Primary bone cancer

This 4-year (Johns Hopkins University) study determines the effects of the Comprehensive Coping Strategy Program (CCSP) on clinical outcomes and quality of life in breast cancer patients and their primary caregivers (PCGs). Specifically, it compares descriptions of pain, psychological distress, fatigue, and perceived health status and burden of care, in breast cancer patients who received autologous bone-marrow transplant (ABMT), and their PCGs, who participated in a CCSP, with ABMT breast cancer patients and their PCGs who did not receive the CCSP. A randomized controlled clinical trial design is used. Thus far, 110 patients and 85 PCGs have entered the study. Data are presented on 100 patients and 83 PCGs. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to the CCSP treatment group, and 45 to the control group. Data were collected 20 days before hospitalization (baseline), during hospitalization (7 days after the ABMT), and again during the post-hospitalization period, which was 6 months to a year following the ABMT. The results show trends that support the use of the CCSP in the reduction of psychological distress, improving the mental health status of the patient, and increasing the number of hours of sleep. The CCSP group was able to avoid catastrophizing to a higher degree than the control group, and report a higher perception of health than the control group. Quality of life is improved in the psychological/spiritual domain within the treatment group. The treatment group shows an overall improvement in QOL of 10 points. The control group shows a smaller (6.8 points) improvement in QOL that is also significant. (Order this LIFE SCIENCES & BIOTECHNOLOGY UPDATE reviewed report from InfoTeam Inc., P.O. Box 15640, Plantation, FL 33318-5640; Phone (954) 473-9560, Fax (954) 473-0544: Report No. L990419; 1997, 92 pp. Price: $139.00, prepaid.)