Current osteosarcoma chemotherapy is "standard" (doxorubicin, cisplatin, high-dose methotrexate ± ifosfamide-mesna, and etoposide ± mifamurtide), but current regimens have many short-term, medium-term, and long-term side effects. Generally 12-15 cycles of chemotherapy are given in the hospital over 7-10 months. Even in the absence of new research protocols, improvement in quality of life is now possible, with all osteosarcoma chemotherapy agents now being able to be administered in the outpatient setting. Outpatient chemotherapy is not only less expensive, but in the adolescent and young adult population can result in better quality of life for some. In this paper, we share information to help reduce the frequency of hospitalization and review some tools and strategies to facilitate communication when providing outpatient chemotherapy, family-centered care, and information/education. These include antiemetics with both longer-acting 5HT antagonists and aprepitant, outpatient chemotherapy guidelines, and a 5-week editable calendar that is part of our electronic medical record. Sharing information on absolute lymphocyte count recovery is another means of maintaining hope and increasing understanding of the prognosis of osteosarcoma. Finally, this paper shares an advanced directive/palliative care "checklist" of issues for patients and caregivers to consider at end of life, ie, when "cure of cancer is not the answer". In summary, better communication at all stages of osteosarcoma care can help reduce hospitalization, improve quality of life, and maintain hope in the adolescent and young adult population with osteosarcoma.
Principles of therapy are similar for Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma. Chemotherapy or surgery alone cures few patients. Multimodality measures are needed for durable response. Quality of life and function are very important short- and long-term considerations. The spine, sacrum, pelvis, ankle, hand, mediastinum, pulmonary hilum, and chest wall are examples of bone cancer locations for which surgery is difficult. Patients with positive margins may need radiation and may experience systemic therapy delay, recurrence, loss of function, or any combination of these. When radiation is used as a means of local control, concomitant chemotherapy can increase its effectiveness. Options for difficult Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma situations and multimodality solutions, including 1 mCi/kg of samarium and proton therapy, are discussed. Combination radiation and chemotherapy regimens are summarized, and organization of patients, caregivers, and medical teams for multimodality therapy is described, along with tools used in our institution that aid in this process.
Background: Cancer and its therapy is commonly associated with a variety of side effects that impact eating behaviors that reduce nutritional intake. This review will outline potential causes of chemotherapy and radiation damage as well as approaches for the amelioration of the side effects of cancer during therapy. Methods: Information for clinicians, patients, and their caregivers about toxicity mitigation including nausea reduction, damage to epithelial structures such as skin and mucosa, organ toxicity, and education is reviewed. Results: How to anticipate, reduce, and prevent some toxicities encountered during chemotherapy and radiation is detailed with the goal to improve eating behaviors. Strategies for health care professionals, caregivers, and patients to consider include (a) the reduction in nausea and vomiting, (b) decreasing damage to the mucosa, (c) avoiding a catabolic state and muscle wasting (sarcopenia), and (d) developing therapeutic alliances with patients, caregivers, and oncologists. Conclusions: Although the reduction of side effects involves anticipatory guidance and proactive team effort (e.g., forward observation, electronic interactions, patient reported outcomes), toxicity reduction can be satisfying for not only the patient, but everyone involved in cancer care.
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