TY - JOUR
T1 - Multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of bone metastases
T2 - Osteo-Oncology Center, a new organizational model
AU - Ibrahim, Toni
AU - Flamini, Emanuela
AU - Fabbri, Laura
AU - Serra, Patrizia
AU - Mercatali, Laura
AU - Ricci, Rossana
AU - Sacanna, Emanuele
AU - Falasconi, Maria Cristina
AU - Casadei, Roberto
AU - Galassi, Riccardo
AU - Giannini, Massimo
AU - Bazzocchi, Oscar
AU - Caizolari, Filippo
AU - Nunziatini, Roberta
AU - Gaudio, Michele
AU - Maltoni, Marco
AU - Amadori, Dino
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - Aims and background. Bone metastases are responsible for high morbidity in cancer patients. The frequency of pain and other serious complications associated with such metastases depends on the site and type of lesions and preventive therapy. The present paper aims to inform the scientific community about a new organizational health care model specifically designed for patients with bone metastases, in the hope of stimulating the creation of similar initiatives whose goals are to decrease the high morbidity of this pathology reduce the frequency of complications, limit psychophysical distress of patients, and improve quality of life. Methods. In January 2005, an Osteo-Oncology Center was opened in our institute to provide multidisciplinary care (19 specialists involved) for patients with bone metastases, to train physicians, and to conduct research in the field. Results. In its first three years of activity, 601 multidisciplinary team consultations were made and a total of 425 patients were seen. The most frequent primary tumor site was the lung in males and the breast in females. Upon presentation at the Center, 79% of patients reported experiencing a level of pain (median pain intensity, 3.69) that interfered with normal daily activities. An anonymous questionnaire was also completed on the quality of the service provided: 75% of patients were very satisfied, 23% were satisfied, 1% responded "I don't know' and only 1% expressed dissatisfaction. Conclusions. Our preliminary results confirm the usefulness of a multidisciplinary center for the management of patients with bone metastases, especially in terms of decreasing psychophysical suffering.
AB - Aims and background. Bone metastases are responsible for high morbidity in cancer patients. The frequency of pain and other serious complications associated with such metastases depends on the site and type of lesions and preventive therapy. The present paper aims to inform the scientific community about a new organizational health care model specifically designed for patients with bone metastases, in the hope of stimulating the creation of similar initiatives whose goals are to decrease the high morbidity of this pathology reduce the frequency of complications, limit psychophysical distress of patients, and improve quality of life. Methods. In January 2005, an Osteo-Oncology Center was opened in our institute to provide multidisciplinary care (19 specialists involved) for patients with bone metastases, to train physicians, and to conduct research in the field. Results. In its first three years of activity, 601 multidisciplinary team consultations were made and a total of 425 patients were seen. The most frequent primary tumor site was the lung in males and the breast in females. Upon presentation at the Center, 79% of patients reported experiencing a level of pain (median pain intensity, 3.69) that interfered with normal daily activities. An anonymous questionnaire was also completed on the quality of the service provided: 75% of patients were very satisfied, 23% were satisfied, 1% responded "I don't know' and only 1% expressed dissatisfaction. Conclusions. Our preliminary results confirm the usefulness of a multidisciplinary center for the management of patients with bone metastases, especially in terms of decreasing psychophysical suffering.
KW - Bone metastases
KW - Multidisciplinary treatment
KW - Osteo-oncology
KW - Quality of life
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M3 - Article
VL - 20
SP - 291
EP - 297
JO - Agro Food Industry Hi-Tech
JF - Agro Food Industry Hi-Tech
SN - 1722-6996
IS - 3 SUPPL.
ER -