BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Corticosteroids are commonly used for symptom relief in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. Consistent efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in palliative care remains controversial. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was mailed to representative managing physicians in certified palliative care units in Japan to clarify the physician-perceived efficacy of steroid treatment on anorexia, fatigue, and dyspnea in terminal cancer patients, to clarify physicians' experience of side effects of corticosteroid use, and to determine the Japanese palliative care physician-reported predictive factors for efficacy and lack of efficacy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Many Japanese palliative care specialists perceived that corticosteroids are effective for each of the symptoms, are aware of the prevalence and importance of serious adverse effects, and predict the effectiveness of steroid therapy by etiological factors.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Corticosteroids are commonly used for symptom relief in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. Consistent efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in palliative care remains controversial. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was mailed to representative managing physicians in certified palliative care units in Japan to clarify the physician-perceived efficacy of steroid treatment on anorexia, fatigue, and dyspnea in terminal cancerpatients, to clarify physicians' experience of side effects of corticosteroid use, and to determine the Japanese palliative care physician-reported predictive factors for efficacy and lack of efficacy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Many Japanese palliative care specialists perceived that corticosteroids are effective for each of the symptoms, are aware of the prevalence and importance of serious adverse effects, and predict the effectiveness of steroid therapy by etiological factors.
Authors: Ann M Berger; Kathi Mooney; Amy Alvarez-Perez; William S Breitbart; Kristen M Carpenter; David Cella; Charles Cleeland; Efrat Dotan; Mario A Eisenberger; Carmen P Escalante; Paul B Jacobsen; Catherine Jankowski; Thomas LeBlanc; Jennifer A Ligibel; Elizabeth Trice Loggers; Belinda Mandrell; Barbara A Murphy; Oxana Palesh; William F Pirl; Steven C Plaxe; Michelle B Riba; Hope S Rugo; Carolina Salvador; Lynne I Wagner; Nina D Wagner-Johnston; Finly J Zachariah; Mary Anne Bergman; Courtney Smith Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: David Hui; Kelly Kilgore; Susan Frisbee-Hume; Minjeong Park; Anne Tsao; Marvin Delgado Guay; Charles Lu; William William; Katherine Pisters; George Eapen; Frank Fossella; Sapna Amin; Eduardo Bruera Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2016-06-18 Impact factor: 3.612