G. J. van Londen

Population-Level Trends in Posttreatment Cancer Survivors’ Concerns and Associated Receipt of Care: Results from the 2006 and 2010 LIVESTRONG Surveys

There is a need to better understand the posttreatment concerns of the nearly 14 million survivors of cancer alive in the United States today and their receipt of care. Using data from 2,910 posttreatment survivors of cancer from the 2006 or 2010 LIVESTRONG Surveys, the authors examined physical, emotional, and practical concerns, receipt of care, and trends in these outcomes at the population level. Results: 89% of respondents reported at least one physical concern (67% received associated posttreatment care), 90% reported at least one emotional concern (47% received care), and 45% reported at least one practical concern (36% received care). Female survivors, younger survivors, those who received more intensive treatment, and survivors without health insurance often reported a higher burden of posttreatment concerns though were less likely to have received posttreatment care. These results reinforce the importance of posttreatment survivorship and underscore the need for continued progress in meeting the needs of this population. Efforts to increase the availability of survivorship care are extremely important to improve the chances of people affected by cancer living as well as possible in the posttreatment period.

Effect of risedronate on hip structural geometry: a 1-year, double-blind trial in chemotherapy-induced postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION Chemotherapy-induced menopause is associated with bone loss. The effect on structural geometry is unknown. Our objective was to determine if oral bisphosphonate therapy could maintain or improve femoral geometry in breast cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced menopause. METHODS This preplanned 1 year interim, secondary analysis of the Risedronates Effect on Bone loss in Breast CAncer Study (REBBeCA Study) examined hip structure analysis (HSA), i.e. changes in the bone cross-sectional area (bone CSA), section modulus (SM: measure of bending strength), cortical thickness (CT) and buckling ratio (BR: index of cortical bone stability), in a double-blind trial of 87 newly postmenopausal, nonmetastatic breast cancer patients, randomized to risedronate, 35 mg once weekly (RIS) versus placebo (PBO). RESULTS After 12 months, intertrochanteric parameters demonstrated percentage improvement (RIS vs. PBO) from baseline in bone CSA (mean+/-SD: 4.25+/-6.29 vs. 0.60+/-5.99%), SM (3.97+/-6.40 vs. 0.80+/-7.08%), and CT [5.20+/-6.98 vs. 1.13+/-6.87% (all p-values <0.05 except SM p=0,0643)]. Similar improvements were observed at the femoral shaft [bone CSA: 2.24+/-5.74 vs. -0.78+/-5.73%; SM: 1.62+/-6.23 vs. -1.39+/-7.06%; CT: 3.79+/-7.84 vs. -0.17+/-7.90% (all p-values <0.05, RIS vs. PBO, except SM p= p =0.0568)]. At both sites, the BR had significant decreases consistent with improved strength. CONCLUSION We conclude that RIS improves measures of hip structural geometry in women with breast cancer following chemotherapy.

The effect of risedronate on hip structural geometry in chemotherapy-induced postmenopausal women with or without use of aromatase inhibitors: A 2-year trial

INTRODUCTION Osteoporosis is a major health problem for postmenopausal women. Adjuvant hormonal therapy with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in postmenopausal breast cancer patients further worsens bone loss. Bisphosphonates are able to prevent AI-induced bone loss, but limited data exists on their effect on bone structure. Our objectives were to (1) examine the impact of AIs and no-AIs on hip structural geometry (HSA) of chemotherapy-induced postmenopausal women, and (2) determine if oral bisphosphonates could affect these changes. METHODS This is a sub-analysis of a 2-year double-blind randomized trial of 67 women with nonmetastatic breast cancer, newly postmenopausal following chemotherapy (up to 8 years), who were randomized to risedronate, 35 mg once weekly (RIS) and placebo (PBO). Many women changed their cancer therapy from a no-AI to an AI during the trial. Outcomes were changes in Becks HSA-derived BMD and structural parameters. RESULTS Eighteen women did not receive adjuvant hormone therapy, while 41 women received other therapy and 8 received AIs at baseline distributed similarly between RIS and PBO. Women on AIs and PBO were found to have the lowest BMD and indices. RIS improved BMD and several HSA indices at the intertrochanteric site in women regardless of their hormonal therapy, but most improvement was observed in women who were not on AIs (all p< or =0.05 except buckling ratio). Changes at the narrow neck and femoral shaft were similar. CONCLUSION The use of AIs appears to lead to lower HSA-derived BMD and hip structural indices as compared to women on no or non-AI therapy in chemotherapy-induced postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Preventive therapy with once weekly oral risedronate maintains structural, skeletal integrity independently of the use of or type of adjuvant therapy.

Medication adherence to oral cancer therapy: The promising role of the pharmacist:

Medication adherence to oral cancer therapy is a critical component to achieving optimal patient outcomes. As the US population ages, growing numbers of patients will be prescribed oral cancer therapy regimens, highlighting the need for innovative and scalable solutions. Clinical pharmacists offer tremendous promise to help patients improve their adherence to oral cancer therapy. Moreover, addition of oral chemotherapy to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) medication adherence quality measures has the potential to improve care and result in better therapeutic outcomes with fewer costs for patients and payers. Future research is needed to test the use of pharmacist-managed interventions to improve adherence to oral cancer therapy.

Perspectives of postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on adjuvant endocrine therapy-related symptoms.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To conduct an investigation of womens experiences related to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) and managing AET-related symptoms. RESEARCH APPROACH Qualitative, focus group design. SETTING Main campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS 14 breast cancer survivors, aged 50 years or older, with AET-related symptoms. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Semistructured discussion guides were used to elicit recollections of conversations with healthcare providers about starting AET, symptom experiences, symptom management, and suggestions for improving management. Audiotaped discussions were transcribed and analyzed to identify themes. FINDINGS Women reported that, initially, AET was not viewed as a choice, but rather as the necessary next step to save their lives. After starting AET, women experienced difficulties making sense of, communicating about, and managing unanticipated AET-related symptoms. Women who experienced persistently bothersome symptoms began weighing the pros and cons of AET to decide whether to continue treatment. CONCLUSIONS Focus group findings suggest multiple opportunities to better prepare patients for AET and to improve assessment and management of AET-related symptoms. INTERPRETATION By exploring AET-related symptom experiences, nurses may be able to promote AET adherence in breast cancer survivors.

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Auricular Point Acupressure to Manage Symptom Clusters of Pain, Fatigue, and Disturbed Sleep in Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Current management for a symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and disturbed sleep in breast cancer patients has limited effects. Objective: The purposes of this prospective, randomized controlled pilot study were to (1) assess the feasibility and tolerability of auricular point acupressure (APA) intervention to manage pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance in breast cancer patients and (2) provide an initial appraisal of effect size as compared with a control intervention. Methods: Thirty-one participants were randomized into either an active APA group (n = 16) or a control APA group (n = 15), which included the sham APA treatment not related to the symptoms. All participants received the APA once a week for 4 weeks. Self-report measures were obtained at baseline, weekly during intervention, at end of intervention, and at a 1-month follow-up. Results: For the 4-week of APA treatment, the retention rate was 88% for the active APA group and 73% for the control APA group. After 4 weeks of APA, participants in the active APA treatment had reported a reduction of 71% in pain, 44% in fatigue, 31% in sleep disturbance, and 61% in interference with daily activities. The control APA group experienced some moderate reduction in these symptoms. Conclusion: Given that this was a pilot study with a small sample size, results must be interpreted with caution. Implications for Practice: Our results suggest that APA may provide an inexpensive and effective complementary approach for the management of symptom clusters for breast cancer patients, and further study is warranted.

Cancer Therapy and Osteoporosis: Approach to Evaluation and Management

The incidences of osteoporosis and cancer increase with age, and these two diagnoses are often made in the same individual. Both increasing age and hypogonadism associated with aging, as well as cancer therapies, can lead to loss of bone mass and increased risk for fragility fractures. Advancing age carries an association with increased incidence of cancers. Thus, cancer and its therapies may predispose an individual to osteoporosis and its associated morbidity and mortality. Prevention of bone loss and its consequent fractures is critical in the care of aging patients. This article reviews the mechanisms of bone metabolism and the principles of management of bone health in the older population with a history of cancer.

Cardiovascular disease and mortality after breast cancer in postmenopausal women: Results from the Women’s Health Initiative

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older postmenopausal women. The impact of postmenopausal breast cancer on CVD for older women is uncertain. We hypothesized that older postmenopausal women with breast cancer would be at a higher risk of CVD than similar aged women without breast cancer and that CVD would be a major contributor to the subsequent morbidity and mortality. Methods In a prospective Women’s Health Initiative study, incident CVD events and total and cause-specific death rates were compared between postmenopausal women with (n = 4,340) and without (n = 97,576) incident invasive breast cancer over 10 years post-diagnosis, stratified by 3 age groups (50–59, 60–69, and 70–79). Results Postmenopausal women, regardless of breast cancer diagnosis, had similar and high levels of CVD risk factors (e.g., smoking and hypertension) at baseline prior to breast cancer, which were strong predictors of CVD and total mortality over time. CVD affected mostly women age 70–79 with localized breast cancer (79% of breast cancer cases in 70–79 age group): only 17% died from breast cancer and CVD was the leading cause of death (22%) over the average 10 years follow up. Compared to age-matched women without breast cancer, women age 70–79 at diagnosis of localized breast cancer had a similar multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76–1.33) for coronary heart disease, a lower risk of composite CVD (HR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.70–1.00), and a higher risk of total mortality (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.39). Conclusion CVD was a major contributor to mortality in women with localized breast cancer at age 70–79. Further studies are needed to evaluate both screening and treatment of localized breast cancer tailored to the specific health issues of older women.

Supportive Care in Older Adults with Cancer: Across the Continuum

Supportive care is an essential component of anticancer treatment regardless of age or treatment intent. As the number of older adults with cancer increases, and supportive care strategies enable more patients to undergo treatment, greater numbers of older patients will become cancer survivors. These patients may have lingering adverse effects from treatment and will need continued supportive care interventions. Older adults with cancer benefit from geriatric assessment (GA)-guided supportive care interventions. This can occur at any stage across the cancer treatment continuum. As a GA commonly uncovers issues potentially unrelated to anticancer treatment, it could be argued that the assessment is essentially a supportive care strategy. Key aspects of a GA include identification of comorbidities, assessing for polypharmacy, screening for cognitive impairment and delirium, assessing functional status, and screening for psychosocial issues. Treatment-related issues of particular importance in older adults include recognition of increased bone marrow toxicity, management of nausea and vomiting, identification of anemia, and prevention of neurotoxicity. The role of physical therapy and cancer rehabilitation as a supportive care strategy in older adults is important regardless of treatment stage or intent.

Risedronate may preserve bone microarchitecture in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors: A randomized, controlled clinical trial

UNLABELLED This study provides preliminary evidence that risedronate not only preserves BMD but may also attenuate the loss of bone microarchitecture over 2years during a time of accelerated bone loss in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors. INTRODUCTION Accelerated bone loss and elevated fracture risk are associated with the use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in women with breast cancer. We previously reported that the oral bisphosphonate, risedronate, can maintain bone mineral density (BMD) in the hip and spine over 2-years in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors on AIs. In this study, we examined whether oral bisphosphonates can also preserve bone microarchitecture as measured by the trabecular bone score (TBS) in this population. METHODS This 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included postmenopausal women over age 55 with breast cancer on an AI who had low bone mass. Participants provided informed consent and were randomized to risedronate 35mg once weekly or placebo. We examined 12- and 24-month changes in spine TBS, analyzed using linear mixed models. RESULTS One-hundred and nine women with a mean age of 70.5years were included in the analysis. In the placebo group, BMD declined at the spine and hip over the 24-month period but was preserved in the active treatment group (data previously reported). TBS declined in the placebo group by -2.1% and -2.3% at 12- and 24-months, respectively (p<0.005). The TBS percent change in bisphosphonate-treated patients was -0.9% and -1.3% at 12 and 24-months but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.24 and 0.14). The 12- and 24-month between-group differences were 0.9 (p=0.38) and 0.8 (p=0.44) percentage points. TBS change correlated with spine BMD changes in the placebo group at 12- and 24-months (r=0.33 and 0.34, p<0.01) but not in the active treatment group. CONCLUSION The oral bisphosphonate risedronate preserves BMD and may attenuate loss of bone microarchitecture over 2years during a time of accelerated bone loss in breast cancer survivors on AIs, but more definitive evidence is needed.