Day: June 12, 2012

Assessment of the relationship between adherence with antiemetic drug therapy and control of nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy

Assessment of the relationship between adherence with antiemetic drug therapy and control of nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy

Source: Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy
Background: There are few prevalence data in the literature on nonadherence to outpatient antiemetic regimens for prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).  It is unclear whether adherence with outpatient antiemetic regimens is associated with better CINV control.  Our previous survey research supports the work of clinical pharmacists in collaborative practice with medical oncologists in improving adherence with antiemetic therapy in women undergoing highly emetic chemotherapy for breast cancer. Continue reading →

Editorial: HER2 testing in patients with breast cancer

Editorial: HER2 testing in patients with breast cancer

Source: BMJ

This editorial discusses HER2 testing in relation to the use of HER2 targeted drugs for breast cancer. The author comments,” However, to allow proper use of HER2 targeted drugs, results from HER2 testing need to be available in a timely manner. A recent survey of surgeons in the United Kingdom found, worryingly, that only half of patients with invasive cancer had a HER2 result available when treatment was initially discussed”.

Cohort study: Diabetes, metformin, and breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women

Cohort study: Diabetes, metformin, and breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women

Source: JCO

There is emerging evidence suggesting that metformin may reduce breast cancer incidence, but reports are mixed and few provide information on tumour characteristics. This study used data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials to examine relationships among diabetes, metformin use, and breast cancer in postmenopausal women.   The WHI clinical trials program involves more than 68,019 postmenopausal women who were observed prospectively; 11,290 had diabetes at study entry or developed it during follow-up, and 3,273 developed invasive breast cancer after study entry.   The researchers found that compared with that in women without diabetes, breast cancer incidence in women with diabetes differed by diabetes medication type (P = 0.04). Women with diabetes receiving medications other than metformin had a slightly higher but not statistically significant incidence of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.45), and women with …

The Better Weight-Better Sleep Study: A Pilot Intervention in Primary Care.

Citation: American Journal of Health Behavior, 01 May 2012, vol./is. 36/3(319-334), 10873244
Author(s): Logue, Everett E., Bourguet, Claire C., Palmieri, Patrick A., Scott, Edward D., Matthews, Beth A., Dudley, Patricia, Chipman, Katie J.
Language: English

Abstract:

 To explore the feasibility of integrating sleep management interventions with dietary and exercise interventions for obesity in a 12-week randomized trial.

Methods: We randomized 49 overweight or obese adult patients either to a better weight (BW) cognitive behavioral intervention, or to a combination of the BW intervention and a better sleep intervention, better weight-better sleep (BWBS). Results: The BWBS group lost weight faster (P=.04), and coping self-efficacy accelerated (P=.01).

Conclusions: These preliminary results merit replication in a larger primary care-based trial with a longer continuous intervention and followup period.
Publication type: journal article
Source: CINAHL
Full text: Available in fulltext at EBSCOhost