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- Börjesson, Susanne, 1956-, et al.
(author)
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Colored body images reveal the perceived intensity anddistribution of pain in women with breast cancer treated with adjuvant taxanes: : a prospective multi-method study of pain experience
- 2018
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Pain. - Berlin/Boston : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1877-8860 .- 1877-8879. ; , s. 581-591
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and aims:Breast cancer is the most prevalent adult cancer worldwide. A broader use of screening for early detection and adjuvant systemic therapy with chemotherapy has resulted in improved survival rates. Taxane-containing chemotherapy is one of the cornerstones of the treatment. However, taxane-containing chemotherapy may result in acute chemotherapy-induced nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Since this pain may be an additional burden for the patient both during and after taxane chemotherapy, it is important to rapidly discover and treat it. There is yet no gold standard for assessing taxane-induced pain. In the clinic, applying multiple methods for collecting information on pain may better describe the patients’ pain experiences. The aim was to document the pain during and after taxane through the contribution of different methods for collecting information on taxane-induced pain. Fifty-three women scheduled for adjuvant sequential chemotherapy at doses of ≥75 mg/m2 of docetaxel and epirubicin were enrolled in the study.Methods:Prospective pain assessments were done on a visual analog scale (VAS) before and during each cycle of treatment for about 5 months, and using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire’s (EORTC-QLQ-C30) two pain questions at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Participants scoring pain on the VAS >30 and undergoing an interview also colored their pain on a body image during treatment and at 12 months.Results:Surprisingly widespread, intense pain was detected using a multi-method approach. The colored body image showed pain being perceived on 51% of the body surface area during treatment, and on 18% 12 months after inclusion. In general, the pain started and peaked in intensity after the first cycle of taxane. After Cycle 3, most women reported an increase in pain on the VAS. Some women continued to report some pain even during the epirubicin cycles. The VAS scores dropped after the last chemotherapy cycle, but not to the baseline level. At baseline, 3 months and 12 months after inclusion, the women who estimated VAS >30 reported higher levels of pain on the pain questions of the EORTC-QLQ-C30.Conclusions:This study contributes information on how different pain assessment tools offer different information in the assessment of pain. The colored body image brings another dimension to pain diagnostics, providing additional information on the involved body areas and the pain intensities as experienced by the women. A multi-method approach to assessing pain offers many advantages. The timing of the assessment is important to properly assess pain.Implications:Pain relief needs to be included in the chemotherapy treatment, with individual assessment and treatment of pain, in the same way as is done in chemotherapy-triggered nausea. There is a time window whereby the risk of pain development is at its highest within 24–48 h after receiving taxane chemotherapy. Proper attention to pain evaluation and treatment should be in focus during this time window.
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| 2. |
- Grönberg, Malin, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Ghrelin expression is associated with a favorable outcome in male breast cancer
- 2018
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In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ghrelin and obestatin are two gastrointestinal peptides, derived from a common precursor. Expression of both peptides have been found in breast cancer tissue and ghrelin has been associated with breast cancer development. Ghrelin expression is associated with longer survival in women diagnosed with invasive and node negative breast cancer. The clinical implications of the peptide expression in male breast cancer are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and potential clinical value of ghrelin and obestatin in male breast cancer. A tissue microarray of invasive male breast cancer specimens from 197 patients was immunostained with antibodies versus the two peptides. The expression of the peptides was correlated to previously known prognostic factors in breast cancer and to the outcome. No strong correlations were found between ghrelin or obestatin expression and other known prognostic factors. Only ghrelin expression was statistically significantly correlated to breast cancer-specific survival (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.83) in univariate analyses and in multivariate models, adjusted for tumor size and node status (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.87). HR for obestatin was 0.38 (95% CI 0.11-1.24). Ghrelin is a potential prognostic factor for breast cancer death in male breast cancer. Patients with tumors expressing ghrelin have a 2.5-fold lower risk for breast cancer death than those lacking ghrelin expression. Drugs targeting ghrelin are currently being investigated in clinical studies treating metabolic or nutritional disorders. Ghrelin should be further evaluated in forthcoming studies as a prognostic marker with the aim to be included in decision algorithms.
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| 3. |
- Hellerstedt Börjesson, Susanne, 1956-
(author)
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Taxane-induced pain : Experiences of women with breast cancer and nurses providing their care
- 2018
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Breast cancer patients receiving taxane chemotherapy run a substantial risk of develop taxane-induced pain, but little is known about women’s experiences of such pain. The aim of this thesis was to explore women’s acute and longstanding experiences of taxane-induced pain, to evaluate the pain intensity and distribution using different assessment methods, and to study nurses´ perceptions of taxane-induced pain in people with breast cancer.The women experienced pain during chemotherapy with 37– 48% incidence of acute taxane-induced pain. The subjective burden of taxane-induced pain described by the women covered narratives from manageable pain to very difficult and disabling pain with a major impact on their lifeworld (Study I).Longstanding pain in the lifeworld of women with previous breast cancer, was explored through a retrospective reflection after 12 months. The descriptions of pain revealed a time perspective; as pain perceived at that specific time, currently ongoing pain, and pain expectations for the future. This resulted in the women sensing themselves of being somewhere between health and illness gazing into an uncertain future (Study II).A quantitative longitudinal assessment of taxane-induced pain using; the body image, the VAS, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) showed the women’s estimated pain; its intensity, distribution and occurrence - as it appeared during the actual taxane treatment and up to a year afterward. The baseline measurement on the VAS revealed low initial pain, VAS <10, which changed at treatment Cycle 1. The body image revealed intense and widespread pain, and pain after 12 months, as did the EORTC QLQ -C30 (Study III).The nurses’ estimations of taxane-induced pain varied to large extent in both prevalence and intensity. Large parts of the body were expected to be involved in the pain. Nurses lacked local and/or national guidelines reflecting a low level of generalized use of prophylaxis against taxane pain (Study IV).In conclusion, taxane-induced pain is a common debilitating symptom during taxane chemotherapy for women with breast cancer. Pain impacts women´s life during as well as long time after the completion of taxane treatment. Taxane pain can be accurately or successfully estimated using various pain assessment tools. Furthermore, guidelines for dealing with taxane-induced pain are needed.
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