Publications by authors named "Randal S Olshefski"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in treating pediatric patients with metastatic disease.
- 16 pediatric and adolescent patients underwent SBRT from 2000 to 2020, showing a median overall survival (OS) of 17 months and a one-year OS rate of 75%.
- Results indicated excellent local control of tumors, especially for those receiving higher doses (≥100 Gy), with low rates of severe toxicity, suggesting SBRT is a viable treatment option for this demographic.
Purpose: Pediatric cancer survivors may have lower quality of life (QoL), but most research has assessed outcomes either in treatment or long-term survivorship. We focused on early survivorship (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Central nervous system (CNS)-directed treatments can cause long-term academic, social, and emotional difficulties for children with cancer. However, limited research has examined the emergence of problems longitudinally and has often stratified risk by diagnosis alone. Therefore, this study compared competence and adjustment in children, who did and did not receive CNS-directed treatment, over the first 3 years following a cancer diagnosis.
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- Young adult survivors of childhood cancer often perceive themselves as maturing faster than their peers, with 62% feeling they grew up more quickly.
- The study found that perceived maturity, particularly in personal aspects, positively correlates with life satisfaction, explaining a significant portion of the variance in well-being.
- Brain tumor survivors reported lower maturity levels compared to others, indicating that specific types of childhood cancer may impact development and life satisfaction differently.
Article Synopsis
- Pediatric hematology and oncology patients, particularly those with central venous catheters (CVCs), are at a heightened risk for bloodstream infections, leading researchers to assess the impact of standardized CVC maintenance practices.
- A retrospective study analyzed data from patients with certain malignancies and conditions, revealing that 14.6% experienced central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), more commonly among hospitalized patients, especially those with leukemia.
- The study concluded that while mucosal barrier injury (MBI) CLABSIs were significant, non-MBI CLABSIs were more prevalent, with the type of CVC used contributing to the overall risk, suggesting a need for more effective prevention strategies in this vulnerable group.
Background: "Head Start" III, was a prospective clinical trial using intensive induction followed by myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell rescue (AuHCR) to either avoid or reduce the dose/volume of irradiation in young children with medulloblastoma.
Methods: Following surgery, patients received 5 cycles of induction followed by myeloablative chemotherapy using carboplatin, thiotepa, and etoposide with AuHCR. Irradiation was reserved for children >6 years old at diagnosis or with residual tumor post-induction.
Romantic Relationships and Physical Intimacy Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer.
J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol
June 2020
Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for impaired psychosocial functioning, but limited research has focused on psychosexual outcomes in young adulthood. This qualitative study examined the perceived impact of childhood cancer on adult survivors' romantic relationships and sexual/physical intimacy. Phone interviews were completed with adult survivors of childhood cancer, exploring the impact of cancer on (1) romantic relationships and (2) sexual/physical intimacy.
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- Many childhood cancer survivors experience late effects from treatment, such as cardiovascular issues and obesity, but maintaining healthy behaviors can help reduce these risks.
- Despite being a crucial time for fostering positive health habits, many survivors fall short of recommended exercise and diet standards during the early years after treatment.
- Findings suggest that while certain health behaviors (like high-intensity exercise) are met, others, especially low-intensity exercise and sleep, need improvement, highlighting the importance of regular evaluations and interventions for these individuals.
Article Synopsis
- National guidelines recommend vaccinating immunocompromised patients on cancer therapy to reduce influenza-related health issues, and quality improvement (QI) strategies can enhance vaccination rates.
- A QI initiative was conducted focusing on education and communication to boost influenza vaccinations among oncology patients undergoing treatment, resulting in over 87% vaccination rates each season.
- The program was effective, achieving high vaccination levels and keeping influenza infection rates below 10% in vaccinated patients, despite challenges like vaccine refusals later in the season.
Objective: To extend the limited research on psychosexual development among childhood cancer survivors, by not only focusing on the prevalence and age of milestone attainment, but also survivors' attitudes toward the timing of reaching such milestones.
Methods: Adult survivors of childhood cancer (N = 90; M = 29.8, SD = 5.
Background: Risk factors for impairment in psychosexual development and satisfaction among adult survivors of childhood cancer are poorly understood. The authors compared psychosexual outcomes between survivors and healthy controls, and tested whether at-risk survivors can be identified by 1) treatment neurotoxicity or 2) diagnosis.
Methods: A total of 144 young adult survivors of childhood cancer and 144 matched controls completed questionnaires regarding psychosexual development, sexual satisfaction, and satisfaction with relationship status.
Background: Families often express a need for additional information about neurocognitive late effects (NCLE) after a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Therefore, we examined: (i) differences in parent, child, and oncologist estimates of risk for NCLE; (ii) whether the estimates of parents and/or children change over time; and (iii) whether estimates are different for children treated with central nervous system (CNS) directed therapies.
Procedure: Mothers, fathers, and children (initial age: 5-17, self-report: >10) from 258 families reported their perceived likelihood of the child developing "thinking/learning problems" on a visual analog scale (0-100%) at 2 months (T1), 1 year (T2), and 3 years (T3) following cancer diagnosis/relapse.
Objective: Research on body image and sexual satisfaction after adult onset cancer has shown significant and lasting impairments regarding survivors' sexuality and romantic relationships. However, knowledge about these topics and their associations in adult survivors of childhood cancer is largely lacking.
Methods: Participants completed web-based questionnaires concerning body image, body dissociation, sexual satisfaction, and relationship status satisfaction (i.
Introduction: Pediatric high-grade gliomas are rare tumors with poor outcomes and incompletely defined management. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study to evaluate association of clinical, pathologic, and treatment characteristics with outcomes.
Materials And Methods: Fifty-one patients treated from 1984 to 2008 at the Ohio State University or University of Michigan were included.
Background: Bone involvement in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is common. Both bone scintigraphy and plain films are used to identify osseous lesions, but lack specificity for disease activity and response to therapy. FDG-PET is a sensitive technique for identifying bone lesions when histiocytes are present.
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