Biomedical subjects

Tone Nordøy

Publications and source records attributed to Tone Nordøy.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Prevalence of pain in hospitalised cancer patients in Norway: a national survey.

PURPOSE: Pain severely impairs health-related quality of life and is a feared symptom among cancer patients. Unfortunately, patients often do not receive optimal care. We wanted to evaluate the quality of cancer pain treatment in Norwegian hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A one-day prevalence study targeting hospitalised cancer patients above 18 years of age was performed. A questionnaire based on the Brief Pain Inventory was used, and additional information regarding sex, age, diagnosis, break through pain (BTP), and treatment was included. RESULTS: Fifty two percent of the included patients stated having cancer related pain (n=453), and mean pain during the previous 24 hours for these patients was NRS 3.99 (Numeric Rating scale 1-10). Presence of metastasis, occurrence of BTP, and abnormal skin sensibility in the area of pain were associated with higher pain scores. Forty two percent of all patients used opioids. However, these patients still had higher pain scores, more episodes of BTP, and more influence of the pain on daily life functions than average. Thirty percent of patients with severe pain (NRS>or=5) did not use opioids, and some of these patients did not receive any analgesics at all. CONCLUSION: Although most cancer patients receive an acceptable pain treatment in Norwegian hospitals, there are patients who are not adequately managed. Lack of basic knowledge and individual systematic symptom assessment may be reasons for the underuse of analgesics and the resulting unnecessary suffering among the cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

[Treatment with nutrition and fluids in patients with non-curable cancer].

Patients with non-curable cancer represent a large and heterogeneous group in which malnutrition and weight loss is a frequent finding. This article is based on relevant literature and our own clinical experience. For every patient a thorough examination of possible underlying causes should be explored and corrected as soon as possible (secondary cachexia). However, in many patients primary cachexia is the cause, a catabolic condition where muscle protein and lipids are degraded and even aggressive nutrition will not reverse the process. This condition is very different from starvation. Metoclopramide, corticosteroids and gestagens can relieve symptoms as anorexia, chronic nausea and asthenia which frequently occur in patients with cachexia. Treatments that may maintain or increase muscle function and modulate inflammatory processes are new approaches, such as eicosapentaneoic acid, adenosine triphosphate, specific amino acids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Nutrition is an integrated part of supportive therapy to all cancer patients, unless expected survival is short. At this time in life, nutrition will not influence survival and focus should be on symptom control.

Cachexia↗

PubMed2006

[Tumour-modifying therapy].

Symptom relief as well as symptom prevention may be achieved in patients with advanced malignant disease and short life expectancy by use of radiotherapy and systemic cancer treatment (hormones and chemotherapy). Sometimes the treatment may be life prolonging as well. This knowledge is mostly based upon empirical data and personal experiences - to a much lower extent on evidence-based medicine. For these patients, it is of particular importance to minimise the level and duration of acute treatment-related toxicity. Shortened radiotherapy regiments may be effective, with few side effects. The efficacy of the systemic treatment must be evaluated at regular intervals and terminated if there is a lack of response or high level of toxicity. Bisphosphonates are standard treatment of hypercalcaemia. In addition, in patients with bone metastasies from various cancer sites with a life expectancy of six months or more, bisphosphonates may reduce the number of skeletal events.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2002

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy show adequate serological response to vaccinations against influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are prone to develop infections that might postpone treatment and lead to complications. The aim of our study was to investigate whether a heterogeneous population of patients with solid tumors and malignant lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy would respond serologically to vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal disease. There are no established routines in oncology departments in Norway regarding vaccination of these patients. The study included 35 cancer patients with median age 53 yr (range 20-74) and 38 controls with median age 57 yr (range 43-75). The chemotherapy regimens used were mild or moderately immunosuppressive. After one vaccination, 25 patients (72%) and 34 controls (87%) were serologically protected against two or three influenza strains. A higher proportion of patients with solid tumors (81%) than lymphoma (38%) achieved protection. Age, months on chemotherapy, and curative versus palliative treatment did not influence responses to vaccination. After vaccination with a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine against pneumococci, most patients and controls achieved protective serum levels of antibodies against the different serotypes, with the exception that fewer patients were protected against serotype 4. The responses in controls were, however, generally stronger to all serotypes. Tumor type did not influence this vaccination response. We conclude that our cancer patients achieved adequate responses to influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. These are not live vaccines and are therefore safe for immunocompromised patients. Routine vaccinations against influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae should be considered in cancer patients undergoing mild to moderately immunosuppressive chemotherapy.

Adult↗