• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.230-235
• /
• 2020

Systemic therapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) still remains challenging because there are no targeted agents or endocrine therapies currently available. The present case report documents the successful use of cisplatin monotherapy to manage a heavily pretreated TNBC patient showing poor response to therapy. The patient was a 51-year-old woman who had already undergone several lines of systemic chemotherapy for widespread TNBC. Although the mutation analysis performed on DNA isolated from blood cells and progressed lesion samples confirmed the tumor to be germline BRCA wild-type, cisplatin monotherapy was administered based on the increasing evidence of safety and efficacy of platinum for breast cancer. After three cycles of cisplatin treatment, the patient's metastatic lesions dramatically improved without any major toxicity, and she completed 17 cycles with good response. This case study indicates that patients with heavily pretreated TNBC can potentially achieve a good response to cisplatin monotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.402-412
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify health promotion behavior, self-efficacy and role stress of family caregivers who care for hospitalized cancer patient, The results would be used to provide the necessary basic data for promoting healthy behavior of the family caregivers to the cancer patient. The results were as follow : 1) The level of health promotion behavior was significantly different depending on the existence of care givers religion and type of help from family members. There was a positive relationship between the performance level of health promotion behavior and perceived health status or age. There was a negative correlation between the performance level of health promotion behavior and time cared for. 2) The level of self-efficacy was significantly different depending on gender and if the subject was employed. There was a positive relationship between perceived health status and intimacy with patient. 3) The level of role stress was significantly different in genders and relationships with patients. 4) There was a positive relationship between health promotion behavior and self-efficacy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.132-135
• /
• 1999

Although the vast majority (about 70%) of patients with cancer will have pain directly related to neoplastic invasion into pain-sensitive bone and soft tissue structures,as many as 20% of the adults will have pain caused directly by cancer therapy. Treatment related pain problems are important for several reasons; their appearance may be confused with more omnious pain syndromes associated with tumor recurrence or progression that may be directly lead to death of the patient; when severe, compliance with recommandations for further therapy may be adversely affected. Now, we report a case of postsurgical pain syndrome after radical neck dissection in a patient with tonsilar cancer. The pain after radical neck dissection result from injury to the cervical plexus,cranial nerve,and cervical sympathetics. In our case, we ruled out soft tissue infection and tumor recurrence,and successfully treated with gasserian ganglion block with pure alcohol in the patient having neuropathic pain in the mandible and preauricular region after radical neck dissection.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.211-217
• /
• 2005

Objectives : Terminal stage cancer patient from primary hepatocellular carcinoma metastasized into lungs was administered with cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture for 5 months and observed progression. Methods : Cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture was administered 5 times a week at about 150cc dosage per week. Dynamic CT was taken and interpreted at a university hospital. Results : Above patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and received one procedure of lobectomy and three procedures of TACE, but because of metastasis, chance of improvement was very obscure. Intensive treatment of cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture five times a week for five months in association with moxibustion was done on the patient. Near elimination of the cancer cells metastasized into lungs were confirmed in terms of radiological impression through dynamic CT. Conclusion: From the results obtained in this study, cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture can be an effective measure against terminal stage cancer. But this is a single case study and lack of extensive follow-up must be compensated by further researches.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.687-694
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this case report is to present abdominal pain relief in a patient diagnosed with colorectal cancer with several organ metastases. Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion. The effect of the treatment was measured by a numeric rating scale (NRS). Results: The NRS of the patient's abdominal pain was reduced after Korean medicine treatment. Conclusions: This case report suggests that Korean medicine may be effective for treating abdominal pain in cancer patients. However, additional study is needed to confirm interactions between Korean medicine and the control of abdominal pain.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.21-23
• /
• 2014

We report a bronchoesophageal fistula that treat with bronchial stent insertion and histoacryl injection. A 52-year-old man with esophagel cancer was transferred for dysphagia management. At the CT scan that underwent on admission, esophageal cancer with multiple lymph node metastasis was observed. At the gastroduodenoscopy and contrast study, bronchoesophageal fistula was observed. Recurrent stent insertion treatment was failed, and then, By the broncoscopy, covered stent was inserted to right bronchus, and By the endoscopy, fibrin glue and histoacryl was injected in the fistula opening. At the contrast study, contrast leakage was not observed, and the patient was discharged. But, at the 14 days after discharge, the patient was admitted to the emerency room because of cough symptom whenever he eat food. The patient was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, we were determined that it is unable to oral intake. The patient received a jejunostomy and antibiotic treatment for aspiration pneumonia. He was discharged after symptomatic improvement.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.567-573
• /
• 2008

Cancer is now the leading fatal disease in every developed country. Due to very low efficiency of conventional cancer therapeutics and important aspect of quality of life (QOL), complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) has been accepted worldwide, especially by late-staged cancer patients. Oriental medicine traditionally has stressed not only the tumor itself but the body having cancer, improving cancer-related immunity and extending survival period. Herein, we report one case of a terminal staged rectal cancer patient having spread-metastasis but showing a meaningful clinical course of around four years with Oriental medicine therapies. This study aimed to report the clinical capacity of Oriental medicine for patients with cancerous disease, to help development of Oriental medicine-derived anticancer treatments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.4953-4958
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine how nurses recognize the need for supportive care of advanced cancer patients and to provide preliminary data on how adequate circumstances are to be set up and maintained in Korea. For the purpose of this study, we developed a preliminary questionnaire based on a focus group of 8 nurses run by a clinical psychologist and administered it to 228 nurses in a cancer hospital, over a 3-month period. Participants of this study were nurses with more than 5 years' experience of treating advanced cancer patients. The result showed that 207 respondents (90.8%) agreed that a smooth communication system for treatment taking into account the symptoms experienced by patients and rehabilitation issues was needed. More than 80% agreed that the items needed for an integrated management service for advanced cancer patients should include psychological support, an integrated pain and symptom management, and education for the patient and his or her caregivers. These results strongly suggest that a new system distinct from palliative care or hospices is needed for patients with advanced cancer in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.37-61
• /
• 2009

The diagnosis of breast cancer can have a significant impact upon all family members in psychological and practical aspects. The impact of breast cancer may have a particularly strong impact on the spouse and the marital relationship. Breast cancer can alter the couple's emotional balance, finances, division of responsibilities and social activities. However, little empirical evidence exists investigating support-related exchanges between patient and spouse in Korea. Therefore, it is meaningful to address psychosocial effect and change of marital relationship in context of breast cancer. This article reviews 34 studies (1987-2009) on marital relationship in the context of breast cancer. Results indicate that the psychosocial impact of breast cancer on the healthy spouse and patient, spouse's effects on quality of life, adaptation, distress of breast cancer patients, and impact of breast cancer on marital relationship. Several recommendations can be made for oncology health professionals working with families of cancer patients such as the need for longitudinal and comprehensive study

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.304-307
• /
• 1997

Continuous epidural infusion, a combination of local anesthetic and opioid, have been widely administered for treatment of chronic cancer pain. A serious complications of epidural block is paraplegia which can also be caused by : direct spinal cord injury, epidural hematoma, epidural abscess, ischemic change, neurotoxicity, preexisting disease. Continuous epidural block for pain control of patient with cervical cancer was performed at $T_{12}/L_1$ interspace. A 4 cm catheter was inserted cephalad into the epidural space. After four months, back pain and motor weariless of lower extremities progressively developed. Spine CT showed bony destruction and soft mass-like lesion at $T_9$ & $T_{12}$ spine. We propose paraplegia was caused by spinal cord compression which resulted from vertebral metastasis of cervical cancer.