Employee perceptions of race and racism in an Australian hospital.

Background: Racism contributes to health inequities faced by people of colour and marginalised groups. Despite widespread recognition of the impacts of racism, mitigating strategies and legislation have been largely unsuccessful. Research into racism in healthcare has mostly examined personal experiences of healthcare workers and patients, assuming that the definitions of racism and race are similarly understood by all.

Symptom burden, quality of life, functioning and emotional distress in survivors of human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer: An Australian cohort.

Background: This cross-sectional study examines patient-reported outcomes and functioning-based subgroups in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer survivors treated with chemoradiotherapy ≥12 months prior.

Method: Survivors completed EORTC QLQ-C30, MDASI-HN and PROMIS-Emotional distress questionnaires. Subgroups were identified via two-step clustering of QLQ-C30 functioning scales.

Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Survivors of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of and characteristics associated with fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a cross-sectional study in HPV-OPC survivors ≥12 months from completion of definitive (chemo)radiation therapy (RT/CRT). Eligible patients completed the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory short-form (FCRI-SF), the European Organisation for research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck, and PROMIS Anxiety and Depression short forms.

Sexual Health and Interpersonal Relationships After Chemoradiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose: To examine sexual health, including sexual satisfaction, and perceived changes in relationships and sexual relationships of human papillomavirus (HPV) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors ≥12 months after (chemo)radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: We undertook a cross-sectional study of HPV-OPC survivors who had completed treatment ≥12 months prior. Eligible patients completed the EORTC QLQ-SHQ22, a customized relationship questionnaire, the EORTC QLQ-C30, MDASI-HN, and PROMIS Anxiety and Depression scales.

Patient-reported quality of life and toxicity in unilateral and bilateral radiotherapy for early-stage human papillomavirus associated tonsillar carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare self-reported health-related quality of life (QoL) and symptom burden in early stage tonsillar carcinoma patients treated with unilateral (URT) and bilateral radiotherapy (BRT).

Methods And Materials: This is a secondary analysis of a larger study assessing patient reported outcomes in human papillomavirus (HPV) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) patients. Recruited patients were ≥12 months from completion of radiotherapy.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma survivorship care.

Background: Head and neck cancer is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. More than 90% of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). With advances in cancer therapies, survivorship care is becoming increasingly topical.

Unilateral radiotherapy treatment for p16/human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck.

Objectives/hypothesis: The outcomes of unilateral radiotherapy treatment for patients with p16/HPV-positive squamous cell carcinomas of unknown primary (SCCUP) affecting cervical lymph nodes are under-reported. Compared to radiating large volumes of the pharyngeal axis (the more common approach), this is potentially a much less toxic treatment for a good prognosis group.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Outcomes of Routine Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance in a Large Head and Neck Cancer Center.

Purpose: The primary endpoint was to ascertain whether the percentage of major changes implemented from our routine intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) process was more than 10%. The secondary endpoints were to document the percentage of minor changes, ascertain the time taken to perform the IMRT QA process, evaluate potential predictors for major changes, and ascertain the perceived value of the program by the compliance of radiation oncologists (ROs) treating head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods And Materials: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective database for all radically treated HNC patients.

Weekly cisplatin and radiotherapy for low risk, locoregionally advanced human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: There is interest in different treatment strategies, including deintensification in good prognosis human papillomavirus-positive (HPV(+)) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We reviewed our experience with weekly cisplatin in low-risk, locoregionally advanced HPV(+) oropharyngeal SCC since late 2009.

Methods: Data from patients with low-risk HPV(+) oropharyngeal SCC treated with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m(2) ) and 70 Gy radiotherapy were collected.

Safety and cost analysis of an (18)FDG-PET-CT response based follow-up strategy for head and neck cancers treated with primary radiation or chemoradiation.

Background: Prognostic information can rationalise clinical follow-up after radical cancer treatment. This retrospective cohort study of radical head and neck (chemo)radiotherapy patients examines the clinical safety and cost implications of stratifying follow-up intensity by post-treatment (18)FDG-PET-CT response.

Methods: In 2008 clinical review after radical head and neck radiotherapy was reduced from 3- to 6-monthly for patients with complete (18)FDG-PET-CT response at 3months.

Abiraterone in metastatic salivary duct carcinoma.

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare, aggressive salivary gland malignancy with limited evidence guiding standard treatment. SDC is known to overexpress the androgen receptor, with only a handful of cases reporting responses to androgen blockade. This report presents a case of SDC responding to multiple lines of androgen blockade, including a rapid response to abiraterone, a CYP17 inhibitor effective in prostate cancer.

A phase II study of induction carboplatin and gemcitabine followed by chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: To investigate the tolerability and feasibility of induction gemcitabine and carboplatin chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with previously untreated non-keratinising nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with stage IIb to IV disease were enroled to receive three cycles of carboplatin AUC 5 and gemcitabine 1 g/m(2) day 1 and 8 every 21-days, followed by 70 Gy of radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin 20 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days of weeks 1, 4 and 7.

Results: 26/28 (93.

Larynx preservation with primary non-surgical treatment for loco-regionally advanced larynx cancer.

Introduction: The objective of this paper was to review the results of primary non-surgical treatment with the aim of larynx preservation for loco-regionally advanced larynx cancer (LALC).

Methods: All patients with LALC presenting between January 2002 and December 2006 who were selected for primary non-surgical treatment were included in this study.

Results: There were 60 patients, 48% with stage III and 52% with stage IV disease.

The 'QUAD SHOT'--a phase II study of palliative radiotherapy for incurable head and neck cancer.

Background And Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to estimate the rate of tumour response to a cyclical hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy regimen (QUAD SHOT) in previously untreated patients with incurable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Secondary objectives were to prospectively evaluate toxicity, quality of life (QoL) and survival in these patients.

Patients And Methods: The QUAD SHOT consisted of 14 Gy in four fractions, given twice a day and at least 6h apart, for 2 consecutive days.

'Boomerang' technique: an improved method for conformal treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.

The primary aim of the present study was to assess radiation dosimetry and subsequent clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer using a novel radiation technique termed the 'Boomerang'. Dosimetric comparisons were made with both conventional and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques. This is a study of 22 patients treated with this technique from June 1995 to October 1998.