RESUMO
Oncology healthcare providers have an obligation to support cancer survivors, not just during active treatment, but also long after they have completed therapy. By providing survivorship care education and establishing programs using evidence-based practice, the specific needs and resources required to aid survivors in this new transition and journey can be identified. Survivors need to be guided, informed, and have their unique needs addressed.
Assuntos
Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/terapia , Prática Clínica Baseada em Evidências , Humanos , Sobrevivência , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Immunotherapy can treat cancer and prevent future cancer relapse by enhancing the body's immune system. With novel immunotherapeutic agents like checkpoint inhibitors come unique immune-related adverse events. Hypophysitis, one of the lesser known immune-related complications, may be observed in patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors. Although the acute symptoms of immune-related hypophysitis may be managed with attentive monitoring and high-dose corticosteroids, lifelong hormone substitution therapy may be warranted. Oncology nurses are responsible for educating themselves and their patients on the complications of immunotherapy.â©.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/efeitos adversos , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos/efeitos adversos , Hipofisite/induzido quimicamente , Hipofisite/enfermagem , Imunoterapia/efeitos adversos , Melanoma/imunologia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Hipofisite/tratamento farmacológico , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doenças da Hipófise/induzido quimicamente , Doenças da Hipófise/diagnóstico , Doenças da Hipófise/terapia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Palliative care services are not available in most outpatient oncology practices. A program training 11 mid-level providers from oncology practices on advanced directive discussions and supportive symptom assessment and management performed by palliative care specialists was completed. A follow-up session 9 months later identified barriers to implementation. Of the 11 mid-level providers, 8 participated in the follow-up session, and 9 of the 11 providers implemented advanced directive's discussions and symptom assessment and management for patients with metastatic cancer. Main barriers included uncertainties about reimbursement, patients' lack of knowledge about palliative care, and lack of access to supportive services. This program successfully promoted advanced directive discussions and supportive/palliative care symptom assessment and management to community oncology practices, which will hopefully translate into improved quality of life for patients with metastatic cancer.
