Effect of administered corticosteroids for alleviating dyspnea in patients with terminal cancer: a prospective observational approach. (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maeda, Tsuyoshi; Hayakawa, Toru
• Is Part Of: Progress in palliative care. Volume 26:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Dyspnea -- Terminal cancer patients -- Corticosteroid -- STAS-J -- Prospective -- Breast cancer -- Opioid -- Oxygen; Palliative treatment -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; 616.02905
• DOI: 10.1080/09699260.2018.1428278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-9260

Abstract

Abstract : Our primary objective was to prospectively evaluate the effects of corticosteroids on dyspnea in terminal cancer patients at Kasugai Municipal Hospital using the Japanese version of the Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS-J). Our secondary objective was to report the side effects of corticosteroid use in these patients. The prospective investigation included two female patients with terminal breast cancer (Patients 1 and 2, ages 53 and 57 years, respectively) who satisfied the consecutive selection criteria and were hospitalized at Kasugai Municipal Hospital between January 2016 and March 2017. We used both interviews and a review of clinical records to evaluate these patients' responses to oral or intravenous corticosteroid therapy for dyspnea. Patient 1 had an initial STAS-J dyspnea scale score of 4 before the commencement of corticosteroid administration, which decreased to scores of 2 (day 1) and 1 (day 2 and day 3) after corticosteroid administration. Patient 2 had an initial STAS-J scale score of 3, which decreased to 1 on day 1 and was maintained at this level until death occurred on day 15. Both patients experienced rapid relief of dyspnea (within 24 hours), indicating that corticosteroids may be used to effectively treat early dyspnea experienced by terminal cancer patients.