Right ventricular strain as a predictor of trastuzumab-induced chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction: A meta-analysis.

Introduction: The survival rates of breast cancer patients have improved drastically in the past few decades due to advancements in anti-neoplastic drugs. Trastuzumab (TZ) chemotherapy is associated with left ventricular dysfunction leading to cardiotoxicity. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography has demonstrated efficacy in predicting TZ-induced cardiotoxicity; however, its role in using right ventricular (RV) strain parameters remains unclear.

'You can't say, "what about me?" I'm not the one with cancer': information and support needs of relatives.

Objective: The aims of this study were to explore relatives' experiences of talking about cancer within the family and to identify their information and support needs.

Method: A cross-sectional in-depth interview study with relatives and partners (n = 22) of cancer patients recruited through community settings was conducted. A thematic approach was used for analysis.