Comorbidity, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Purpose of review: To describe the pathology, impact of comorbidities, functional limitations, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) related to treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in older adults. Recent findings: AML is a rare aggressive hematologic disease that occurs most often in older adults. The prognosis for older patients with AML is markedly worse due to genetic mutations and patient characteristics such as comorbidities and functional limitations. Patient characteristics may influence treatment decisions, as well as impact symptoms, functional ability, health-related outcomes and (QOL). Summary: As the population continues to age, the number of people diagnosed with AML is expected to increase. Better management of comorbidities is imperative to improving QOL and other treatment related outcomes. Prospective, longitudinal and multi-site studies are warranted to further understand the interaction between these characteristics on symptoms, outcomes and QOL

The Evolution of Gero-Oncology Nursing

This article summarizes the evolution of gero-oncology nursing and highlights key educational initiatives, clinical practice issues, and research areas to enhance care of older adults with cancer

Exercise Promotion in Geriatric Oncology

Evidence of the benefits of exercise for people with cancer from diagnosis through survivorship is growing. However, most cancers occur in older adults and little exercise advice is available for making specific recommendations for older adults with cancer. Individualized exercise prescriptions are safe, feasible, and beneficial for the geriatric oncology population. Oncology providers must be equipped to discuss the short- and long-term benefits of exercise and assist older patients in obtaining appropriate exercise prescriptions. This review provides detailed information about professionals and their roles as it relates to functional assessment, intervention, and evaluation of the geriatric oncology population. This review addresses the importance of functional status assessment and appropriate referrals to other oncology professionals

A systematic review of patient reported outcomes in phase II or III clinical trials of myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to identify clinical trials of MDS and AML that included patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments, and to summarize the symptom and other health related quality of life (HRQOL) concepts most frequently assessed and the PRO instruments that were used. Sixteen manuscripts describing 14 distinct trials met all criteria (i.e., phase 2 or 3 clinical trial for MDS or AML which included PRO assessment) and were published between 1996-2017. In trials evaluating anemia, PRO scores showed significant improvement in relevant domains (e.g. fatigue, function) among patients identified as responders. In trials evaluating the impact of anti-cancer therapies, improvements the baseline to end of treatment were observed in physical functioning and HRQOL, however the rates of missing data in many of the trials was high or unreported. PRO instruments have the ability to capture changes over time in patients’ function and well-being, and PRO instruments and guidance documents are available to support the assessment of HRQOL in AML/MDS clinical trials

Cancer-Related Fatigue: Scientific Progress Has Been Made in 40 Years

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a distressing, persistent symptom that is experienced by survivors during and after treatment. Unsurprisingly, many early CRF studies were conducted by nurses. These studies included a look at patients receiving localized radiation treatment (Haylock & Hart, 1979); an exploration of fatigue as a conceptual approach to a clinical problem (Aistars, 1987); the development of a nursing theory focused on fatigue mechanisms (Piper, Lindsey, & Dodd, 1987); an examination of fatigue mechanisms (St Pierre, Kasper, & Lindsey, 1992), as well as of fatigue in advanced cancer (Bruera & MacDonald, 1988) and in non-small cell lung cancer (Sarna, 1993); and a description of fatigue and potential nursing interventions (Nail & King, 1987). Winningham et al. (1994) wrote a state-of-the-science article about fatigue in the cancer experience for the Oncology Nursing Forum, and Mock et al. (1997) was one of the first to conduct an exercise study regarding the effects of exercise on fatigue, physical functioning, and emotional distress during radiation therapy for breast cancer. Nurse scholars from the 1970s-2000s were pivotal in advancing the science of fatigue in various cancers and have provided a scientific foundation for those four decades.

Management of Febrile Neutropenia in a Patient With Acute Leukemia

Hematologic cancers comprise an aggregate of several different cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. There are more than 100,000 new cases of these hematologic cancers in the United States annually, and more than 50,000 children and adults die from these cancers.1,

The Unique Supportive Care Needs of a Mother With Acute Myeloid Leukemia During Treatment

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer of the blood that is linked with poor survival. The disease requires immediate intensive chemotherapy treatment that leaves patients hospitalized for at least one month and often longer, depending on their supportive care needs. Mothers undergoing treatment for AML may benefit from having attention paid to their supportive care needs during that time

A Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties of Health-Related Quality-of-Life and Symptom Instruments in Adult Acute Leukemia Survivors

Acute leukemia represents 4% of cancer cases in the United States (US) annually. There are over 302,000 people living with acute and chronic leukemia in the US. Treatment has been shown to have both positive and negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL)

Comparison of Methods for Determining Aerobic Exercise Intensity Using Heart Rate in Acute Leukemia Patients Prior to Induction Chemotherapy

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), the gold standard of cardiopulmonary evaluation, is used to determine VO2 levels at different aerobic exercise training intensities; however, it may not be feasible to conduct CPET in all clinical settings

Evaluation of a peer mentoring program for early career gerontological nursing faculty and its potential for application to other fields in nursing and health sciences

As the retirement rate of senior nursing faculty increases, the need to implement new models for providing mentorship to early career academics will become key to developing and maintaining an experienced faculty