PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Catherine M Bender

Publications and source records attributed to Catherine M Bender.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

The impact of parental cancer on the adolescent: an analysis of the literature.

Research has revealed the impact of the diagnosis of cancer on an individual, their spouse, and their family. One dimension that has received little attention is the impact of the cancer diagnosis on the patient's adolescent. This article offers an analysis of descriptive studies, intervention studies, and databased book chapters, published between 1966 and 2006, that examined the impact of parental cancer on the adolescent. The results of 45 studies and three databased book chapters are organized around four themes: adolescents' (1) emotions and behaviors (2) perceptions and knowledge of parental cancer (3) changes in roles and (4) ways of coping. These themes will assist the reader in understanding the application of the knowledge gained from the analysis of the literature to directions for future research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Cognitive impairment associated with adjuvant therapy in breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cognitive function changes over time in women with breast cancer who received adjuvant therapy as compared to women with breast cancer who received no adjuvant therapy. Three groups of women (n = 46) were studied; groups 1 and 2 consisted of women with stage I or II breast cancer. Group 1 received chemotherapy and group 2 received chemotherapy plus tamoxifen. Group 3 consisted of women with ductal carcinoma in situ who received no chemotherapy or tamoxifen. Cognitive function was evaluated at three timepoints. Time 1 occurred after surgery and before chemotherapy initiation in groups 1 and 2. Time 1 for group 3 occurred post-surgery. Time 2 occurred within 1 week after the conclusion of chemotherapy for groups 1 and 2 and at a comparable time for group 3. Time 3 occurred 1 year after Time 2. Women who received chemotherapy plus tamoxifen exhibited deterioration on measures of visual memory and verbal working memory and reported more memory complaints. Women who received chemotherapy alone also exhibited deteriorations in verbal working memory. Conversely, cognitive function scores improved in women who received no therapy, indicating practice effects. In conclusion, adjuvant chemotherapy in women with breast cancer can be associated with deteriorations in memory and this may persist over time. The addition of tamoxifen may lead to more widespread memory deficits.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The nurse as principal investigator in a pharmaceutically sponsored drug trial: considerations and challenges.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To discuss the process, considerations, benefits, and challenges of the nurse as principal investigator in a cancer care drug trial. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, anecdotal experience, and completed research studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: The specific processes that must be considered are funding sources, protocol development, trial implementation, dissemination of results, and ethical implications involved in industry sponsorship. Specific protocols are designed for evaluating adverse events. Working with pharmaceutical companies to receive financial support offers advantages but poses additional issues for consideration. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses can serve successfully as principal investigators in medication trials for cancer care. Regulatory bodies and specific procedures, as well as general considerations, mandate and guide investigator conduct when embarking on a pharmaceutical trial. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Oncology nurse researchers can look to pharmaceutical companies for potential funding in the evaluation of medications used in cancer care.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2004

The decision to prematurely terminate a trial of R-HuEPO due to thrombotic events.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) corrects cancer-related anemia and, thereby, improves quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to measure the impact of erythropoietin on hemoglobin and mood state in patients with metastatic breast cancer and mild anemia (Hgb < 12.0 g/dL). Women were randomized to receive usual care (G1) or usual care plus r-HuEPO (G2). Usual care included transfusions as necessary and fatigue education. R-HuEPO was begun at 40,000U subcutaneously per week. At 4 weeks, the dose was increased to 60,000U if Hgb had not increased > or = 1.0 g/dL. The drug was discontinued at 8 weeks if hemoglobin improvement was < 1.0 g/dL. The study was terminated early (n = 27, G1 = 13, G2 = 14) when 4/14 (28.5%) subjects in G2 developed thrombotic events (deep vein thrombosis [DVT] in 1; DVT plus pulmonary embolism [PE] in 1; DVT plus PE 1 month after drug discontinuation in 1; and brachial vein thrombosis with infected Mediport in 1). In all four patients, Hgb levels were normal at the time of the event. No patient in G1 developed a thrombotic event. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics or current chemotherapy regimen in G1 vs. G2. The decision to terminate the trial was made after considerable deliberation. The increased incidence of thrombotic events in the r-HuEPO (G2) arm of this study exceeds that in prior studies in this population and prior r-HuEPO trials. This may relate to the administration of r-HuEPO in this high-risk population, but the small sample size and possible predisposing risk factors preclude definitive conclusions.

Anemia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Symptom clusters in breast cancer across 3 phases of the disease.

The purpose of this exploratory, secondary analysis was to compare the prevalence of symptoms attributable to breast cancer or its treatment and to identify and describe symptom clusters across 3 phases of the disease. A pooled analysis was conducted by combining existing symptom data collected at the baseline assessment from 3 independent studies of women with breast cancer. Study I had 40 women with early-stage breast cancer following primary surgery for their disease and prior to the initiation of adjuvant therapy. Study II had 88 women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer who had completed surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and may have been receiving hormonal therapy. Study III had 26 women with metastatic breast cancer (stage IV). Three symptom clusters were identified corresponding to 3 different phases of the breast cancer experience. Each cluster was composed of symptoms related to fatigue, perceived cognitive impairment, and mood problems. Future studies are needed to prospectively examine whether these symptoms cluster across 3 phases of breast cancer and the effect of these clusters on the functional ability and quality of life in women with breast cancer.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting (N&V) is among the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy, despite the development of more efficacious antiemetic agents. As many as 60% of patients who receive cancer chemotherapy experience some degree of N&V. However, the actual incidence is difficult to determine with accuracy because of the variety of drugs, doses, and health conditions of the patients who receive cancer treatments. This article examines the state of the science related to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and reviews both pharmacologic and behavioral strategies that have demonstrated efficacy in managing these distressing symptoms.

Antiemetics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cognitive dysfunction following adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: two case studies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe the cognitive dysfunction experienced by two women after they received adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and to discuss the potential role of changes in reproductive status and depression in the development of cognitive dysfunction. DATA SOURCES: Journal articles, research data, and clinical experience. DATA SYNTHESIS: Following chemotherapy, 17%-50% of women with breast cancer experience cognitive dysfunction that may include decrements in memory, attention, and psychomotor efficiency. One mechanism that may contribute to cognitive dysfunction involves changes in reproductive status resulting from chemotherapy. Additionally, the presence of depression may confound the experience of cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive description of cognitive dysfunction and improved understanding of the interrelationships among cognitive dysfunction, reproductive hormone levels, and depression in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy may hasten the development of interventions for the management of cognitive dysfunction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses should teach women with breast cancer and their families about the potential for cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy so the problem can be recognized and interventions can be implemented to help women compensate for the dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life of oncology nurses.

The aim of the study was to determine the quality of life (QOL) of nursing staff working in oncology units in Turkey. The study was a descriptive study and included 89 oncology nurses from 12 different cities in Turkey who participated in the course "Basic Chemotherapy Courses for Oncology Nurses" in Izmir. This course was organized by Ege University Faculty of Medicine and the Turkish Ministry of Health. Quality of life was assessed with the Questionnaire for Socioeconomic Status and the World Health Organization QOL Scale (WOQOL-BREF). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including Student t tests, analysis of variance, and the Scheffe test for post hoc analysis. Mean scores for QOL were 14.52 for the physical health domain, 14.3 for the psychologic domain, 13.57 for the social relationships domain, and 11.78 for the environment domain. It has been concluded that providing care for patients with cancer has a negative impact on the QOL of oncology nurses.

Adult↗