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H van Slooten

Publications and source records attributed to H van Slooten.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

How important is the opinion of significant others to cancer patients' adjuvant chemotherapy decision-making?

GOALS: Decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy are difficult, since value tradeoffs are involved. Little is known about the importance of the significant others in patients' decision-making regarding adjuvant treatment. We surveyed patients with breast and colorectal cancer about the importance they assigned to the opinions of their significant others and assessed correlates of these importance scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three patients rated on a five-point scale how much they cared about the opinion of six significant others. MAIN RESULTS: Most important was the opinion of their treating specialist, followed by that of their partner, children, other family, friends, and colleagues. Women assigned higher scores to the opinion of their children, younger patients to that of their specialist, and patients who were about to undergo chemotherapy to that of their family. Patients with breast cancer and patients without paid employment assigned slightly more importance to the opinion of their partner. CONCLUSIONS: Information on the influence of significant others may help clinicians when involving patients in treatment decision-making and discussing patients' treatment preferences.

Adult↗

Patients' preferences for adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage breast cancer: is treatment worthwhile?

When making decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer, costs and benefits of treatment should be carefully weighed. In this process, patients' preferences are of major importance. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to determine the minimum benefits that patients need to find chemotherapy acceptable, and (2) to explore potential preference determinants, namely: positive experience of the treatment, reconciliation with the treatment decision, and demographic variables. Preferences were elicited from patients scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy group: n = 38) before (T(1)), during (T(2)), and 1 month after chemotherapy (T(3)), and were compared to responses from patients not scheduled for chemotherapy (no-chemotherapy group: n = 38). The patients were asked, for a hypothetical situation, to indicate the minimum benefit (in terms of improved 5-year disease-free survival) to find adjuvant chemotherapy acceptable. In the chemotherapy group, the median benefit was 1% at all 3 measurement points. In the no-chemotherapy group the attitude towards chemotherapy became more negative over time, although not statistically significantly so (T(1): 12%, T(2): 15%, T(3): 15%; P = 0.10). At all measurement points, the patients in the chemotherapy group indicated that they would accept chemotherapy for significantly (P< 0.01) less benefit than the patients in the no-chemotherapy group. Of the demographic variables, age was related to preferences, but only at T(2)and only in the no-chemotherapy group. The more positive attitude towards chemotherapy and the stability of preferences in the chemotherapy group indicated that reconciliation with the treatment decision was a more important determinant of patients' preferences than positive experience of the treatment.

Adult↗

Management of an anterior defect with a removable partial denture supported by implants and residual teeth: a case report.

The treatment of a patient with a major defect in the anterior region of the mandible is described. A large part of the anterior dental arch and underlying mandibular bone was involved in the defect. A removable partial denture supported by implants as well as residual teeth was used to restore the defect. Compared with a traditional removable partial denture, which was used by the patient for several years as an interim prosthesis, the application of implants resulted in improved functional comfort and stability.

Adult↗

Morphologic characteristics of benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors.

Differentiation between benign and malignant tumors of the adrenal cortex was studied by means of seven histologic parameters. Each separate criterion was significantly different in two groups, one consisting of patients without metastases within 10 years after operation and one of patients with metastatic tumors. Discrimination on the basis of single parameters in individual patients, however, was of little value. When a histologic index was calculated using the same parameters but after "weighing," a much better discrimination was obtained. The histologic index and, to a lesser degree, the mitotic activity seems to be related to the survival time of the patients with adrenal cortical carcinoma. The authors conclude that the calculation of a histologic index based on a summation of different parameters makes it possible to differentiate between malignant and benign adrenal cortical tumors. As single parameters, tumor weight and mitotic activity have the highest discriminating value.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

Complete response of metastasized adrenal cortical carcinoma with o,p'-DDD. Case report and literature review.

This study concerns the history of a male patient with hormone-producing adrenal cortical carcinoma. Six months after resection of the primary tumor, lymph node metastases were detected and treatment with o,p'-DDD [1,1 dichloro-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane] (Lysodren/mitotane) was started. After 2 years, a complete histologically proven response was confirmed at laparotomy and is still sustained 2 years after the discontinuation of treatment. As a consequence of insufficient steroid replacement the patient suffered bouts of adrenal insufficiency. After 1 year of treatment, the measurement of the plasma levels of o,p'-DDD showed an accumulation of the drug. At that time, progressive major central nervous system toxicity occurred, which proved to be reversible on discontinuation of the treatment.

Adrenal Cortex↗

The treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma with o,p'-DDD: prognostic implications of serum level monitoring.

Thirty-four patients with adrenocortical carcinoma were treated with o,p'-DDD. Twenty-eight patients presented with metastases at entry, and spillage of tumour cells occurred at surgery in 6 other patients. Eight patients had objective tumour regression, of whom 7 had serum levels over 14 micrograms/ml. The 3 patients with a lasting remission had levels of greater than 15, greater than 25, greater than 25 micrograms/ml respectively during prolonged periods. Increased survival times were found in the group of 14 patients with o,p'-DDD serum levels higher than 14 micrograms/ml when compared with patients not treated after discovery of metastases. In the patients with levels less than or equal to 10 micrograms/ml no therapeutic effect was seen. Levels of over 20 micrograms/ml are associated with symptoms of reversible neuromuscular toxicity. Monitoring of serum levels during treatment is mandatory. It is suggested that serum levels of about 25 micrograms/ml during longer periods may be curative.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

CAP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) regimen in adrenal cortical carcinoma.

Eleven patients with advanced progressive metastatic adrenal cortical carcinoma, for whom no further standard therapy was available, were entered into a phase II study of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (CAP) combination chemotherapy. Two partial responses and six disease stabilizations were observed. Patients with partial responses survived 18+ and 23 months; the median survival of patients with disease stabilization was 10+ months. The total group had a median survival of 10+ months. These results, together with the modest toxicity, suggest that further study of the combination is warranted.

Adolescent↗

Blood levels of o,p'-DDD following administration in various vehicles after a single dose and during long-term treatment.

Plasma levels of o,p'-DDD were measured after ingestion of a single oral dose. At the onset of therapy o,p'-DDD was administered as commercially available tablets and granules and in milk, chocolate, and an oil emulsion to 9, 12, 14, 10, and 6 patients, respectively. Following administration in chocolate, emulsion, and milk significantly higher mean plasma levels were recorded in the first 5- and 10-h periods than after tablets. Granules gave significantly lower plasma levels than all other forms. Plasma levels were also measured during maintenance therapy, when a total of 200 g o,p'-DDD was administered to 22 patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. The plasma disappearance rate after termination of long-term therapy was found to be between 18 and 159 days. The recovery of o,p'-DDD from faeces was about five times higher after ingestion of tablets than after administration in oil emulsion and milk. As far as the rapid increase in plasma levels and patient compliance are concerned, the best results were obtained with the milk powder mixture.

Administration, Oral↗