A review of several studies related to breast cancer patients yields very little information on whether cancer care specialist RNs have a significant effect on patient care and comfort. The report comes from this article at Medical News Today.

The lead researcher from the School of Acute and Continuing Care Nursing at Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland, Susanne Cruickshank stated that this does not mean that these specialist nurses don’t have an impact on patient care and outcomes. Rather it is indicative that in an interdisciplinary health care team approach, the impact of any one care giver becomes harder to assess and many of the reviewed quantitative studies do not directly assess the impact of the nurse specialist on the patient’s care.

According to Cruikshank, cancer care specialist nurses are widely used to provide coordination of the care team and informational resources to the patient. The studies covered in the review show mixed results with some show improvements in one area of patient quality of life but no improvements in others. Particular areas focused on include: depression, anxiety, pain management, social and psychological adjustment, overall mood, and coping skills.

What this article points out is that there is at least a moderate positive effect on patient care and that more study is needed to refine best practices and approaches on which these specialist nurses should focus their care plans.

I believe that the combination of conventional medical treatment and complementary alternative medicine are the best way to treat many complex disease processes.  I found this article that looks at a study from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America on a small patient group and the effects of vitamin and melatonin supplements on cancer treatment side effects.

The author of the study says that he has seen a positive reduction in fatigue levels and severe pain associated with both the disease process and the treatments.  The study looked at 50 pancreatic cancer patients who were experiencing pain and fatigue while being treated with chemotherapy and in some cases chemo and radiation therapy.  The patients also were receiving standard narcotic pain management.

The study claims a reduction in fatigue symptoms and pain associated with their cancer.  A comment from an oncologist not associated with the study cautions that alternative complementary medication treatments are often effective as assistants to conventional care but should not be considered instead of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

I found an article that looks at the reactions of children when there is a serious illness in the family, especially when that illness occurs in a sibling. It looks at a new program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital that deals with helping the siblings of cancer patients along with their adjustment to having a sick brother or sister.

They teach things like using good coping mechanisms to deal with stress and anxiety. Working on communication with caregivers and other family members is also stressed in order to help a family in crisis understand that they are all coping together.

I like seeing articles like this since I think that our patient care doesn’t end with the patient. Understanding stressors related to the family environment, relationships, and poor communication skills can go a long way towards helping us provide care in a way that supports the patient and the network of support behind them that will care for them when we are gone.