Patient-reported use of marijuana and cannabinoid (CBD) oil in patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing systemic therapy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5084-5084
Author(s):  
Dena Battle ◽  
Cristiane Decat Bergerot ◽  
Pavlos Msaouel ◽  
Tian Zhang ◽  
Daniel J. George ◽  
...  

5084 Background: The use of cannabis and cannabinoid related products has become increasingly common among cancer patients. We sought to gather independent data from online kidney cancer patient communities to assess frequency of use of marijuana and CBD-oil and estimate influence on treatment duration and side-effects. Methods: The KCCure online survey was performed between August 1, and September 30, 2019. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize patients who self-report using marijuana, their systemic treatments, and interactions with their oncologists. Results: Out of 1,136 patients responding, 411 patients were on systemic therapy with a median age of 57 years (28-86). Of the 441 patients with systemic therapy, 223 patients (54%) were male. There was no difference in gender distribution or race among patients who reported using or not using marijuana and or CBD oil. 93 patients (21%) reported using marijuana or CBD oil and 35 patients (8.5%) reported using both. Patients using marijuana and/or CBD oil had a median age of 55.7 +/- 1.1 years compared with patients not using (65.1 +/- 6.9 years). The median treatment duration was 23.9+/-2.4 months for patients using marijuana and/or CBD oil versus 26.4+/- 1.9 months for patients not using these supplements (p=0.437). Patients using marijuana and/or CBD oil were more likely to have bothersome side effects from therapy (p=0.001) and were less likely to talk to their doctor about their situation (p=0.044). The median NCCN distress score in patients using marijuana and/or CBD oil was 49.5+/-25.7 versus 51.4+/-24.0 (p n.s.). No correlation was seen with the use of steroids, anti-diarrhea drugs, anti-nausea-drugs, hormone substitution or other drugs used to manage side effects. Conclusions: Marijuana and/or CBD oil are used by a significant number of patients. No benefit/harm on treatment duration and use of concomitant drugs to control side effects and severity was seen. Patients using marijuana and/or CBD oil were more likely to report bothersome treatment related side effects and were more willing to report their side effects to their provider. As cannabinoids become more mainstream and legal in a number of states, more research is needed to better understand the impact these supplements may have on patients.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 542-542
Author(s):  
Xinni Song ◽  
Susan Faye Dent ◽  
Shailendra Verma ◽  
Mark J. Clemons ◽  
Nadine A. Graham ◽  
...  

542 Background: Numerous studies have documented the toxicities of endocrine therapy (ET) for early breast cancer (EBC) and their deleterious impact on quality of life and adherence. However, little is known about the factors that underlie patient's susceptibility to report toxicities. The identification of risk factors for toxicities from ET is important as it would allow early targeting of symptom management interventions for women more vulnerable to adverse effects of ET. This prospective study aims to examine the impact of pre-treatment perceptions of EBC, ET beliefs and fear of breast cancer (BC) recurrence (FBCR) on toxicities reported after 6 months of ET. Methods: Women diagnosed with EBC completed a survey prior to initiating endocrine therapy, then at 3, 6 and 12 months. Standardized self-report instruments were used to assess EBC perceptions, ET beliefs, FBCR and toxicities. Clinical and treatment variables were also evaluated. Univariate analyses and mulitivariate regression were conducted to identify factors associated (p<0.1) with side effects at 6 months. Results: Since 9/2010, 173 patients have consented and 84 (mean age = 60 y) have completed the questionnaires at baseline and after 6 months of ET. Controlling for age, none of the clinical or treatment variables (stage of disease, type of surgery, receipt of chemotherapy and radiation therapy) were significant univariate predictors of toxicities. In multiple regression, stronger perceptions that BC has serious consequences on their lives (β=0.218, p<0.05), greater concerns about the adverse effects of ET (β=0.215, p<0.05) and higher levels of FBCR (β=0.316, p<0.01) at baseline were associated with higher levels of reported toxicities. Conclusions: Baseline psychological factors predicted level of patient-reported toxicities to a larger extent than clinical/treatment factors. How patients perceived their illness, their beliefs about ET side effects and their fear of cancer recurrence are strongly associated with side effects experienced after 6 months of ET. These results could facilitate the identification of a subgroup of patients for early interventions to improve symptom management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 599-599
Author(s):  
Pedro C. Barata ◽  
Rupesh Kotecha ◽  
Prateek Mendiratta ◽  
Aditya Juloori ◽  
Lilyana Angelov ◽  
...  

599 Background: Local therapy such as SBRT is increasingly applied to RCC metastases when progression involves a limited number of metastatic sites (oligo-progression; O-PD). We aimed to assess the clinical outcome of patients (pts) with O-PD who changed systemic treatment upon SBRT (SWITCH) compared with those who remained on same therapy after SBRT (STAY); and also with the group of pts who progressed systemically (PD-SYS) and changed systemic treatment as well. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clear-cell mRCC pts treated with SBRT to brain or spinal metastases was undertaken. Clinical outcomes and treatment duration on current therapy of pts in the SWITCH, STAY and PD-SYS groups were compared. Treatment duration was defined as the time interval between SBRT and discontinuation of current systemic therapy for STAY group and discontinuation of first subsequent therapy in the SWITCH and PD-SYS groups. Results: A total of 100 pts with mRCC who had SBRT were identified, including 44 in STAY, 23 in SWITCH and 33 in PD-SYS. Median age was 58 yrs (range 36-79), 76% men, 66% ECOG PS 0-1, 60% IMDC intermediate risk. 61 pts received SBRT to brain and 40 pts to spine with 87% local control rate. Most common systemic treatments at time of SBRT included anti-VEGF (72%), mTOR (11%), PD-1 inhibitors (10%), other (7%). Median treatment duration for STAY was 5.2 months (95% CI, 3.5-6.9) compared with 5.0 months (95% CI, 4.3-5.7) for SWITCH (p = 0.549) and 2.6 months (95% CI, 1.5-3.7) for the PD-SYS group (p = 0.002, compared to all O-PD pts). Median OS was 24.2 months (95% CI, 8.7-39.7) and 27.1 (95% CI, 12.7-41.9) months for STAY and SWITCH groups, respectively (p = 0.461) and 8.5 months (95% CI, 2.1-14.9) in the PD-SYS group (p = 0.014, compared to all O-PD pts). Conclusions: SBRT for pts with mRCC in brain or spine was feasible with excellent local control. The decision to allow pts to remain on their current systemic therapy did not compromise treatment duration or survival. Pts with progressive disease outside SBRT-treated sites had a worse outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinikka L. Kvamme ◽  
Michael M. Pedersen ◽  
Kristine Rømer Thomsen ◽  
Birgitte Thylstrup

Abstract Background The use of cannabis as medicine (CaM) both prescribed and non-prescribed has increased markedly in the last decade, mirrored in a global shift in cannabis policy towards a more permissive stance. There is some evidence that cannabis functions as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids; however, more knowledge is needed on the motives of substitution users, their patterns of use, and perceived effects of substitution use. Aims To explore who substitutes prescription drugs with cannabis, the type of prescription drugs substituted and the type of cannabis used, and the impact that substitution with cannabis has on prescription drug use as well as the motives for substitution in terms of experienced effects and side effects. Methods A self-selected convenience sample was recruited through social media, public media, and patient organizations to take part in an anonymous online survey. Inclusion criteria were 18 years or older and use of cannabis (prescribed or non-prescribed) with a medical purpose. Results The final sample included 2.841 respondents of which the majority (91%) used non-prescribed cannabis, and more than half (54.6%) had used CaM with the purpose of replacing a prescribed drug. Compared to non-substitution users, substitution users were more likely to be women and to use CaM in the treatment of chronic pain and other somatic conditions. Pain medication (67.2%), antidepressants (24.5%), and arthritis medication (20.7%) were the most common types of drugs replaced with CaM. Among substitution users, 38.1% reported termination of prescription drug use, and 45.9% a substantial decrease in prescription drug use. The most frequent type of cannabis used as a substitute was CBD-oil (65.2%), followed by ‘hash, pot or skunk’ (36.6%). More than half (65.8%) found CaM much more effective compared to prescription drugs, and 85.5% that the side effects associated with prescription drug use were much worse compared to use of CaM. Conclusion CaM is frequently used as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids. More research is needed on the long-term consequences of use of CaM, including the impact from low and high THC cannabis products on specific somatic and mental health conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Elkadi ◽  
Eleanor Dodd ◽  
Theodore Poulton ◽  
William Bolton ◽  
Joshua Burke ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Despite being the most common surgical procedure, there is wide variation that exists in the management of simple subcutaneous abscesses with no national guideline describing best practice. During the COVID-19 Pandemic national guidelines promoted the use of regional or local anaesthetic (LA) instead of general anaesthesia (GA) to avoid aerosol generating intubation associated with GA. This study aimed to assess the impact of anaesthetic choice in outcomes following incision and drainage of subcutaneous abscesses. Methods Two cohorts of patients undergoing abscess incision and drainage at St. James’ University Hospital Leeds were retrospectively identified over a 14-week period before and after the introduction of the new COVID-19 anaesthetic guidelines. Wound healing surrogate endpoints were used: i) total number of follow up appointments and ii) attendance to healthcare services after 30 days from I&D. Result 133 patients were included. Significantly more procedures were performed under LA after the intervention (84.1% vs 5.7%; p &lt; 0.0001) with a significant reduction in wound packing (68.3% vs 87.1%. p=0.00473). Follow up data found no significant difference in the average number of follow-up appointments (7.46 vs 5.11; p = 0.0731) and the number of patients who required ongoing treatment after 30 days (n = 14 vs n = 14, p = 0.921). Conclusion Drainage of simple subcutaneous abscess under 5 cm is safe under local anaesthetic with no significant difference in surrogate endpoints of wound healing observed in this patient cohort. Recurrent packing may not be required. Future work should explore patient reported measures such as pain management and the health economics of this intervention.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christelle Chrea ◽  
Catherine Acquadro ◽  
Esther F. Afolalu ◽  
Erica Spies ◽  
Thomas Salzberger ◽  
...  

Background. Determining the public health impact of tobacco harm reduction strategies requires the assessment of consumer perception and behavior associated with tobacco and nicotine products (TNPs) with different exposure and risk profiles. In this context, rigorous methods to develop and validate psychometrically sound self-report instruments to measure consumers’ responses to TNPs are needed. Methods. Consistent with best practice guidelines, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “Guidance for Industry Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Use in Medical Product Development to Support Labeling Claims,” scientifically designed, fit-for-purpose, reliable, and valid instruments are now being applied to tobacco regulatory research. Results. This brief report presents the ABOUT™ Toolbox (Assessment of Behavioral OUtcomes related to Tobacco and nicotine products) initiative. This communication: (1) describes the methodological steps followed for the development and validation of the measurement instruments included in the ABOUT™ Toolbox, (2) presents a summary of the high-priority tobacco-related domains that are currently covered in the ABOUT™ Toolbox (i.e., risk perception, dependence, product experience, health and functioning, and use history), and (3) details how the measurement instruments are made accessible to the scientific community. Conclusions. By making the ABOUT™ Toolbox available to the tobacco research and public health community, we envision a rapidly expanding knowledge base, with the goals of (1) supporting consumer perception and behavior research to allow comparisons across a wide spectrum of TNPs, (2) enabling public health and regulatory communities to make better-informed decisions for future regulation of TNPs, and (3) enhancing surveillance activities associated with the impact of TNPs on population health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerrilynn C Hennessey ◽  
Carolyn Hickman ◽  
Brianne Krawczyk ◽  
Michelle Opare ◽  
Leslie Churchwell ◽  
...  

Objectives: Physician-pharmacist collaborative practice models have emerged as an effective model for managing hypertension (HTN). We implemented this model in a low-income, hospital-based cardiology clinic and sought to identify programmatic features necessary to control HTN in this vulnerable population. Methods: Patients with persistently elevated blood pressure (>130/80) were referred by their primary cardiologist. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, had acute kidney injury, or acute cardiovascular complaints including anginal chest pain, decompensated heart failure, or unstable arrhythmia. The initial pharmacist appointment occurred within 2 weeks of referral, with the goal of bi-weekly visits for 6 weeks or until blood pressure was controlled. Patients were prescribed home blood pressure cuffs and given specific instructions for home-based monitoring. Telehealth visits were made available to interested patients. During each encounter, pharmacists assessed response and side effects to medication, adherence, lifestyle behaviors, stressors, and social barriers to blood pressure control. Clinical management and barriers to HTN control were reviewed at standing weekly staff meetings that included cardiologists and pharmacists. Early results: Among 35 people referred, 22 patients attended at least one pharmacist visit. A total of 139 reminder or follow-up calls were made for these 22 patients. Among the first 35 referrals (mean age 58; 57% male; 65% African American or Latinx), 26% have documented substance use disorders, 34% have a mental health comorbidity, 20% were not taking their medications as prescribed on intake, and 17% had side effects from 2 or more prior antihypertensive medications. Medications adjustments were made in 21/43 patient visits (49% of visits). In 8/43 visits more than 1 medication change was made. The most common patient reported barriers to care include transportation (20%) and language barriers (11%). Discussion and Future Direction: Managing HTN in a low-income population requires attention to the social and contextual factors impacting blood pressure control. We plan to: 1) support the uptake of telehealth to address issues of transportation and access; 2) pilot blue-tooth connected blood pressure cuffs to facilitate home monitoring and management; and 3) partner with community health workers to assess best practices for capturing and addressing social determinants of health in the clinical setting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Fisher ◽  
M. Kolb ◽  
M. Algamdi ◽  
J. Morisset ◽  
K. A. Johannson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The CAnadian REgistry for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CARE-PF) is a multi-center, prospective registry designed to study the natural history of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) in adults. The aim of this cross-sectional sub-study was to describe the baseline characteristics, risk factors, and comorbidities of patients enrolled in CARE-PF to date. Methods Patients completed study questionnaires and clinical measurements at enrollment and each follow-up visit. Environmental exposures were assessed by patient self-report and comorbidities by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Baseline characteristics, exposures, and comorbidities were described for the overall study population and for incident cases, and were compared across ILD subtypes. Results The full cohort included 1285 patients with ILD (961 incident cases (74.8%)). Diagnoses included connective tissue disease-associated ILD (33.3%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (24.7%), unclassifiable ILD (22.3%), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) (7.5%), sarcoidosis (3.2%), non-IPF idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (3.0%, including idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) in 0.9%), and other ILDs (6.0%). Patient-reported exposures were most frequent amongst chronic HP, but common across all ILD subtypes. The CCI was ≤2 in 81% of patients, with a narrow distribution and range of values. Conclusions CTD-ILD, IPF, and unclassifiable ILD made up 80% of ILD diagnoses at ILD referral centers in Canada, while idiopathic NSIP was rare when adhering to recommended diagnostic criteria. CCI had a very narrow distribution across our cohort suggesting it may be a poor discriminator in assessing the impact of comorbidities on patients with ILD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6625-6625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas J. Chin-Yee ◽  
Andrew Yan ◽  
George A. Tomlinson ◽  
Craig Earle ◽  
Maureen E. Trudeau ◽  
...  

6625 Background: A recent study suggested that cardiotoxicity from trastuzumab (T) was associated with regional variation and insufficient cardiac monitoring (Ng et al.SABCS 2012). Few studies have examined the impact of centre or physician (MD) case volume (vol) on outcomes in systemic therapy. Methods: All breast cancer patients who were diagnosed in 2003-2009 in Ontario and treated with adjuvant T were identified through a provincial drug funding program, and linked to administrative databases to ascertain patient demographics, hospitalizations, cardiac risk factors, cardiac imaging, comorbidities, and treating centre and MD. For each year, we calculated case vol as the number of patients treated with adjuvant T by each MD and by each centre. Cardiotoxicity was defined as receiving less than 16 out of 18 doses of T because of heart failure (HF) admission, HF diagnosis by physician claims, or discontinuation after cardiac imaging. Insufficient cardiac monitoring was defined as per recent guideline and per Ng et al. Logistic regression and mixed models were constructed to examine factors associated with cardiotoxicity. Results: Our cohort consisted of 3,777 patients, 214 MDs and 68 centres. For patients, 16.5% were over age 65; 30.3%, 9.4%, and 1.2% had previous diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, and HF, respectively; 16.9% had cardiotoxicity. Univariate analyses found that high centre vol, but not MD vol, was associated with lower cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity rates by centre vol quintiles (Q) were 23.4% (Q1-3), 18.2% (Q4), and 15.2% (Q5). Multivariable analyses found that lower cardiotoxicity was associated with higher centre vol (OR=0.85 per Q, p=0.02) and diagnosis in recent years (2008-2009 vs. before 2008; OR=0.50, p<0.001), after adjusting for age, previous HF, comorbidities, regional variation, and cardiac monitoring. Accounting for clustering within centres, there remained a strong trend of lower cardiotoxicity with higher centre vol (OR=0.77 per Q, p=0.06) and recent diagnosis (OR=0.50, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest a reduction in cardiotoxicity with experience and over time, and support the notion of centralization of systemic therapy in high vol centres to optimize outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Jacobson ◽  
Rebecca Mulholland ◽  
Nicola Miller ◽  
Laura Baker ◽  
Daniel Glazer ◽  
...  

AbstractBACKGROUNDAdolescents and young people (AYA) with cancer are at greater risk of psychological distress which can impact treatment. COVID-19 has resulted in changes to cancer care delivery and AYA have been disproportionately affected by economic and educational effects of COVID-19, potentially impacting on mental health. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on AYA with cancer is important to inform care.METHODSOnline survey of 16-24 year olds receiving cancer treatment at 8 cancer centres in the UK in December 2020. We measured: self-perceived increased anxiety since COVID-19, impact of COVID-19 on treatment, life and relationships and used the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-8), 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD) and the 2-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC).RESULTS112 AYA participated (17.8% of total eligible). 62.8% were female, 67.3% were 21-24 years. 83% were white. 59.8% had previously experienced mental health difficulties. 67.9% received cancer treatment during the pandemic and 33.9% were diagnosed during the pandemic. 78.6% reported COVID-19 having a significant impact on their life, 55.4% on their key relationship and 39.3% on their treatment. 79% reported experiencing some degree of increased anxiety since COVID-19.43.4% had moderate-severe PHQ-8 scores and 37.1% for GADS-7. Self-report of impact on life was associated with greater anxiety during COVID-19 and moderate-severe PHQ-8 score (OR 3.64, 95% CI 2.52 to 19.40, p <0.01; OR 5.23, 95%CI 1.65 to 16.56, p < 0.01). Impact on relationships was associated with greater anxiety and moderate-severe GADS-7and PHQ-8 score (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.11 to 7.54, p = 0,03; OR 3.54, 95% CI 2.32 to 15.17, p<0.01; OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.25, p =0.03). Greater CD-RISC score was associated with lower risk of anxiety and mod-severe GADS-7and PHQ-8 scores (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.41 to 0.81, p <0.01; OR 0.55 95% CI 0.4 to 0.72, p <0.01; OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.69, p <0.01)CONCLUSIONSWe found high levels of psychological distress in AYA with cancer, which is important knowledge for clinical teams working with this age group. Perceived impact of COVID-19 on relationships and life was predictive of poorer mental health, with resilience a potential protective factor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte Van Der Weijst ◽  
Veerle Surmont ◽  
Wim Schrauwen ◽  
Yolande Lievens

IntroductionThis report investigates the impact of systemic treatments (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) with(out) loco-regional radiotherapy, on HRQoL, toxicity and neurocognitive functioning (NCF) in locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients enrolled in the PRO-Long study.Materials and MethodsData on patient-reported HRQoL and fourteen toxicities was collected, while NCF was tested, up to one-year post-treatment. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30. Lung cancer, treatment and neuro-psychological related toxicities were scored with the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. NCF was evaluated with six neurocognitive tests. Mixed model analyses were conducted to determine statistical significance (p = .01). Meaningful clinical important differences (MCIDs) were applied for changes in HRQoL and NCF data, while toxicities were compared to baseline values.ResultsIn total, 50 patients were enrolled. Overall HRQoL (p = .357) nor its domains (physical, p = .643; role, p = .069; emotional, p = .254; cognitive, p = 494; social, p = .735) changed significantly over time. Meaningful improvements in overall HRQoL were seen in 22, 38 and 39% and deteriorations in 22, 5 and 28% of patients at 2–3, 6 and 12 months respectively post-treatment. Overall toxicity (p = .007), lack of appetite (p = .001), nausea (p = .004) and dysphagia (p = .000) significantly decreased over time. Treatment caused acute toxicity, such as dyspnoea (45%) and memory problems (42%), but also alleviated pre-existing symptoms, including lack of appetite (32%), anxiety (29%) and depression (28%) at 2/3 months. The NCF domains of visual memory (p = .000) and cognitive processing speed (p = .000) showed significant improvements over time. In terms of MCIDs, at 2–3 months (18%) and 6 months (15%), verbal memory was particularly impacted; at 12 months, visual memory (18%) and executive function (18%) deteriorated primarily.ConclusionThe results suggest that therapy has no significant negative impact on overall HRQoL, its domains, and NCF. About one-third of patients reported a meaningful improved HRQoL at 1 year post-treatment. Treatment caused toxicity, but also alleviated pre-existing symptoms.


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