Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes serious problems to health systems around the world and its rapid expansion makes it difficult to serve patients with certain health conditions such as cancer patients which might be at high risk for mortality if they are infected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.Aim: To compare the outcomes of cancer patients admitted due to COVID-19 and compare them with data of COVID-19 infected patients without a history of cancer.Methods: In this case-controlled study, 93 healthy people and 92 patients with malignancy admitted for COVID-19 were enrolled. The clinical features and laboratory indicators were assessed at the presentation and both groups were followed-up for treatment options and outcomes prospectively and compared at the level of P ≤ .05.Results: COVID-19 related mortality rate in malignant patients was significantly higher than patients without malignancy (41.3% vs 17.2%, P = .0001). The risk of death increased significantly in patients with malignancy (OR = 8.4, P = .007) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.3, P = .034) independent of other variables. Fever (64.5% vs 43.5%, P = .004), chill (35.5% vs 14.1%, P = .001), malaise (49.5% and 30.4%, P = .008), dry cough (51.6% vs 26.1%, P = .0001), and vomiting (17.2% vs 5.4%, P = .012) were reported significantly lower in cancer patients. Conclusion:The results suggest that cancer patients who were infected by COVID-19 may present with atypical symptoms are at higher risk of mortality independent of the demographic data, comorbidities, and treatments.
Mucositis is a frequent severe complication of radiation therapy in patient with head and neck cancer. Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extracted from the milk thistle that exhibits strong antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluate silymarin efficacy in prevention of radiotherapy induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer, as the first human study. During this pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effect of oral silymarin 420 mg daily in three divided doses starting at the first day of radiotherapy for 6 weeks, on oral mucositis occurrence was assessed. Twenty-seven patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria assigned to the silymarin or placebo group. World Health Organization and National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria oral mucositis grading scale scores were recorded at baseline and weekly during these 6 weeks. The median World Health Organization and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria scores were significantly lower in silymarin group at the end of the first to sixth week (p < 0.05). The scores increased significantly in both placebo and silymarin groups during radiotherapy, but there was a delay for mucositis development and progression in silymarin group. Prophylactic administration of conventional form of silymarin tablets could significantly reduce the severity of radiotherapy induced mucositis and delay its occurrence in patients with head and neck cancer. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Background:The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques has been growing. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine places therapeutic touch (TT) into the category of bio field energy. This literature review is aimed at critically evaluating the data from clinical trials examining the clinical efficacy of therapeutic touch as a supportive care modality in adult patients with cancer.Methods:Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Scholar Google, and Science Direct) were searched from the year 1990 to 2015 to locate potentially relevant peer-reviewed articles using the key words therapeutic touch, touch therapy, neoplasm, cancer, and CAM. Additionally, relevant journals and references of all the located articles were manually searched for other potentially relevant studies.Results:The number of 334 articles was found on the basis of the key words, of which 17 articles related to the clinical trial were examined in accordance with the objectives of the study. A total of 6 articles were in the final dataset in which several examples of the positive effects of healing touch on pain, nausea, anxiety and fatigue, and life quality and also on biochemical parameters were observed.Conclusion:Based on the results of this study, an affirmation can be made regarding the use of TT, as a non-invasive intervention for improving the health status in patients with cancer. Moreover, therapeutic touch was proved to be a useful strategy for adult patients with cancer.
The incidence of cancer is continuing to rise in Iran. More people are now surviving cancer. They may require different kinds of care and support from those traditionally available. The expression of needs and how they are met in different cultural contexts can inform local assessment of needs and provide insights for initiatives in holistic cancer care. This study explores Iranian cancer patients' needs from patients' perspective. A qualitative design that consists of interviews, field notes and specified demographic information was used. Thirty participants were interviewed during the summer and autumn of 2009. The study conducted in a cancer research centre (Omid Hospital) in Mashhad, Iran. Interviews were analysed using a content analysis method. The results indicate that Iranian cancer patients are more likely to suffer from the impact of cancer on their daily life than physical symptoms related to the disease and its treatment. Cancer affected several aspects of their daily living, including their financial situation, ability to work and family life. Cost of treatment and psychosocial distress were the two aspects rated by respondents to be the most affected. Iranian cancer patients need holistic care which covers all the influences that affect their personal's life.
Background:Mucositis is one of the acute complications of radiotherapy which can ulcerate oral mucosa and cause severe pain and discomfort which can affect oral normal function. Propolis is a natural source of flavenoid which has antiulcer, antibacterial, antifungal, healing and anti-inflammatory effects. Using such an affordable compound without any bad smell or taste that has reasonable price can help the radiotherapy undergoing patients.Objectives:Our goal is assessing the preventing and therapeutic effect of propolis in radiotherapy induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer.Patients and Methods:In a randomized triple blind clinical trial, 20 patient were selected randomly to swish and swallow 15 ml of water based extract of propolis mouth wash 3 times a day in the case group (n = 10) and 15 ml placebo mouth wash in control group (n = 10). we use NIC-CTC scale for determining mucositis grading.Results:We use T-test, Man-Whitney, Chi-square, and Friedman as analyzing tests. Case group had significantly (P < 0.05) lower grade of mucositis in all of the follow-ups, but xerostomia is not significantly different in two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusions:This is a pilot study which shows water based extract of propolis efficiently prevents and heals radiotherapy induced mucositis.
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