Supportive Care

CHICAGO—Flaxseed failed to have a significant effect on reducing hot flashes in women compared with placebo, according to results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial supported by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. The study included breast cancer survivors as well as women who had never had breast cancer who experienced frequent hot flashes throughout the day and night.

ORLANDO—Novel dosing regimens of rasburicase can prevent tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) at costs that are much lower than conventional dosing, according to studies presented at the 2010 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition.

SAN DIEGO—Use of prandial insulin (ie, insulin given at mealtimes) appears to be linked to cancer risk, according to a substudy of the large randomized Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial presented at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Other factors associated with development of cancer in this substudy included increasing body mass index (BMI), older age, and smoking.

SAN DIEGO—Current or recent tamoxifen therapy was associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women older than 65 years who survived invasive breast cancer. No association was found between aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and development of type 2 diabetes, but the numbers of women on AIs was small. These findings of a population-based, case-control study in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, were presented at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

This past Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 2 drugs that could help our patients: fentanyl nasal spray (Lazanda, Archimedes Pharma) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen Pharmaceuticals).

SALT LAKE CITY—Identifying safety measures for patients receiving oral chemotherapy is of the upmost importance, according to a presentation at the annual meeting of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association. This includes monitoring the administration of and adherence to the treatment as well as ensuring the prevention of any medication errors.

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SALT LAKE CITY—Early identification of nutrition status and treatmentrelated nutrition risk are important steps in the continuum of care for cancer patients, according to an oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association.

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SALT LAKE CITY—Although radiation- induced toxicities are common in an outpatient setting, several treatment options have proven very successful—as long as the appropriate monitoring parameters are in place, according to a presentation at the annual meeting of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association by Makala Pace, PharmD, BCOP, clinical pharmacy specialist at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

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SALT LAKE CITY—Although it’s important to strive for no chemotherapy-related medication errors, it’s just as important to have an organized system in place to identify, report, and manage these errors when they occur, according to a presentation at the annual meet ing of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association.

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ANAHEIM—Effective management of breakthrough cancer pain requires optimizing background therapy for chronic pain and accurately assessing the type of breakthrough pain, said presenters at the 45th American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exposition.

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