth experienced by cancer patients. So, the aim of present study was to investigate the viewpoints of family caregivers regarding posttraumatic growth in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in one referral medical center in East Azerbaijan Province in northwest of Iran. 120 primary family caregivers of cancer patients participated with a convenience sampling method. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and Perception about Prognosis Scale (PPS) were applied for data collection with analysis performed using SPSS statistical software. Results: Family caregivers believed that their patients had a good prognosis (score 3.95 from 5). The total score of PTGI was 60.7 (SD=18.8) that indicates a moderate level of growth as reported by family caregivers. Conclusions: Family caregivers of cancer patients have incorrect viewpoints about the prognosis of their patients and reported moderate levels of growth. These findings showed that posttraumatic growth among cancer patients is an objective phenomenon.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.162-172
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• 2017

Purpose: Previous studies indicated conflicting results regarding the prognosis of gastric cancer with a family history (FHX). This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological features and survival of patients with gastric cancer with a FHX. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 2,736 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery between 2003 and 2009. The prognostic value of a FHX was determined in the multivariate model after adjusting for variables in the Asian and internationally validated prognostic models. Results: Of the patients, 413 (15.1%) had a FHX of gastric cancer. The patients with a FHX were younger (58.1 vs. 60.4 years; P<0.001) than the patients without a FHX. There were no significant differences in the histopathological characteristics between the 2 groups. A FHX was associated with a better overall survival (OS) rate only in the stage I group (5-year survival rate, 95% vs. 92%; P=0.006). However, the disease-specific survival (DSS) rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups in all stages. The multivariate model adjusted for the variables in the Asian and internationally validated prognostic models revealed that FHX has no significant prognostic value for OS and DSS. Conclusions: The clinicopathological features and survival of the patients with gastric cancer with a FHX did not significantly differ from those of the patients without a FHX.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using simultaneous integrated boost-intensity modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients. Materials and Methods: Between January 2011 and May 2015, 47 LAPC patients received CRT using SIB-IMRT. Prior to SIB-IMRT, 37 patients (78.7%) received induction chemotherapy (IC-CRT group) and remaining 10 patients (21.3%) did not received induction chemotherapy (CRT group). During SIB-IMRT, all patients received concomitant chemotherapy, with gemcitabine (n = 37) and capecitabine (n = 10). Results: At the time of analysis, 45 patients had died and 2 patients remained alive and the median follow-up time was 14.2 months (range, 3.3 to 51.4 months). For all patients, the median times of local progression-free survival (LPFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 18.1, 10.3, and 14.2 months, respectively. The median time of LPFS between IC-CRT and CRT groups was similar (18.1 months vs. 18.3 months, p = 0.711). IC-CRT group had a higher trend in PFS (10.9 months vs. 4.1 months, p = 0.054) and had significantly higher OS (15.4 months vs. 9.5 months, p = 0.007) than CRT group. In multivariate analysis, the use of induction chemotherapy and tumor response were significant factors associated with OS (p < 0.05, each). During SIB-IMRT, toxicity of grade ≥3 was observed in 7 patients (14.9%) in all patients. Conclusions: CRT using SIB-IMRT is feasible and promising in LAPC patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4999-5002
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• 2012

Introduction: There is epidemiological evidence indicating that the metabolic syndrome increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Since there is little information about this issue in Iran, the present study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with colorectal cancer. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 200 patients with a new diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Demographic information of patients was collected through the interview with them. Components of metabolic syndrome including fasting glucose serum, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, blood pressure and waist circumference were measured for all of the patients. Results: A total of 72 colorectal cancer patients (36%) met metabolic syndrome criteria with rates of 76% for women and 24% for men. BMI in metabolic syndrome patients was higher than other colorectal cancer patients. Disease history including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease was most frequent in metabolic syndrome patients. Pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer were not significantly associated with the disease. Conclusion: The findings of present study indicated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in CRC patients is relatively high. Therefore, further analytical and multi centric studies are needed to better understand the role of metabolic syndrome in development of CRC in Iran. If this association is confirmed in future studies, metabolic syndrome patients should be considered in CRC screening programs.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1938-1945
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• 2021

Breast radiologists are increasingly seeing patients with axillary adenopathy related to COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination can cause levels I-III axillary as well as cervical lymphadenopathy. Appropriate management of vaccine-related adenopathy may vary depending on clinical context. In patients with current or past history of malignancy, vaccine-related adenopathy can be indistinguishable from nodal metastasis. This article presents imaging findings of oncology patients with adenopathy seen in the axilla or neck on cross-sectional imaging (breast MRI, CT, or PET-CT) after COVID-19 vaccination. Management approach and rationale is discussed, along with consideration on strategies to minimize false positives in vaccinated cancer patients. Time interval between vaccination and adenopathy seen on breast MRI, CT, or PET-CT is also reported.

• Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.90.1-90.12
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• 2018

Objective: We performed small-scale mutation and large genomic rearrangement (LGR) analysis of BRCA1/2 in ovarian cancer patients to determine the prevalence and the characteristics of the mutations. Methods: All ovarian cancer patients who visited a single institution between September 2015 and April 2017 were included. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to comprehensively study BRCA1/2. The genetic risk models BRCAPRO, Myriad, and BOADICEA were used to evaluate the mutation analysis. Results: In total, 131 patients were enrolled. Of the 131 patients, Sanger sequencing identified 16 different BRCA1/2 small-scale mutations in 20 patients (15.3%). Two novel nonsense mutations were detected in 2 patients with a serous borderline tumor and a large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. MLPA analysis of BRCA1/2 in Sanger-negative patients revealed 2 LGRs. The LGRs accounted for 14.3% of all identified BRCA1 mutations, and the prevalence of LGRs identified in this study was 1.8% in 111 Sanger-negative patients. The genetic risk models showed statistically significant differences between mutation carriers and non-carriers. The 2 patients with LGRs had at least one blood relative with breast or ovarian cancer. Conclusion: Twenty-two (16.8%) of the unselected ovarian cancer patients had BRCA1/2 mutations that were detected through comprehensive BRCA1/2 genetic testing. Ovarian cancer patients with Sanger-negative results should be considered for LGR detection if they have one blood relative with breast or ovarian cancer. The detection of more BRCA1/2 mutations in patients is important for efforts to provide targeted therapy to ovarian cancer patients.