Comprehensive wound malodor management: Win the RACE.

Complex wounds that give off a foul odor are common in various patient care settings. Wound malodor has grave effects, both physical and psychological, and its management presents a serious challenge for caregivers. Multiple factors and processes involved in malodor production need to be considered in designing a comprehensive treatment plan described by the acronym RACE: removal of necrotic tissue, antibacterials, odor concealers, and education and support.

How well is palliative care integrated into cancer care? A MASCC, ESMO, and EAPC Project.

Introduction: The benefits of integration of palliative care into oncology have become evidence-based. How palliative care is perceived and structured in various settings and countries would be of interest.

Method: We used a previously published questionnaire to survey multiple institutions with members in MASCC and ESMO.

MASCC/ESMO/EAPC survey of palliative programs.

Background: Palliative care program structure is important to integrating palliative services into cancer care. A first step in understanding the structure of palliative care programs is to survey existing programs.

Method: This data was generated from members of MASCC, the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), and the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) who completed the surveys on the website.

Fighting insomnia and battling lethargy: the yin and yang of palliative care.

There is an interdependent relationship between insomnia and fatigue in the medical literature, but both remain distinct entities. Insomnia entails problematic sleep initiation, maintenance, or restoration with an accompanying decrease in perceived daytime function. Lethargy is a symptom that has a wide differential diagnosis that heavily overlaps with cancer-related fatigue; however, insomnia may contribute to worsened fatigue and lethargy in cancer patients.