Address the Challenge of Polypharmacy in Older Adults Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Polypharmacy is the use of several medications simultaneously for different medical conditions. Data confirm that polypharmacy is prevalent in older adults with cancer, with one study reporting a minimum of four prescriptions to define polypharmacy. Many medications prescribed during cancer care are intended to treat other comorbid conditions that occur prior to a patient’s cancer diagnosis (e.g., heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, reflux disease). Reportedly, one third of individuals older than 65 years use more than one pharmacy to fill prescription medications. This can lead to further confusion for patients regarding medication management.

December 12, 2017

Breast cancer

Heart Failure Affects Long-Term Survival Among Older Women With Breast Cancer

Research has shown that women aged 65 and older who have breast cancer experience higher rates of heart failure compared to their age-matched counterparts, ranging from 29% of women with breast cancer who received no chemotherapy to 38% of women who received treatment with anthracyclines. However, little is known about the association between heart failure and long-term survival in older women with breast cancer, and it is unclear how the relative contribution of heart failure to mortality risk varies by breast cancer stage.

December 11, 2017

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

Type 2 Diabetes May Increase Breast Cancer Mortality in Hispanic Women

The presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus at the time of breast cancer diagnosis has been suggested to adversely affect survival—independent of breast cancer stage, grade, and tumor phenotype—but few of those studies included people of Hispanic descent. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore and the University of Louisville in Kentucky examined the association between self-reported diabetes history, breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women diagnosed with breast cancer. They presented their results on Saturday, December 9, during a poster session at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

December 09, 2017

American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

Disease Factors Influence Treatment Decisions More Than Comorbidities in Patients With Follicular Lymphoma

Data from U.S. Lymphocare suggest that older patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) are more commonly treated with watchful waiting or single-agent rituximab and found no difference in outcomes by treatment groups, but comorbidity was not studied. Researchers aimed to describe patient features, comorbidity use of positron-emission tomography (PET) staging, management choices, and the impact of polypharmacy on outcomes of patients with FL aged 70 years or older. Prathima Reddy, MD, at CHI Franciscan Hospital in Federal Way, WA, discussed the findings at the ASH Annual Meeting.

December 09, 2017

Prostate cancer

Height and Weight May Be Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Taller men and those with a higher body mass index (BMI) may be at increased risk for high-grade prostate cancer and disease-related mortality, according to the results of a study published in BMC Medicine.

November 02, 2017

Cancer research

Periodontal Disease May Increase Risk for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

According to the results of a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

August 23, 2017

ASCO Annual Meeting

Researchers Identify Factors Associated With Readmission for Patients With Metastatic Cancer

Hospital readmission rates may be avoidable in some patients with metastatic disease. Researchers assessed patient factors more likely to be associated with increased readmissions, such as demographics, comorbidities, hospital type, payer, and discharge disposition, in a study presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

June 05, 2017

Coordinated care

The Impact of Comorbidities on Patient Care

More than ever before, oncology nurses are required to provide multifaceted care when it comes to managing patients with cancer. As the population of patients with cancer continues to age and cancer becomes more of a chronic condition, oncology nurses are seeing more patients who exhibit comorbidities during their cancer journey.

January 30, 2017

Comorbidities

Oncology Nurses and Endocrinologists Can Work Together to Improve Patient Care

Many patients with cancer also have diabetes and other hormonal disorders. Multiple elements of cancer care can impact comorbid endocrine conditions.

January 26, 2017

Comorbidities

Aerobic and Resistance Exercise May Reduce Comorbidities in Cancer Survivors

Although patients are living longer into survivorship, their comorbid burden is increasing. Studies have shown that survivors have increased rates of chronic disease, like type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease; and obesity compared to adults without cancer.

August 09, 2016

Clinical practice

What Oncology Nurses Should Know About the Zika Virus

Zika disease (ZIKV) is a viral infection spread to humans primarily through the Aedes species of mosquito. ZIKV can also be passed through sexual conduct and vertical transmission from mother to fetus during pregnancy. In February 2016, the World Health Organization declared the spread of ZIKV to be a public health emergency, citing clusters of neurologic-related conditions and birth defects corresponding with geographical outbreaks of the illness.

July 05, 2016