Supportive Care

Approximately 40% of patients treated with anthracyclines are still not receiving National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline–adherent prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Read More ›

Mortality is higher among unmarried patients with cancer than married patients, and the highest mortality rates were observed among unmarried men... Read More ›

Immunotherapy is a hot topic in cancer treatment right now. Ipilimu­mab, nivolumab, and pembrolizu­mab are approved immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of melanoma... Read More ›

When a loved one is going through treatment for cancer, the caregiver’s roles may be many and varied, from helping to get a second opinion and deciding about treatment, to talking with visitors, or trying to keep up the loved one’s spirits. Grocery shopping, making favorite meals, and taking the patient out to dinner at a favorite restaurant are probably on this list as well. However, during cancer treatment, the patient might not always feel like eating and might not want to eat the same foods he or she used to enjoy. For example, one day the patient may eat with gusto but the next, a favorite food may taste unappealing. The caregiver should not take this personally, as this is all a normal part of the process and how cancer treatment can impact a patient’s appetites and eating habits. Read More ›

Patients with a cancer diagnosis endure multiple complications and stresses, particularly when disease progresses. Unfortunately, the treatments themselves can also result in debilitating side effects that further increase their suffering. Read More ›

Bowel Dysfunction According to a recent assessment of bowel dysfunction–related needs, the hardships for colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors continue long after leaving the operating room, and survivors desire more information and strategies to help cope with unexpected changes to their bowel patterns, researchers said at the 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium held in San Francisco, California. Read More ›

Cancer-related cachexia is a debilitating condition that has had no effective treatment thus far. Its symptoms include loss of lean body mass, as well as muscle wasting and loss of appetite. Read More ›

The diagnosis of cancer and the following treatment both have a profound impact on all aspects of a patient’s life. Quality of life is impacted in many aspects, including physical functioning, psychological well-being, and social life. Even at diagnosis, up to 50% of cancer patients present with some nutritional deficit that may be impacting physical functioning. Most of the anticancer treatments (ie, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation) will jeopardize food intake and therefore nutrition status at some point during treatment. This disruption contributes further to declining quality of life throughout care and into survivorship. Read More ›

Controversies in treatment-induced alopecia and hair adverse events were brought to the attention of the medical community in a presentation by Mario Lacouture, MD, at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology 2014 annual meeting. Read More ›