Attitude of healthcare professionals toward the use of complementary and alternative medication during anti-cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with cancer often use complementary and alternative medication (CAM). This research aims to study the current attitude of healthcare professionals toward the use of CAM to improve current care. METHODS: A questionnaire on both the current practice and opinions about CAM use was sent to healthcare professionals in Amsterdam UMC, who work for the department of hematology or oncology. Oncologists, hematologists, residents, (specialized) nurses, dieticians, (hospital)pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians were asked to participate in this study. RESULTS: Among eligible healthcare professionals, 77 responded to the questionnaire (34%). Overall, 87% of healthcare professionals indicate it is important to be aware of their patient's CAM use, and all find the potential of drug-herb interactions important. However, more than half of the healthcare professionals inquire about the patient's CAM use infrequently. In addition, only 15% of the healthcare professionals stated they had sufficient knowledge of CAM to advise patients on their use of CAM. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals are aware of the potential risks of CAM use in combination with anti-cancer treatment. However, CAM use is not yet discussed with every patient. This may be due to healthcare professionals' lack of knowledge about CAM.

The Acceptance and Use of the e-Health Instrument 'The Personal Health Check' in Four Dutch Municipalities: Lessons Learned.

This pilot study assessed the acceptance and use of the e-Health instrument "the Personal Health Check" (PHC) among clients and professionals in primary care settings. By filling in the online PHC instrument, participants were provided insights into their health and lifestyle. When results revealed an increased health risk, participants were advised to undertake additional lab tests measuring blood pressure and haemaglobin levels. Based on the online questionnaire and optional lab tests, participants then received a report that included individually-tailored feedback from the e-Health application about personal health risks and suggestions for health interventions. The PHC was implemented in 2016 in four Dutch municipalities that determined which neighbourhood(s) the PHC targeted and how participants were invited. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was used as a theoretical framework to address our research questions. Methods used to assess acceptance were: PHC instrument data, data from additional questionnaires completed by PHC participants, focus groups with PHC participants and professionals in primary care, and telephone interviews with non-responders to the invitation to participate in the online PHC. Of the 21,735 invited, 12% participated. Our results showed that participants and professionals in this pilot were predominantly positive about the PHC. Participants reported that they made an effort to apply the PHC lifestyle advice they received. Almost all had the knowledge and resources needed to use the PHC online instrument. Invitations from general practitioners almost doubled participation relative to invitations from the sponsoring municipalities. The overall low response rate, however, suggests that the PHC is unsuitable as a foundation on which to develop local public health policy.

The feasibility of colorectal cancer detection using dual-energy computed tomography with iodine mapping.

AIM: To assess the feasibility of colorectal cancer detection using dual-energy computed tomography with iodine mapping and without bowel preparation or bowel distension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients scheduled for preoperative staging computed tomography (CT) because of diagnosed or high suspicion for colorectal cancer were prospectively included in the study. A single contrast-enhanced abdominal CT acquisition using dual-source mode (100 kV/140 kV) was performed without bowel preparation. Weighted average 120 kV images and iodine maps were created with post-processing. Two observers performed a blinded read for colorectal lesions after being trained on three colorectal cancer patients. One observer performed an unblinded read for lesion detectability and placed a region of interest (ROI) within each lesion. RESULTS: In total 21 patients were included and 18 had a colorectal cancer at the time of the CT acquisition. Median cancer size was 43 mm [interquartile range (IQR) 27-60 mm] and all 18 colorectal cancers were visible on the 120 kV images and iodine map during the unblinded read. During the blinded read, observers found 90% (27/30) of the cancers with 120 kV images only and 96.7% (29/30) after viewing the iodine map in addition (p = 0.5). Median enhancement of colorectal cancers was 29.9 HU (IQR 23.1-34.6). The largest benign lesions (70 and 25 mm) were visible on the 120 kV images and iodine map, whereas four smaller benign lesions (7-15 mm) were not. CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancers are visible on the contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT without bowel preparation or insufflation. Because of the patient-friendly nature of this approach, further studies should explore its use for colorectal cancer detection in frail and elderly patients.

Breast cancer screening: using familiality for earlier detection.

It is the purpose of this study to investigate whether breast cancer in patients with a positive family history is detected at an earlier stage with better prognostic markers than breast cancer in patients without a positive family history. In 481 patients, tumour size, tumour type, lymph vessel invasion, blood vessel invasion, receptor state, lymphatic spread, mitotic activity index (MAI) and survival were measured and compared, according to their family history. No difference was found between patients without a family history, patients with first-degree relatives or patients with second-degree relatives with breast cancer. Tumours were detected in the same stages and prognostic factors, MAI and survival were similar in all groups. A positive family history of breast cancer does not lead to earlier detection of breast cancer or a better survival.

Extranodal extension of axillary metastasis of invasive breast carcinoma as a possible predictor for the total number of positive lymph nodes.

INTRODUCTION: By the implementation of the sentinel node procedure in the treatment of breast carcinoma routine axillary lymph node, dissection can be abandoned in patients with a tumour-negative sentinel node. When the sentinel node is positive there are two options; an axillary dissection or radiotherapy of the axilla. In the latter case one is not informed about the total number of positive lymph nodes which can be of importance for the choice of adjuvant chemotherapy. In this paper we analyse whether it is possible to use histological parameters of a lymph-node metastasis to predict the number of tumour-cell-containing nodes. METHODS: Four hundred and ninety-eight patients treated for invasive breast cancer at our department from 1991 to 1996 were investigated to see whether extranodal extension of axillary metastases had a significant predictive value for the number of positive lymph nodes. Extranodal extension was scored as: no extranodal extension (NEE) and extranodal extension (EE); the latter was subdivided in minimal extranodal extension (MEE) or extensive extranodal extension (EEE). RESULTS: Of 498 patients, 230 patients had axillary involvement. NEE was seen in 83 (36.1%) patients and 147 (63.9%) had EE. Subdivision of this latter group revealed 77 patients with MEE (52%), 65 patients with EEE (45%) and five patients not further specified (3%). The number of positive nodes for the EE-group (6.9+/-0.5) was significant higher compared with the NEE-group (2.1+/-0.2) (P<0.001). The number of positive nodes was also significantly higher for the EEE-group compared to the MEE-group, 10.6+/-0.8 vs 4.0+/-0.4 (P<0.001). The predictive value for > or =4 positive axillary lymph nodes was 84.6% for EEE, 58.5% for EE and only 14.5% for NEE. These differences were significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of extranodal extension in axillary lymph-node metastases can be a good predictor for the expected number of positive nodes. This histological parameter could be of value to determine the kind of adjuvant chemotherapy after a positive sentinel-node biopsy with only radiotherapy of the axilla and no further axillary lymph-node dissection.