NICE guideline: Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in adults

NICE | July 2018|Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in adults

NICE have published a guideline, it covers diagnosing, monitoring and managing any type of primary brain tumour or brain metastases in people aged 16 or over. It aims to improve diagnosis and care, including standardising the care people have, how information and support are provided, and palliative care.

This guideline includes recommendations on:

• investigation of suspected glioma, meningioma and brain metastases
• management of suspected glioma, meningioma and brain metastases
• follow-up and supportive care
• neurorehabilitation
• surveillance for late-onset side effects of treatment.

For full details see NICE 

Enhanced recovery programmes after stomach cancer surgery reduce hospital stay without increasing complications

NIHR Signal | July 2018 | Enhanced recovery programmes after stomach cancer surgery reduce hospital stay without increasing complications

On the NIHR Dissemination Centre is a meta-analysis that combined the results of 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing outcomes for people after stomach cancer surgery with enhanced recovery (ERAS) or usual care.

The full details of the study  are available from NIHR 

 

 

 

Cancer patients at increased risk of suicide

Public Health England | June 2018 | Cancer patients at increased risk of suicide

A national survey shows cancer patients have an increased risk of suicide, with the risk highest within the first 6 months of diagnosis.

The findings of the study, presented at PHE’s Cancer Services, Data and Outcomes Conference, show cancers with poorer prognoses are associated with the highest risk, including:

• mesothelioma
• pancreatic cancer
• oesophageal cancer
• lung cancer
• stomach cancer

The reasons are complex and not fully understood, but may include fear of pain or treatment side-effects.

The full news story is at Public Health England

Pancreatic cancer: Quality standard consultation

NICE | July 2018 | Pancreatic cancer: Quality standard consultation

The draft quality standard for Pancreatic cancer is now open for comment

Consultation documents

• Draft quality standard
• Equality impact assessment

Briefing paper NICE have written a briefing paper which includes a brief description of the topic, a summary of each of the suggested quality improvement areas and supporting information.

The consultation is open until 5pm on Thursday 16 August 2018

Full details of the standard and how to comment are available from NICE

 

NICE Guideline Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management

NICE guideline [NG101] | July 2018 | NICE Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management

NICE have published a new guideline, this guideline covers diagnosing and managing early and locally advanced breast cancer. It aims to help healthcare professionals offer the right treatments to people, taking into account the person’s individual preferences. NICE has also produced guidelines on advanced breast cancer, familial breast cancer and suspected cancer recognition and referral.

Further information  and full details of the guideline are available from NICE 

 

How to write and review an access policy in line with best practice for referral to treatment and cancer pathways

NHS Improvement | July 2018 | How to write and review an access policy in line with best practice for referral to treatment and cancer pathways

NHS Improvement have added resources to their elective care model access policy resources:

How to write and review an access policy in line with best practice for referral to treatment and cancer pathways here

This covers:

• Why is an access policy important?
• What is the purpose of an access policy?
• Who should be involved in developing the policy?
• What should you include or exclude?
• What questions should the access policy address?
• When should you review it?
• What happens next?

Mindfulness-based interventions for Heamatology and Oncology patients with pain

The journal  Hematology/ Oncology Clinics of America has published a new article on the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on patients with cancer and their experience of pain.

Abstract

Pain is a reality for approximately half of all of patients with cancer and can negatively affect patient cognitive and emotional states, resulting in “total pain.” Total pain may not respond to pharmacologic interventions and may pave the way for the onset of suffering, where suffering is defined as physical pain accompanied by negative cognitive interpretations. Mindfulness-based interventionsprovide an alternate interpretive framework for both pain and suffering and may lessen a patient’s experience of pain. Mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to alter a patient’s relationship to pain, reducing pain catastrophizing, and enhancing patient reported overall well-being.

Full reference: Hess, D. | (2018) | Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Hematology and Oncology Patients with Pain|Hematology/oncology clinics of North America| 32| (3) | P. 493-504.

Rotherham NHS staff can request the full article here 

Quality of Life in Long-term Cancer Survivors: Implications for Future Health Technology Assessments in Oncology

Office of Health Economics | July 2018 | Quality of Life in Long-term Cancer Survivors: Implications for Future Health Technology Assessments in Oncology

The Office of Health Economics has undertaken a literature review which  examines whether there is evidence to support the assumption that the quality of life (QoL) of  long-term cancer survivors (LTCS) can be similar to that of age-/sex-matched population samples.  The review included 20 papers which represented  23 studies covering a range of cancers, with the LTCS in the studies were more likely to have experienced early-stage cancer relative to late-stage cancer (Source: Office of Health Economics).

The news release is available from the Office of Health Economics 

The literature review can be downloaded from the OHE

Advancing Care, Advancing Years: Improving Cancer Treatment and Care for an Ageing Population

Cancer Research UK | June 2018 | Advancing Care, Advancing Years: Improving Cancer Treatment and Care for an Ageing Population 

A new report presents the findings of  research commissioned by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and conducted by the University of Birmingham’s Health Services Management Centre and ICF International, which sought to understand the specific needs of older patients, and to explore the process of clinical decision-making for older people with cancer across the UK.

This research involved a literature review, clinical observations at eight case study sites, interviews with 15 national decision-makers and 80 health professionals, and three UK-wide surveys (of primary care professionals, secondary care professionals and older people affected by cancer). The direction of the research was also informed by engagement with a group of older people affected by cancer, and by extensive engagement and interviews with national policymakers.

This research involved a literature review, clinical observations at eight case study sites, interviews with 15 national decision-makers and 80 health professionals, and three UK-wide surveys (of primary care professionals, secondary care professionals and older people affected by cancer). The direction of the research was also informed by engagement with a group of older people affected by cancer, and by extensive engagement and interviews with national policymakers.

The report is available from CRUK 

Prostate cancer ultrasound treatment as effective as surgery or radiotherapy

Using high energy ultrasound beams to destroy prostate cancer tumours may be as effective as surgery or radiotherapy, but with fewer side effects | European Urology | via ScienceDaily

A new study, carried out at six hospitals across the UK, tracked 625 men with prostate cancer who received a type of treatment called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

The research, published in the journal European Urology, is the largest ever study of HIFU treatment used to target prostate tumours. The treatment is similar to a ‘lumpectomy’ for other cancers — where doctors remove only tumour cells, leaving as much healthy tissue as possible.

The findings, from a number of institutions including Imperial College London and University College London, found that after five years the cancer survival rate from HIFU was 100 per cent. Approximately, 1 in 10 men needed further treatment. The cancer survival rate from surgery and radiotherapy is also 100 per cent at five years.

The research also showed the risk of side effects of HIFU, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, were lower than other treatment options, at 2 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

Full story at ScienceDaily

Journal reference: Guillaumier, S. et al. | A Multicentre Study of 5-year Outcomes Following Focal Therapy in Treating Clinically Significant Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer |European Urology, 2018