Introduction: Partnering to embrace the future of cancer survivorship research and care

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical and procedural outcomes of patients treated with the valve‐in‐valve technique for severe aortic insufficiency (AI) after balloon‐expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background: Severe AI immediately after valve implantation is a notable complication of TAVR. It can be treated with a valve‐in‐valve technique which involves deploying a second valve within the first one to crush the leaflets of the first implant leaving a new functional valve. Methods: We analyzed data on 142 consecutive patients at our institution undergoing TAVR with the Sapien valve between November of 2007 and April of 2011. Etiologies of acute AI, procedural and intermediate term clinical outcomes were reported for those in whom a valve‐in‐valve procedure was necessary. Post‐hoc analysis of these cases with C‐THV imaging (Paieon Medical Ltd.) was performed to elucidate the mechanism for successful AI treatment. Results: A total of 5 of 142 (3.5%) patients were treated with the valve‐in‐valve technique. Etiologies of the aortic valve insufficiency included bioprosthesis malposition (n = 3), valve dysfunction (n = 1), and valve undersizing (n = 1). With placement of the second valve, the first valve dimensions increased to approach the nominal valve size while the second valve size remained less than nominal. Conclusions: The valve‐in‐valve technique is an appropriate bailout measure for patients with acute valvular AI after balloon‐expandable TAVR. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

Educating Health Care Professionals to Provide Institutional Changes in Cancer Survivorship Care

“…LiveSTRONG's survey of cancer survivors revealed a lack of support from health care providers resulting in 59% of cancer survivors learning to live with their side effects and 41% taking it upon themselves to try to find the care they needed [21]. Finding appropriate medical care follow-up for patients and their families will require changes in the way care is provided [12,23]. Assisting cancer settings across the nation in providing this care requires staff education and support to help meet this challenge and change institutional priorities.…”

Mother–child dyad support needs to be expressed by mothers diagnosed with breast cancer

“…A diagnosis of cancer affects the lives of the patient's family members in addition to the afflicted patient's life. Although cancer has been widely recognised as a family disease (Oktay et al, 2011), medical care or psychosocial support has primarily focused on the needs of the patient, including an increasing recognition of the need to provide supports to breast cancer patients' adaptation to life after treatment (Rowland & Stefanek, 2008). Adequate attention has not been given to the familial aspect of support needs.…”

Effect of Cognition on Quality of Life After Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

“…Survivorship research includes investigations into the physical, psychosocial, and economic sequelae of cancer. 4 The posttreatment cognitive status of patients with cancer and its role in the survivor's quality of life has received little attention in HNC. Multiple studies in other cancer cohorts, especially breast cancer, have delineated the detrimental effect of cancer treatment on cognition and the resulting impediments to societal reintegration.…”

“…The National Cancer Institute established the Office of Cancer Survivorship in 1996 to promote investigations concerned with addressing challenges encountered by cancer survivors and improving their quality of life. Survivorship research includes investigations into the physical, psychosocial, and economic sequelae of cancer …”