The Effect of Nutrition Intervention With Oral Nutritional Supplements on Ovarian Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy https://tinyurl.com/3c4crv6w            Women unlucky enough to have ovarian cancer are frequently mal-nourished. Previous studies have shown that at the time of diagnosis only about 10% are well nourished. Reasons for this include, peritoneal metastases with leak of protein to ascitic fluid, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and sub acute bowel obstruction.          This study looks at whether oral food supplement can improve the nutritional status of these women. By random allocation, a group of 60 women with ovarian cancer were divided into two groups; those who received supplement and those who did not. Assessment of nutritional health used the Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment format, which records weight, function, intake and symptoms.   ...

Fear, worry and sadness: an exploratory study of psychological wellbeing in men caring for their partner with ovarian cancer https://tinyurl.com/nh9dbxc            It is often forgotten that ovarian cancer is not just a disease for the patient. Family, friends, and caregivers for women with ovarian cancer all are affected to a lesser or greater degree. For many women their male partner becomes the caregiver.          That women with ovarian cancer frequently develop psychological stress is well known. There is little information about how men, whose partners have become patients, are affected. This small study sought responses from 36 male caregivers, with assessment of anxiety and depression.           Results from the study suggest excessive anxiety about the future, the relationship, and recurrence, with many caregivers being clinical depres...

Factors impacting the time to ovarian cancer diagnosis based on classic symptom presentation in the United States https://tinyurl.com/4wwbbaxe            Delay in diagnosis is said to be common in ovarian cancer. There is little scientific evidence for this claim. One factor, said to be implicated in the delay, is the vague nature of symptoms.           This retrospective study looked at almost 14,000 women with ovarian cancer. Data obtained from Medicare claims history showed the interval from presenting with any initial typical symptom to diagnosis. Classic symptoms of possible ovarian cancer are pain, distension, early satiety, and urinary dysfunction.          Results from the study showed the delay after initial presentation, with a mean of three months and a median of one month. Black women, those with multiple symptoms, and those whose f...

My brother died of ovarian cancer: Why Deputy Lords Speaker Ian Duncan is campaigning for trans health https://tinyurl.com/43bryw4j          Rather than my version of this story, I encourage everyone to click on the link above and read the original article from “i news”.          Ian Duncan writes of the problems his brother Sean had when he transitioned to male. He takes the opportunity to campaign for equitable medical care for transgender men. He says, “ The whole community has become a football for different political, moral factions who are using it as a means to tell a story.”           Transgender men frequently receive suboptimal medical care, sometimes due to prejudice but more often neglect. If surgical pelvic clearance is performed as part of the transition, ovaries may be left in situ. This can further complicate proper surveillance.

Weekly platinum-based chemotherapy versus 3-weekly platinum-based chemotherapy for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer (ICON8): quality-of-life results of a phase 3, randomised, controlled trial https://tinyurl.com/3sndxv8f            In 2013 a phase III trial In Japan ( JGOG 3016) showed a survival advantage when the normal  chemotherapy  after initial surgery for ovarian cancer was altered. Usually chemo is given as at 3-weekly intervals with 6 doses as a minimum, more if serum markers show the need. Instead of this the frequency was changed to weekly.          Because of reported increase in toxicity and in order to replicate the findings a prospective randomly allocated phase III trial (ICON8) began in 2011. 1566 women with ovarian cancer were allocated into two groups; either 3-weekly or weekly chemotherapy commenced, with both groups having the same chemotherapeutic agents.  ...

Real-world progression-free survival among patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer: Does maintenance therapy work? https://tinyurl.com/yf5nkc3a            In an ideal world every patient with ovarian cancer would have optimal treatment. However, there is often a difference between the rhetoric and reality.          Personalised cancer therapy is becoming more frequent including maintenance treatment following surgery and chemo, with monoclonal antibodies or enzyme inhibitors. This study looked at the real experiences of women with advanced ovarian cancer.          463 women were included in this retrospective study, all ovarian cancer patients at the same centre of excellence. Treatment began during the period 2016-2020. Only 21% of the women received maintenance therapy. Those patients who did had a 29% lower risk of progression, with...

Acceptability and Feasibility of Early Palliative Care Among Women with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study https://tinyurl.com/2ndw9xhj            Women with advanced ovarian cancer are usually aware of the probable outcome. Beginning Palliative care is often delayed. Sometimes by patients but also due to hesitation by medical care providers.          This small study of 32 women all of whom had advanced ovarian cancer, with recurrence after initial treatment, looked at the acceptance of early palliative care.  Of the group, 23 women joined the study with half being allocated to palliative care and the others having standard oncology treatment.          Prior to commencement all the women had poor wellbeing, many being clinically depressed. Most (87%) knew their disease to be incurable. Acceptance of th...