TOPIC

Oncology research

Everything we have read on oncology. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

332 PAPERS · PAGE 1 OF 7 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRNRCT2017Using Perceived Self-efficacy to Improve Fatigue and Fatigability In Postsurgical Lung Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Cancer nursingA nurse-supported home Wii walking and balance program, pedometer, education, visits and safety monitoring was feasible and safe; post-surgical lung cancer patients had lower fatigue at week 6 than usual care; pilot cannot isolate components.
• PTOTRNSurvey2016A Comparison of the Quality of Life in Patients With Primary and Secondary Lower Limb Lymphedema: A Mixed-Methods Study.Western journal of nursing researchPatients with primary, cancer-related, and non-cancer-related lower-limb lymphedema reported similar high psychosocial symptom burden. They described body-image distress, clothing and access problems, and burdensome self-care.
• PTOTRNPilot2016Message Framing and Physical Activity Promotion in Colorectal Cancer Survivors.Oncology nursing forumGain-framed and loss-framed brochures increased physical activity equally in colorectal cancer survivors. Since there was no control group, it is unknown if the brochures worked better than no information or standard advice.
• PTRNNarrative Review2016Exercise Recommendations for the Management of Symptoms Clusters Resulting From Cancer and Cancer Treatments.Seminars in oncology nursingExercise is recommended for cancer patients and survivors with symptom clusters; oncology nurses should discuss activity and refer to qualified exercise professionals. Physical therapists can prescribe aerobic, resistance, stretching, yoga or tai chi.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Cardiovascular risk and communication among early stage breast cancer survivors.Patient education and counselingMost breast cancer survivors had cardiovascular risks but felt healthy. Half of overweight survivors never discussed weight with their team. Those who did often found it dismissive. Survivors wanted specific, actionable lifestyle guidance rather than general advice.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2018Physical Activity and Survival in Women With Advanced Breast Cancer.Cancer nursingWomen with advanced breast cancer who did one hour of moderate activity daily had a 23% lower risk of death. This held after adjusting for age, treatment, and depression. Nurses can encourage simple daily movement like walking or housework.
• PTRCT2017The Yale Fitness Intervention Trial in female cancer survivors: Cardiovascular and physiological outcomes.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn 139 female cancer survivors, supervised aerobic-resistance exercise at a fitness center improved treadmill time and heart-rate recovery more than home physical activity, while blood pressure did not differ.
• PTOTRNOther2018Hearing loss and tinnitus in survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyCancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy who also reported hearing loss and tinnitus had worse balance, pain interference, mood, and quality of life than those with neuropathy alone, but perceived stress did not differ.
• PTRNCohort2018Persistence of pain quality in community-dwelling older adults with chronic non-cancer pain.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Older adults with chronic pain kept the same pain-quality descriptors over 18 months, especially sensory pain. Those reporting all three persistent categories had more widespread pain, but pain severity and interference did not change consistently.
• PTRNNarrative Review2018Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical Implications for Patients With Lung Cancer.Clinical journal of oncology nursingPatients with lung cancer and COPD need nursing care that checks inhaler technique, supports smoking cessation, confirms low blood oxygen before oxygen therapy, promotes pulmonary rehabilitation, and monitors symptoms and quality of life.
• PTRNSystematic Review2018Risk Factors for Falls in Adult Cancer Survivors: An Integrative Review.Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation NursesPoor physical function, cognitive function, and balance or gait problems were the most common factors associated with falls in adult cancer survivors. Medication type also appeared among them. The studies could not be combined into one overall estimate.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2019Lived experiences and quality of life after gynaecological cancer-An integrative review.Journal of clinical nursingNordic gynaecological cancer survivors described lasting bowel, bladder, sexual, fatigue and body-image problems, plus fear of recurrence. Follow-up focused on recurrence left unmet needs; nurse-led, person-centred dialogue and education were suggested.
• PTOTRNSurvey2019Impact of Diabetes on the Symptoms of Breast Cancer Survivors.Oncology nursing forumBreast cancer survivors who also had diabetes reported worse physical function, attention function, sleep disturbance and fatigue. Depression, anxiety, sexual function and peripheral neuropathy did not differ. This does not prove diabetes caused the symptoms.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2019Effects of weight-lifting or resistance exercise on breast cancer-related lymphedema: A systematic review.International journal of nursing sciencesResistance exercise did not increase arm swelling in women with or at risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema. While some studies showed reduced volume, others found no difference. Exercise is safe to perform but should not replace standard lymphedema care.
• PTOTRNQualitative2019The meaning of dignity when the patients' bodies are falling apart.Nursing openAdvanced cancer patients at end of life described uncontrollable bodily changes as threatening dignity and identity. They linked movement, grooming, rituals, and meaningful activities to feeling alive and preserving dignity.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2020Childhood Trauma Predicts Cancer Treatment-Related Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors.Cancer nursingWomen who experienced childhood trauma without confiding in others reported significantly higher pain severity and interference 12 months after breast cancer surgery. However, trauma history did not predict neuropathic symptom severity once other factors were included.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2019Morning Fatigue Severity Profiles in Oncology Outpatients Receiving Chemotherapy.Cancer nursingHalf of chemotherapy outpatients had severe morning fatigue. Those in the worst group were younger, had higher BMI and more comorbidities, and reported worse anxiety, sleep, and attention. Assess fatigue separately from evening symptoms to catch this high-risk group.
• PTOTRNRCT2019Characterizing patient-clinician chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy assessment and management communication approaches.Patient education and counselingClinicians discussed and documented chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in less than half of visits. When they did, they rarely asked about motor symptoms or pain severity, often using vague questions instead of specific descriptors for numbness or tingling.
• PTOTRNNarrative Review2020Proactive Rehabilitation for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.Seminars in oncology nursingScreen oncology patients for motor deficits using simple tests like the Five Times Sit-to-Stand or Timed Up and Go. Refer to physical or occupational therapy early to address balance and dexterity issues. Recommend exercise to help manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
• PTRNSystematic Review2020Benefits of Qigong as an integrative and complementary practice for health: a systematic review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemQigong trials reported improvements in fatigue, pain, sleep, mood, function and quality of life in adults and older adults, but several trials found no benefit, so it does not prove it works for every condition.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2020Exercise for fatigue in breast cancer patients: An umbrella review of systematic reviews.International journal of nursing sciencesAerobic and resistance exercise may reduce cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients. Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong and Pilates have limited or inconsistent evidence, and most evidence was low or moderate quality.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2020Factors associated with sleep quality during chemotherapy: An integrative review.Nursing openPain, fatigue, depression, distress, and anxiety were the most consistently associated factors with poor sleep quality in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Older age, lower physical functioning, and more comorbidities were also linked to sleep disturbances.
• PTRNCohort2020Co-occurrence of decrements in physical and cognitive function is common in older oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society39.3% of older patients receiving chemotherapy had low physical and cognitive function together, and 15.6% had very low physical function with moderate cognition. The profiles stayed stable over two cycles. Assess both.
• PTRNSystematic Review2020Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemMassage, acupuncture, and relaxation trials for palliative cancer pain showed mixed short-term results. Some pain scores improved immediately, but most evidence was uncertain, so no therapy is established as effective.
• PTRNNarrative Review2020The Role of Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the Interdisciplinary Cancer Team: Implications for Practice.Seminars in oncology nursingCancer teams moved routine reviews, chemotherapy assessments, exercise, and nursing follow-up to telehealth to reduce hospital contact. Telephone and web lifestyle interventions often improved behaviour at end of treatment, but maintenance, remote assessment, and digital literacy remained limited.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2021Post-treatment head and neck cancer survivors' approaches to self-management: A qualitative study.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyAfter treatment, head and neck cancer survivors managed symptoms in three fluid ways: building routines, accepting what could not be changed, or acting only when symptoms appeared. Their choice depended on the problem, certainty about cause, and daily burden.
• PTRNQualitativePain Quality Among Hospitalized Postcraniotomy Brain Tumor Patients.Clinical nurse specialist CNSHospitalized post-craniotomy patients described pain as pressure, soreness, stabbing, throbbing, jarring, or itching. Asking what the pain feels like may reveal bothersome qualities, such as itching, that intensity scores alone can miss.
• PTOTRNQualitativeStories of Lymphoma Survivors in Early Aftercare: A Narrative Inquiry.Cancer nursingLymphoma survivors described fatigue, reduced exercise capacity, memory and concentration problems, work and money worries, relationship strain, fear of recurrence, and other life problems during early aftercare. They valued nurse-led consultations for goals and options, not just medical checks.
• PTRNOtherAre Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Associated With Cancer-Related Symptoms in Real Time?: A Daily Diary Study.Cancer nursingOn days with more physical activity during treatment, patients reported lower symptom burden and fatigue, but only at BMI below 36.5 for burden and 35 for fatigue. Sedentary time was not consistently associated with symptoms, and pain interference was unchanged.
• PTRNPilotThe Development of iManage-PC, an Online Symptom Monitoring and Self-management Tool for Men With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer.Cancer nursingMen with localized prostate cancer used an online symptom-monitoring and self-management tool for four weeks with high adherence and satisfaction. They reported better confidence and some urinary and bowel symptom improvements, but prostate cancer anxiety did not improve.
• PTOTRNCohortDistinct Sleep Disturbance Profiles in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy.Cancer nursingMost patients with gastrointestinal cancers on chemotherapy had high sleep disturbance, driven mainly by insufficient sleep quantity and frequent awakenings. Those in the worst group were younger, unemployed, had childcare duties, and reported more pain and fatigue.
• PTRNQualitative"Doing What Only I Can Do": Experiences From Participating in a Multimodal Exercise-Based Intervention in Older Patients With Advanced Cancer-A Qualitative Explorative Study.Cancer nursingOlder patients with advanced cancer enrolled in a combined exercise, walking, protein drink and nurse counseling program said it helped strength, energy and daily tasks, but fatigue, side effects and being pushed too hard were barriers.
• PTRNMeta-AnalysisPhysical Activity Interventions for Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Cancer nursingAcross 803 colorectal cancer survivors, physical activity programs improved disease-specific quality of life, activity levels and oxygen use. Fatigue and BMI did not improve. Only 6 trials could be pooled, and programs varied.
• PTRNOther2021Mobile health applications for the care of patients with breast cancer: A scoping review.International journal of nursing sciencesEight breast cancer apps were built around exercise, lifestyle, symptoms, or information and emotional support. Nurses were involved in only one. The work maps design patterns, not evidence that the apps improve outcomes.
• PTRNSystematic Review2021Physical Activity: A Systematic Review to Inform Nurse Recommendations During Treatment for Colorectal Cancer.Clinical journal of oncology nursingPhysical activity during colorectal cancer treatment was generally safe and acceptable, but effects were mixed: quality of life, fatigue, sleep, and some physical outcomes may improve, while many changes were uncertain.
• PTRNNarrative Review2022Bone Health Issues in the Pediatric Oncology Patient.Seminars in oncology nursingPediatric cancer treatment can damage growing bones. Monitor bone health before, during and after therapy, teach calcium/vitamin D and weight-bearing activity, and refer for a bone density scan or endocrine evaluation when treatment puts children at risk.
• PTRNNarrative Review2022Bone Health Considerations in Breast Cancer.Seminars in oncology nursingBreast cancer endocrine therapy can rapidly reduce bone density. Use bone density screening, calcium, vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise, and consider bisphosphonates when fracture risk warrants.
• PTRNMeta-AnalysisThe Effectiveness of Sarcopenia Interventions for Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Cancer nursingExercise and/or nutrition interventions did not significantly change skeletal muscle mass or lean body mass in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The pooled muscle mass result was not significant.
• PTRNPilot2022Assessing Physical and Cognitive Function in Individuals With Head and Neck Cancer: A Feasibility Study.Cancer nursingA pedometer, NIH Toolbox, and REDCap battery was feasible and acceptable in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients. They walked fewer steps and reported worse symptoms at follow-up; some attention and cognitive flexibility tests improved.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Considerations of Control Conditions Designs in Randomized Controlled Trials of Exercise Interventions for Cancer Survivors.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresMost exercise trials for cancer survivors compare the intervention to usual care or a wait-list, which can't separate the exercise effect from attention or social contact. Only 7 of 32 used active controls, limiting conclusions about specific exercise benefits.
• PTRNCohort2022Can Steps per Day Reflect Symptoms in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Cancer Treatment?Cancer nursingLower step counts in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment tracked worse fatigue, more symptoms, and poorer physical activity and function. Average steps reduced by 1040 between time points and were lower in hospitalized children.
• PTOTRNCohort2022Post-Acute Care Outcomes and Functional Status Changes of Adults with New Cancer Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationSurvival was best among older adults with newly diagnosed advanced cancer discharged to a skilled nursing facility when they received cancer treatment and no hospice. Among those with complete ADL data, mean improvement was 1.5 to 3.1 points on a 28-point scale.
• PTOther2023Candidate biomarkers of physical frailty in heart failure: an exploratory cross-sectional study.European journal of cardiovascular nursingPlasma IGF-1, adiponectin, and myostatin were lower in adults with heart failure who were physically frail. Other tested markers did not show these associations, and the findings are preliminary.
• PTOTRNCohort2022Distinct Nausea Profiles Are Associated With Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.Cancer nursingNearly 30% of oncology patients experienced persistent, high-severity nausea for two months despite antiemetics. These patients also reported more vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Younger age, lower income, and poorer physical function were linked to this high-risk profile.
• PTOTQualitative2022Exploring cancer patients', caregivers', and clinicians' utilisation and experiences of telehealth services during COVID-19: A qualitative study.Patient education and counselingPatients and caregivers largely accepted telehealth for routine care, citing convenience and safety. Clinicians reported reduced job satisfaction and difficulty building rapport, especially via telephone. Most preferred a hybrid model, reserving face-to-face visits for bad news and complex assessments.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2022Examining Associations Among Sexual Health, Unmet Care Needs, and Distress in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Survivors.Seminars in oncology nursingAmong breast and gynecologic cancer survivors, 82.8% reported clinically significant sexual dysfunction. Worse sexual function and greater unmet sexual health needs were independently associated with higher psychological distress, even after controlling for age, treatment type, and antidepressant use.
• PTQualitative2022Childhood cancer survivors' and their parents' experiences with participation in a physical and social intervention during cancer treatment: A RESPECT study.Journal of advanced nursingSurvivors and parents found the hospital activity sessions, part of a programme with peer visits and cancer education, mostly helpful, but sessions had to match daily side effects and preferences. Post-treatment, survivors said peers motivated activity more than parents reported.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2023Effect of exercise on rehabilitation of breast cancer surgery patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Nursing openAerobic exercise reduced pain and improved shoulder flexion, internal rotation, arm symptoms and strength. Shoulder and elbow exercise reduced lymphedema incidence. Resistance exercise did not reduce pain, and manual lymphatic drainage and aerobic exercise did not show a reduction in arm volume.
• PTRNSystematic Review2023A critical review: Effects of exercise and psychosocial interventions on the body image of breast cancer survivors.Nursing openAerobic and resistance exercise, Pilates, and self-compassion writing may improve body image in breast cancer survivors, but evidence is mixed and optimal delivery is unclear.
• PTRNMeta-Analysis2023The content and effectiveness of physical activity for cancer-related fatigue among colorectal cancer survivors: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Nursing openPhysical activity reduced cancer-related fatigue in colorectal cancer survivors. Benefit was suggested with programmes lasting at least 6 months and weekly exercise under 150 minutes, not with shorter programmes or more than 150 minutes.