Quality of life of family caregivers of cancer survivors

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether early atorvastatin treatment will reduce left ventricle (LV) remodeling, infarct size, and improve microvascular perfusion. Background: In animal studies, early statin therapy reduces reperfusion injury after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Forty‐two consecutive patients (82% male, mean age 61.2 ± 9.8) who underwent a primary PCI for a first ST‐elevated AMI were randomized for pretreatment with atorvastatin 80 mg (n = 20) or placebo (n = 22) and continued with the same dosage daily for 1 week. All patients received atorvastatin 80 mg once daily 7 days after primary PCI. The LV function and infarct size were measured by magnetic resonance imaging within 1 day, at 1 week, and 3 months follow up. The primary endpoint was the end‐systolic volume index (ESVI) at 3 months. Secondary endpoints were global LV function measurements, myocardial infarct size, biochemical cardiac markers, TIMI flow, and ST‐T elevation resolution. Results: ESVI 3 months after AMI was 25.1 mL/m2 in the atorvastatin arm and 25.0 mL/m2 in the placebo arm (P = 0.74). The differences in change from baseline to 3 months follow up in global LV function and myocardial infarct size did not differ between both treatment arms. Furthermore, biochemical markers, TIMI flow, and ST‐T elevation resolution did not differ between atorvastatin and placebo arm. Conclusions: In this pilot study, pretreatment with atorvastatin in an acute myocardial infarction does not result in an improved cardiac function, microvascular perfusion, or decreased myocardial infarct size. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

Intimacy and relationship processes in couples' psychosocial adaptation to cancer

“…48 For a review of this literature, please see the article by Kim and Given in this supplemental issue of Cancer. 49 A third focus has been to evaluate the impact of cancer on the general quality of the marriage. Although clinical lore suggests that partners, particularly partners who are men, may be more likely to abandon their marriage during and after cancer, there is no evidence to support this contention.…”

Psychosocial Adjustment and Marital Intimacy Among Partners of Patients with Breast Cancer: A Comparison Study with Partners of Healthy Women

“…All of these responsibilities can become burdensome and significantly affect the physical and psychological health of partners. The caregiver burden (that is, the experience of persistent stress or negative experiences that result from the provision of care to a patient) has proven to be relatively common (Kim & Given, 2008;Nijboer et al, 1998).…”

“…Therefore, breast cancer can be viewed as a disease that has a potentially significant effect on all family members (Kim & Given, 2008;Manne & Badr, 2008) and, in particular, on a woman's partner (Carlson, Bultz, Speca, & Pierre, 2000;Dorros, Card, Segrin, & Badger, 2010). Nevertheless, research has primarily focused on the individual adjustment of women to the disease.…”

The impact of cancer on spouses' labor earnings

“…This may indicate that irrespective of educational level, many spouses undertake major caregiving tasks, as shown also in other studies of the provision of formal and informal care after cancer. 12,14,38 Methodologic Considerations National, high-quality registry data on the entire married population were used. Selection and information bias is thus minimal, which is an important asset in studying cancer and earnings.…”