Publications by authors named "K J Ruddy"
Purpose: Over 50% of households in the United States have at least one musician-many musicians are also breast cancer survivors. This group has not been well studied, and given the level of fine sensory-motor skill required for musicianship, we hypothesized that musicians experience unique manifestations of breast cancer treatment toxicities.
Methods: A nine-item Musical Toxicity Questionnaire (MTQ) was distributed to patients who had consented to participate in the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Registry.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) from oxaliplatin and taxane drugs is a bothersome toxicity. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been reported to improve myelinated nerve fiber function in patients experiencing painful CIPN. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of PEA in patients with established CIPN.
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- - Breast cancer survivors face a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mainly due to the cardiotoxic effects of some cancer treatments and shared risk factors.
- - A PubMed review analyzed 152 studies to gather insights on cardiovascular health management for these survivors, highlighting common risk factors like obesity, inactivity, and smoking.
- - Primary care physicians play a crucial role in the long-term care of breast cancer survivors, needing to monitor CVD risks, perform evaluations, and refer to specialists as necessary.
Background: Retrospective studies suggest that some breast cancer survivors report treatment-associated hair loss or thinning years after their diagnosis. This study investigates frequency and perceptions of alopecia persisting 6 years after patients' breast cancer diagnoses.
Methods: Breast cancer survivors participating in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry (MCBDR) were mailed a survey 6 years after diagnosis.
Importance: Young adults aged 18 to 39 years represent the minority of breast cancer diagnoses but are particularly vulnerable to financial hardship. Factors contributing to sustained financial hardship are unknown.
Objectives: To identify financial hardship patterns over time and characterize factors associated with discrete trajectories; it was hypothesized that treatment-related arm morbidity, a key source of expense, would be associated with long-term financial difficulty.