Cancer patients are often not sufficiently oriented to manage side effects at home. Sending text messages with self-care guidelines aimed managing side effects is the main objective of this randomized controlled trial. Patients who started outpatient chemotherapy treatment between March and December 2017 at a hospital in southern Brazil were invited to participate in this study and were allocated to the intervention or control group (ratio 1: 1). Each patient in the intervention group received a daily SMS (short message service) with some guidance on management or prevention of side effects. All text messages were sent to the intervention group patients in an automated and tailored way by our app called cHEmotHErApp. Side effects experienced by patients were verified using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results showed intervention group patients experienced fewer side effects compared to the control group in cycle 1 (p < 0.05), in general. In addition, intervention group experienced less nausea in relation to the control group, in the cycle 1 and cycle 2 (p < 0.05). This study indicate text messaging may be a tool for supporting side effect management in patients receiving chemotherapy. This study was enrolled in ClinicalTrials.gov with the identification number NCT03087422. This research was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

High expression levels of survivin in the primary tumor may be used as a potential predictive biomarker of pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II and stage III breast cancer.

Cancer treatment is an extremely stressful life experience that is accompanied by a range of psychological, social, physical, and practical difficulties. Cancer patients need to receive information that helps them to better understand the disease, assists them in decision-making, and helps them deal with treatment. Patients are interested in receiving such information. The degree of satisfaction with the information received has been associated with positive health outcomes, specifically regarding quality of life, severity of side effects, and psychological well-being. This study investigates a method of guiding cancer patients, in relation to outpatient chemotherapy treatment, using SMS (short message service) text messaging. A smartphone application called cHEmotHErApp was developed, and its primary function is to send out SMS text messages with guidance for self-care and emotional support for oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptance and perception of patients of the receipt of these SMS messages, as well as to evaluate the possible benefits reported by the participants. Adult patients diagnosed with cancer, who started the first outpatient chemotherapy treatment scheme between August and November 2016 at the School Hospital (HE) of the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), were invited to participate in this pilot study. In total, 14 cancer patients were adherent to this study. Each of these patients received a daily text message on their cell phone with some guidance on encouraging self-care and emotional support. Patients reported that, because of the SMS text messages they received, they felt more confident in their treatment, felt more supported and encouraged, and that the text messages facilitated self-care. In addition, patients reported that the SMS text messages they received helped them to take better care of themselves and to continue further treatment.

Introduction:The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Chagas disease in patients treated at a Public Oncology Service in the City of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Methods: This study included 200 individuals undergoing cancer treatment and involved the use of a questionnaire and venous blood collection for the detection of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibody. Results: The study found a 5% prevalence of patient seropositivity. Signifi cant variables are presented and discussed in the article. Conclusions: Serological T. cruzi checks are recommended in cancer patients, especially individuals from endemic areas in Brazil and other Latin American countries.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a therapeutic strategy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer. To evaluate the toxicity and clinical efficacy of the combination of Gemcitabine plus doxorubicin followed by paclitaxel in neoadjuvancy. Methods:A phase II trial, in which 19 patients, ages 37 to 65, with pathologically proven breast cancer, were included. They received four cycles of doxorubicin 50mg/m 2 on day 1 and Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8, every 21 days;followed by four cycles of paclitaxel 80 mg/m 2 on days 1, 8, and 15, every 28 days. The follow-up was performed with mammography and clinical examination. Results:The planned regimen was completed in 17 (89.4%) of the 19 patients. Thirty seven percent of the patients presented mucositis grades 3-4 and 15% had diarrhea grades 3-4. Hematologic toxicities grades 3-4 were seen in 31.5% of the cases (6 patients). Complete clinical response was observed in 9 (47%) patients; of whom four showed complete pathological response after surgery. Conclusion:The response rate (clinical and pathological) in this study was similar to the one observed in the usual regimen of neoadjuvancy using doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel. However, the toxicity profile of the combination regimen containing gemcitabine was exceedingly high, causing the interruption of the protocol.