RESUMO
PURPOSE: To monitor oncologists' perspective on cancer pain management. METHODS: An anonymized survey was conducted in two waves. First, over a convenience sample of oncologists known to be particularly concerned with the management of pain. Second, using a random sample of oncologists. RESULTS: In total, 73 and 82 oncologists participated in the first and second wave, respectively. Many oncologists reported to have good knowledge of analgesic drugs (95.9%), the mechanism of action of opioids (79.5%), and good skills to manage opioid-related bowel dysfunction (76.7%). Appropriate adjustment of background medication to manage breakthrough pain was reported by 95.5% of oncologists. Additionally, 87.7% (68.3% in the second wave, p = 0.035) of oncologists reported suitable opioid titration practices, and 90.4% reported to use co-adjuvant medications for neuropathic pain confidently. On the other hand, just 9.6% of oncologists participated in multidisciplinary pain management teams, and merely 30.3 and 27.1% reported to routinely collaborate with the Pain Clinics or involve other staff, respectively. Only 26.4% of the oncologists of the second wave gave priority to pain pathophysiology to decide therapies, and up to 75.6% reported difficulties in treating neuropathic pain. Significantly less oncologists of the second wave (82.9 vs. 94.5%, p = 0.001) used opioid rotation routinely. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike in previous surveys, medical oncologists reported in general good knowledge and few perceived limitations and barriers for pain management. However, multi-disciplinary management and collaboration with other specialists are still uncommon. Oncologists' commitment to optimize pain management seems important to improve and maintain good practices.
Assuntos
Analgésicos Opioides/uso terapêutico , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Neoplasias/complicações , Oncologistas/psicologia , Dor/tratamento farmacológico , Padrões de Prática Médica/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Idoso , Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Prescrições de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Oncologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Dor/etiologia , Manejo da Dor , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Approximately 5 % of all cancer cases are hereditary. Cancer genetic counseling assesses individual and family risks of cancer, conducts genetic studies, interprets results, and advises patients regarding strategies for prevention and risk reduction. Currently, many networks of hereditary cancer genetic counseling units (HCGCUs) are integrated in the medical oncology services of most Spanish hospitals, which are comprised of multidisciplinary teams and offer high-quality care for the treatment of hereditary cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) analyzed key issues involving the integration of HCGCUs into the National Health Service. These included basic compliance issues by these units regarding their operation and organization, as well as prerequisites in quality control thereof. RESULTS: This document describes the specific roles and clinical processes performed in HCGCUs in addition to basic services provided by molecular diagnostic laboratories. It also provides a summary on the coordination of care across different levels for patients and families with hereditary cancers. Finally, this document describes the human and material resources needed for the organization of HCGCUs. CONCLUSIONS: SEOM has been a pioneer in the creation and development of HCGCUs. This paper seeks to ensure high-quality care to individuals and families with inherited susceptibility to cancer in Spain.
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Aconselhamento Genético/organização & administração , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/genética , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Aconselhamento Genético/métodos , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Humanos , Medição de Risco , Sociedades Médicas , EspanhaRESUMO
New advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the increased incidence and prevalence of this disease have led to an increase in the number and duration of visits in Medical Oncology in the last few years. Based on the functions of a medical oncologist and the time recommended for each work activity established by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), we carried out a pilot study on the three most frequent neoplasias in our country [breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC) and colorectal cancer (CRC)], in order to determine the real time each patient requires from a physician and thus establish a recommendation on the number of medical oncologists necessary. Using the actual itinerary of the first 20 patients of 2009 in each of the three neoplasias seen at the Medical Oncology Service of the Virgen de Valme University Hospital, we measured the number of visits, the antineoplastic treatments received, the number of hospital admissions and average length of stay. During the years following the study, these data were estimated based on the natural history of each neoplasia. During the first year, the average time spent by the medical oncologist was 235, 390 and 265 min on each outpatient with BC, LC and CRC, respectively. In hospitalisation, the average oncologist/patient minutes were 40, 360 and 118 for BC, LC and CRC, respectively. Finally, the time spent on each visit or day of hospitalisation was that recommended by the SEOM, achieving an ultimate ratio of 1 oncologist for every 83 first visits.
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Neoplasias da Mama , Neoplasias Colorretais , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Serviço Hospitalar de Oncologia/organização & administração , Carga de Trabalho , Neoplasias da Mama/economia , Neoplasias Colorretais/economia , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/economia , Visita a Consultório Médico/tendências , Projetos PilotoRESUMO
The functions and workload of medical oncologists are becoming increasingly relevant as cancer is a priority health issue in our country. Taking into account the specific characteristics and complexity of caring for cancer patients, the time of physicians attached to Medical Oncology could be distributed as follows: 70% for consultation (including participation in tumour committees and multidisciplinary units), 15% for research and 15% for training, teaching and clinical sessions. The time distribution for Heads of Services or Heads of Units is different, since it must also include their clinical management tasks, team coordination, and relations with other services and institutions. The average time, calculated in minutes, spent on each activity per patient is as follows: first visit and "second visit or results visit" 60-90 min; successive visits at the day hospital 15 min; successive visits of patients for follow-up or checkups 20 min; visits with family members 15-20 min; telephone or e-mail consultations 5-10 min; hospitalisation 20 min; and interconsultation 30-60 min. Also, participation in multidisciplinary committees takes up 60-120 min of an oncologist's time each week. When new technologies such as electronic medical records, e-mail and other software are used, these times increase with a correction factor that is still to be defined and which could vary according to the centre. Finally, the ratio recommended by SEOM is one medical oncologist for every 83 new patients a year.
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Oncologia/organização & administração , Médicos/organização & administração , Carga de Trabalho/normas , Humanos , Espanha , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
Although thyroid cancer represents less than 1% of malignant tumours, its increased incidence detected in recent years and the appearance and development of new drugs targeting specific molecular targets has attracted the attention of the doctors involved in this pathology, especially medical oncologists. For this reason it is important at this critical point, when treatment may be substantially changed, to establish and agree updated guidelines. These guidelines should incorporate the newly developed strategies that, although still preliminary in evidence level, will surely have an important role, especially in relapsed and refractory tumours, which are unsuitable for surgical or radio-iodine treatment. Particular histological and molecular features of these tumours must be taken into account in order to optimise therapeutic approaches.
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Carcinoma Medular/terapia , Oncologia/métodos , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/terapia , Adulto , Carcinoma Medular/diagnóstico , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias/métodos , Sociedades Médicas , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/diagnóstico , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the concomitant dose-dense administration of doxorubicin and docetaxel as primary chemotherapy for patients with large or locally advanced breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients were included and received 50 mg/m(2) of doxorubicin and 75 mg/m(2) of docetaxel every two weeks for four cycles. Primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony stimulating factor was administered. RESULTS: Patients included had mainly stage III disease (66%). Efficacy and toxicity analyses were carried out on an intention-to-treat basis. After study treatment, the rate of clinical responses was 85% (95% CI: 75-95) with 6% judged as clinical complete responses. Surgery was performed on 94% patients for whom the breast was conserved in 27%. Only one patient obtained a pathological complete response (with no evidence of invasive or non-invasive tumour in the breast and the lymph nodes). In three additional patients, malignant cells were detected only in one lymph node. The single severe haematological toxicity was neutropenia, occurring in one patient (2%) and two cycles (1%), being grade 3 in one and grade 4 in the other. Severe non-haematological toxicities were grade 3, and the most common was asthenia (8% of patients), followed by cutaneous toxicity, arthromyalgia and stomatitis, which occurred in fewer than 4% of patients in each case. CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant dose-dense administration of doxorubicin and docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy with granulocyte colony stimulating factor support is a feasible and effective schedule with a safe toxicity profile for women with large or locally advanced breast cancer.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma/tratamento farmacológico , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos/uso terapêutico , Terapia Neoadjuvante , Neutropenia/prevenção & controle , Adulto , Idoso , Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Antineoplásicos/efeitos adversos , Astenia/induzido quimicamente , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Carcinoma/patologia , Carcinoma/cirurgia , Terapia Combinada , Docetaxel , Doxorrubicina/administração & dosagem , Doxorrubicina/efeitos adversos , Toxidermias/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Mastectomia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neutropenia/induzido quimicamente , Estudos Prospectivos , Estomatite/induzido quimicamente , Taxoides/administração & dosagem , Taxoides/efeitos adversosRESUMO
A 36 pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide recurrente o metastásico de cabeza y cuello fueron tratados con cisplatino y 5-fluorouracilo, ambos en perfusión continua de 96 horas. Veintiocho presentaban recidiva local, seis metástasis y dos recidiva local y a distancia. Trece habían recibido previamente quimioterapia. Se consiguieron ocho respuestas completas (22 por ciento) y siete parciales (19 por ciento), con una respuesta objetiva del 41 por ciento. La supervivencia actuarial durante un periodo de seguimiento de 59 meses fue del 17 por ciento, con una supervivencia media de ocho meses. La supervivencia actuarial en los pacientes con respuesta completa fue del 50 por ciento a los 59 meses. Las manifestaciones de toxicidad más frecuentemente encontradas fueron estomatitis, leucopenia y vómitos. El esquema terapéutico resulta efectivo y beneficia principalmente a los pacientes con recidiva local, en los cuales es posible conseguir respuesta completa.