Chemotherapy during the last 30 days of life and the role of palliative care referral, a single center experience.

Background: Chemotherapy use closer to the end of life is a marker of poor-quality care. There are now multiple studies and local reviews addressing this issue. Understanding the practice locally will give valuable insight and opportunity for improvement.

Exploring the Impact of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment on Functions, Bother, and Well-Being.

Though many studies have explored the effects of radiation therapy on urinary, sexual, and bowel function and/or bother, few have focused on symptom experiences from diagnosis through the first year following completion of radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 3 types of radiation treatment on functions, bother, and well-being in men with prostate cancer at 1, 6, and 12 months after completion of treatment. A repeated measures survey (N = 73) found that none of the function, bother, emotional, social, or functional well-being scores were significantly different among the 3 groups.

Is single fraction 15 Gy the preferred high dose-rate brachytherapy boost dose for prostate cancer?

Background And Purpose: High dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy is most commonly administered as a boost in two or more fractions combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Our purpose is to compare outcomes with a single fraction HDR boost to that with a standard fractionated boost in intermediate risk prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Results of two sequential phase II clinical trials are compared.

A descriptive study of functions, symptoms, and perceived health state after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To explore the impact of prostate cancer treatment on: (a) the experience of symptoms (i.e. sexual, urinary, and bowel), and (b) perceived health state of men with prostate cancer one month following their radiation treatment.