scholarly journals Improving Metastatic Breast Cancer Care in Kenya Using Information Technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 158s-158s
Author(s):  
A. Shaikh ◽  
S. Sayed ◽  
C. Cathomi ◽  
F. Chite
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Patient Needs ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
The Impact

Background and context: In Africa, up to two thirds of breast cancer patients have been reported to present with an advanced stage of III or IV at diagnosis leading to a disproportionately higher mortality. In Kenya, breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in terms of diagnosis and mortality. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients are an ignored part of the breast cancer community as they are marginalized in many of the breast cancer related initiatives. MBC suffer from clinical depression, anxiety and four out of five of these women do not receive any services, referral or guidance to help them with their emotional distress. Preferred evidence based methods of support desired by women with MBC, include online support. International resources are not always applicable to the local context thus making them unattractive for people from diverse cultures and background, such as those from Africa. Kenya has a high percentage of literate females and highest Internet usage in the area. This provides a unique opportunity in an otherwise limited resource country to reach out to a significant population of MBC patients. The patients voices are a valuable and trustworthy assessment of their actual needs. They have been used frequently in the area of cancer as a first step in designing needs-tailored interventions. We propose to develop a virtual online forum with the aim of providing patients with MBC, and their caregivers an interactive forum for psycho social support, addressing stigmas, seek relevant clinical advice, find links to the nearest healthcare facilities, download helpful information, participate in support group activities and receive links to other important helpful sites that are locally relevant. We also propose that such forum should also reflect the needs of our patients as described by themselves. Aim: Primary aim of this project is developing a virtual online interactive support forum where MBC patients and their caregivers can access information on social, psychological, spiritual, religious and clinical needs. The purpose is to be partly achieved by assessing the patient needs by needs assessment survey and to evaluate the impact of such intervention on patient knowledge and satisfaction with care. Strategy/Tactics: Web site development is the key component of the project. Patients would be asked to fill out the Supportive Care Needs Survey/The Knowledge Assessment Tool. The surveys will take place at four major cancer treatment hospitals in Kenya. Postlaunch promotion and awareness about Web site will be made and, usage data and knowledge tool to be used to assess the impact and acceptability. Web site updated regularly to address issues identified. Program/Policy process: Information gathered would be made part of policy on national cancer strategy, recommendations to factor in identified patient needs in policy. What was learned: Ongoing process.

scholarly journals Impact of Pharmaceutical Prophylaxis on Radiation-Induced Liver Disease Following Radioembolization

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1992
Author(s):  
Max Seidensticker ◽  
Matthias Philipp Fabritius ◽  
Jannik Beller ◽  
Ricarda Seidensticker ◽  
Andrei Todica ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Normal Liver ◽  
Liver Parenchyma ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
The Impact

Background: Radioembolization (RE) with yttrium-90 (90Y) resin microspheres yields heterogeneous response rates in with primary or secondary liver cancer. Radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) is a potentially life-threatening complication with higher prevalence in cirrhotics or patients exposed to previous chemotherapies. Advances in RILD prevention may help increasing tolerable radiation doses to improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of post-therapeutic RILD-prophylaxis in a cohort of intensely pretreated liver metastatic breast cancer patients; Methods: Ninety-three patients with liver metastases of breast cancer received RE between 2007 and 2016. All Patients received RILD prophylaxis for 8 weeks post-RE. From January 2014, RILD prophylaxis was changed from ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and prednisolone (standard prophylaxis [SP]; n = 59) to pentoxifylline (PTX), UDCA and low-dose low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (modified prophylaxis (MP); n = 34). The primary endpoint was toxicity including symptoms of RILD; Results: Dose exposure of normal liver parenchyma was higher in the modified vs. standard prophylaxis group (47.2 Gy (17.8–86.8) vs. 40.2 Gy (12.5–83.5), p = 0.017). All grade RILD events (mild: bilirubin ≥ 21 µmol/L (but <30 μmol/L); severe: (bilirubin ≥ 30 µmol/L and ascites)) were observed more frequently in the SP group than in the MP group, albeit without significance (7/59 vs. 1/34; p = 0.140). Severe RILD occurred in the SP group only (n = 2; p > 0.1). ALBI grade increased in 16.7% patients in the MP and in 27.1% patients in the SP group, respectively (group difference not significant); Conclusions: At established dose levels, mild or severe RILD events proved rare in our cohort. RILD prophylaxis with PTX, UDCA and LMWH appears to have an independent positive impact on OS in patients with metastatic breast cancer and may reduce the frequency and severity of RILD. Results of this study as well as pathophysiological considerations warrant further investigations of RILD prophylaxis presumably targeting combinations of anticoagulation (MP) and antiinflammation (SP) to increase dose prescriptions in radioembolization.

The impact of receptors discordance in recurrent metastatic breast cancer patients and its predictive outcome

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 910
Author(s):  
Mervat Mahrous ◽  
Majid Al Jahel ◽  
Ahmed Al Hugaily Al Hugaily ◽  
Ghassan Al Sisi ◽  
Samira Al Sulmani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Predictive Outcome ◽  
The Impact

Differences in psychosocial factors among diverse women enrolled in a phase III cooperative group metastatic breast cancer trial (CALGB 40502/Alliance).

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9581-9581
Author(s):  
Blase N. Polite ◽  
Jacob B Allred ◽  
Hope S. Rugo ◽  
Toni Marie Cipriano ◽  
Constance Cirrincione ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Cooperative Group ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Trial ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
The Impact

9581 Background: Previous metastatic breast cancer trials have shown lower overall survival among African American (AA) women. Studies have also shown links between higher comorbidities and lower levels of social support and survival. Whether these factors differ by race and ethnicity is not known. Methods: Breast cancer patients enrolling in a phase III cooperative group metastatic breast cancer trial completed a self-administered survey measuring psychosocial and socio-demographic factors and comorbidities. Results were analyzed by self-identified race/ethnicity and evaluated by other measured variables. Results: 703 out of 799 patients completed the survey (88%). Questions were answered by greater than 95% of participants. The table shows differences broken down by Race/Ethnicity. AA and Hispanic (H) patients were more likely to have trouble paying for medications and have incomes less than 15K per year. AA were less likely to be married, and had lower levels of social support. Differences in income did not mediate these social support differences. Marital status did not mediate lower social support for AA (p=0.79) but did so for whites (p<0.001) Conclusions: Compliance with the questionnaire was quite high. Differences in social support by race were apparent and were mediated by different factors according to race. Future efforts will analyze the impact of these factors on survival and as mediators for potential racial and ethnic differences in survival. [Table: see text]

Four Conversations: A randomized control trial of an online, shared decision making curriculum among the metastatic breast cancer community.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 47-47
Author(s):  
Sophia Kustas Smith ◽  
Kelly E. Westbrook ◽  
Kristin MacDermott ◽  
Matthew Roger LeBlanc ◽  
Sathya Amarasekara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
T Test ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
The Impact

47 Background: Evidence shows that shared decision making is effective in improving the quality of end of life care, and that it rarely happens; new interventions are needed. Four Conversations is an evidence-based, online curriculum that facilitates shared decision making. This presentation will report the impact of Four Conversations on key outcomes. Methods: Individuals with metastatic breast cancer and caregivers are being recruited nationally. Consenting participants are randomized 1:1 to the treatment or wait-listed control arm. Treatment arm participants access content online; required activities included viewing interactive videos and completing workbook activities. Surveys are administered at Baseline, Week-4, and Week-8 via REDCap to assess for: decision making self-efficacy and conflict; and program satisfaction. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare change in decision making outcomes in treatment and usual care conditions at Week-4. A paired-samples t-test was used to access for changes in outcomes from Baseline to Week-8 among the treatment arm. Results: Participants (n = 138) were: mean age 53.2 (11.8) years; 96% female; 91% white; 72% married. There was significant improvement in decision making self-efficacy and reduction in conflict among the treatment arm at follow-up (p < .05). There was no significant change in decision making self-efficacy and conflict scores for treatment and wait-listed control conditions at the end of the intervention (p > .05). Among treatment arm participants who did not already have an advanced care directive, most (56%) completed one. Most participants (88%) would recommend Four Conversations to others and felt that the program better prepared them to make better decisions. Conclusions: While these results are preliminary (i.e., data collection continues through 9/2017), they suggest that Four Conversations may effect decision-making outcomes for metastatic breast cancer patients and caregivers. Additional research is recommended with larger and more diverse samples following completion of this study. Clinical trial information: NCT02944344.

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