Background/Aim: There is almost no study on direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Japanese patients with advanced cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of DOAC for the treatment of VTE in Japanese patients with advanced cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with active cancer who had new-onset proximal deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism at our hospital. We compared two DOACs, edoxaban and apixaban, with warfarin and evaluated the incidence of VTE recurrence and bleeding in a period of 3 months. The recurrence was diagnosed based on computed tomography or echography findings. Results: The number of patients treated with edoxaban, apixaban, and warfarin was 47, 31, and 30, respectively. In the warfarin group, the mean international normalized ratio of prothrombin time (2SD) after 3 months was 2.11 (0.42). There was no incidence of major bleeding. Non-major bleeding occurred in 17%, 10%, and 27% of the patients treated with edoxaban, apixaban, and warfarin, respectively (edoxaban vs. warfarin, risk ratio [RR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27–1.52; apixaban vs. warfarin, RR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.11–1.28). All bleeding episodes occurred in 30%, 26%, 57% of patients treated with edoxaban, apixaban, and warfarin, respectively (edoxaban vs. warfarin, RR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31–0.90; apixaban vs. warfarin, RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23–0.89). Recurrent VTE in edoxaban, apixaban, and warfarin groups occurred in 8%, 3%, and 16% of the patients, respectively (edoxaban vs. warfarin, RR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.18–2.18; apixaban vs. warfarin, RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.03–1.80). Fisher’s exact test was used for statistical analysis. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the DOAC groups are relatively at a lower risk of VTE recurrence, non-major bleeding, as well as all bleeding episodes, as compared with the warfarin group. Therefore, DOAC might be useful in the treatment of VTE in Japanese patients with advanced cancer.

Purpose: This study intended to clarify the lesson topics, lesson content and emotions that painfully saddened nursing students with experience of bereavement taking lectures on palliative care, as well as the emotional changes of these students and the support they expect from teachers. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews. Their emotions were analyzed following Krippendorff’s method. Results: Thirty-six nursing students participated in the study. Lesson topics and content included “the state and signs of loved ones near death,” and “general lessons.” Feelings and thoughts presented were “regret,” “remembering,” “emotional upset,” “feeling anxiety,” “feeling dissatisfied,” “experiencing a sense of discomfort”, and “empathizing with the people shown in the teaching material as well as their situations.” With the exception of one subject, all subjects experienced a positive change in their emotions. Regarding to the support, 20 people did not require additional support because of “nothing wrong” or “enough”. Conclusions: Teachers need to specifically explain support content and methods many times, and to face lessons with the strong desire to always support their students.

The aims of this study were to clarify difficulties experienced by families facing the cessation of home-based care for terminal cancer patients, and to review the associated necessary nursing practices. We conducted semi-structured interviews with ten families. A qualitative research design was selected for this study, and the data was interpreted using content analysis techniques. The results were integrated into seven major categories: “unable to assess present symptoms for lack of understanding terminal cancer symptoms,” “feeling emotional pain during the patient’s aggravated condition,” “difficulties in coping with various patients’ physical symptoms: problems regarding inexperienced care,” “exhausted by living 24 hours a day with patient: lack of support, because of constraints from important people in the caregiver’s life,” and “difficulties faced by primary family caregivers in preparing a treatment environment.” Family caregivers were not able to prepare a treatment environment, because of a lack of understanding the symptoms of terminal cancer and an unwillingness to admit experiencing mental and physical burdens. The findings of this study suggested that the role of a nurse is to understand the family’s condition and values, provide required information in advance, and to adjust and prepare the treatment environment.

The principal aim of the present study was to clarify what kind of assessments are performed by nurses practicing delirium care for terminal cancer patients. We conducted semi-structured interviews twice with six certified nurse specialists in cancer nursing/certified nurses in palliative care. Furthermore we analyzed the results using qualitative content analysis techniques. Our results revealed that nurses performed risk assessments to prevent delirium based on “understanding risk of developing delirium based on both intuition and knowledge,” performed assessments based on “examination of information necessary for early detection based on the risk of onset of delirium” and “determination of whether emerging symptoms are delirium” to determine the presence of delirium, and understood the aspects of delirium and experiences of delirium patients through “exploring factors already appearing in delirium,” “understanding the overall picture of delirium performed after determination of delirium,” and “significance of symptom experience of delirium.” These findings suggest how educational intervention should follow the stages of this assessment in order to improve the quality of delirium care for terminal cancer patients.

Previous study reported that patients of institutions with religious background are more likely to achieve ‘good death’ than patients in non-religious institutions, although the reasons are unclear. This study aims to examine the reasons for this difference using a national survey of religious and non-religious institutions. We sent a self-administered questionnaire to 10,715 bereaved family caregiver and 133 hospice and palliative care units which cared for their family members prior to death. The questionnaire for bereaved families included the Good Death Inventory (GDI). The questionnaire for institutions included their religious affiliation and their subjective and objective provided care. In total, 7,286 bereaved families (68%) and 127 (95%) institutions including 23 religious end-of-life care institutions responded. We performed t-test and χ-square test to compare the GDI scores and provided care for religious and non-religious end-of-life care institutions. The GDI total score was significantly higher (p=0.01) in religious institutions compared to non-religious institutions. Items such as “providing many activities for seasonal events to the patients”, “providing more bereavement care”, “having facilities to practice their religion”, and “having regular visits from religious leaders”, were all reported more frequently in the religious institutions, and significantly associated with achievement of ‘good death’ (p<0.05 for all items). This study suggests that factors for achieving ‘good death’ are not only limited to providing religious care but also providing other forms of care, services, and activities that can enhance the patients’ ‘good death’.

Objective: The purposes of this study are to explore current status and tasks of a pamphlet for families of terminally ill patients at home. Methods: We sent out the questionnaire to 419 home-visit nursing administrators, and obtained an answer from 118. Results: About 42% administrators used the pamphlet. Most pamphlet users were considering as follow: degree of worry and anxiety of the family, the family’s and the patient’s hope of being home death (each more than 82.6%). Usefulness of the pamphlet; the families could prepare for their patient’s death, understand the present condition of the patient, etc. However, 67% users were feeling difficulty to decide the timing to hand the pamphlet to the families. As a reason without the pamphlet, there are not any pamphlets available (64.1%). Conclusion: Nursing administrators who used the pamphlet have recognized the usefulness, but have felt difficulty of the use.

Aim: We investigated what medical students learned on the clinical clerkship in our hospice and how their images of hospice care were changed, with self-reported questionnaires. Methods: Descriptions given in the contents were analyzed using a content analysis method based on Berelson’s methodology. A total of 20 students who participated in the program responded. Results: From their responses, 212 descriptions were extracted and 59 codes elicited. The codes were inductively classified and categorized based on content similarities. Eleven categories were generated: “care for quality of life of patients and families,” “characteristics and effects of palliative care” “practical approaches to end-of-life medicine,” “hospices’ positions in the healthcare system” “development of trust-based relationships with patients and their families,” “cooperation among healthcare professionals,” “appropriate attitudes toward patients and their families,” “being with patients when they pass away,” “opinions of patients and their families,” “characteristics and threats of cancer,” and “mental health for healthcare workers.” The students were found to have acquired a more positive image of hospices. Conclusion: They reported gaining valuable experience from the direct encounters with patients and their family, and that they had acquired behavior appropriate for physicians, as well as knowledge and skills about the basic palliative care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the state of eating -related distress and struggle in the daily lives of cancer outpatients in cancer center hospital. Methods: Cancer outpatients who consented to participate in the study filled out self-administered questionnaires regarding eating distress and the means of coping with them. The data were qualitatively analyzed via content analysis method. Results: Data from 176 patients who responded that they experienced eating difficulties were analyzed. A total of 222 codes were extracted for eating-related distress, and these were classified into five categories, which included eating-related symptoms accompanying the disease and its treatment, difficulties related to food preparation, and concerns about eating outside food. A total of 224 codes were extracted for eating-related struggle made by the patients, and these were classified into eight categories, which included adjusting eating methods to make food easier to eat, controlling one’s feelings when unable to eat certain foods, and adjustments related to food preparation. Conclusions: The study results suggested that cancer outpatients require care not only at early stages after treatment for eating-related symptoms but also related to food preparation and concerns when eating outside food.

Introduction: The urination state of patients in the palliative care unit varies according to their age, performance status, underlying disease, and the presence of delirium. However, there are currently few reports concerning the urination state of these patients. Here, we report the current state of urinary catheterization in our hospital palliative care unit. Methods: A total of 249 consecutive patients hospitalized between January 2012 and December 2013 in our hospital palliative care unit were included. We retrospectively investigated the numbers and causes of urinary catheterization along with the background of the patients (age, underlying disease, and average length of hospital stay). Results: Of the 249 patients, 124 (49.8%) used a urinary catheter. The median period of catheterization was 6 days. Excluding continuation of the previous physician’s orders, the main cause of urinary catheterization was reduced activities of daily living after admission. In 12 cases (9.7%), the catheter was removed because of discomfort of the patients. Conclusion: Approximately half of all patients treated in our palliative care unit received urinary catheterization. As a cause of urinary catheterization, reduced activities of daily living after admission was the most frequent. Since the urination state affects the quality of life in palliative care patients, it is important to consider the appropriate adaptation of urinary catheters.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome defined by ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass that cannot be fully reversed by conventional nutritional support. Nutritional treatment is a component of nutritional support, as well as symptom palliation and nutritional counseling. Nutritional treatment, exercise, and pharmacological agents are essential for treating cancer cachexia. In our studies at palliative care units, 76% and 73% of advanced cancer patients and bereaved families, respectively, required nutritional support, and nutritional support was also found to have beneficial effects on selected groups of advanced cancer patients. Our studies also indicated that as chronic inflammation is the underlying cause of cancer cachexia the plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) level might be useful as a prognostic marker/biomarker of advanced cancer. It was suggested that nutritional support based on the mechanism responsible for cancer cachexia is useful during the treatment of cancer cachexia although the evidence for this is not robust, and the CRP level is suggested to be a clinically significant index of the response to such treatment.

Bradycardia or asystole during epileptic seizure are referred to as ictal bradycardia syndrome. Ictal asystole is very rare, and there is no report about ictal bradycardia syndrome caused by brain metastases. A 62-year old man was diagnosed as having lung cancer and had multiple brain metastases. The patient had no history of epilepsy and syncope. The patient developed cardiac asystole with sinus arrest for up to 16 seconds. The bradycardia was associated with other signs and symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, low blood pressure, sinus arrest, decreased level of consciousness, and staring at a single point. Electroencephalograms showed multiple sharp waves. Repeated seizures, ictal asystole, and coexisting symptoms disappeared after improved treatment of brain metastases by radiation therapy. Therefore, a diagnosis of ictal asystole caused by brain metastases was made. There is no recommended treatment for ictal bradycardia syndrome. However, in the case of ictal bradycardia syndrome caused by brain metastases, treatment of the metastatic tumor might be useful. When patients with cancer present with syncope or sick sinus syndrome, we should consider the possibility of cardiac arrest caused by an epileptic seizure.

Introduction: We are reporting on our experience with a case involving chronic diarrhea that had been continuing for 14 years following anticancer treatment, in which diarrhea and the nutritional status of the patient were unintentionally improved by administered antihistamine. Subject: A 48-year-old female. Fourteen years ago, surgery, chemotherapy, and total pelvic radiotherapy were carried out for cervical cancer, immediately after which diarrhea continued. A laparotomy was performed 11 years ago for Ileus, and radiation enterocolitis was diagnosed upon pathological examination 8 years ago. One month ago, she experienced swelling of the lower limbs after acute cellulitis and visited our outpatient palliative care. Leaking edema due to low nutrition remained following the remission of lymphedema. Ten days prior to re-examination, a maximum dosage of 20 mg/day of olopatadine was prescribed by another department against urticaria, and at the same time, remission of her diarrhea was observed. Oral administration of folic acid and vitamin was completed by continuing small doses, leading to a rise in CK and disappearance of the edema. Discussion: It may be believed that chronic diarrhea was relieved by olopatadine administered for another purpose due to the inhibitory action of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor, which is a subfamily of serotinin having histamine 1 inhibitory action and the action to increase the bowel movements.

Introduction: Lidocaine has an analgesic effect by inhibitory action for peripheral nervous system. It is effective for the refractory pain of neuropathic, even a high amount of opioid injection may not relieve pain, resulting in neuropathic cancer pain or adverse effects of morphine. Case Report: A 51-year-old woman had esophageal cancer with severe refractory pain of neuropathic. The pain was not relieved by increasing the dose of opioid because of adverse effects and morphine intolerance. Continuous lidocaine infusion decreased the frequency and the extent of pain and the dose of opioid. The patient didn’t show any symptoms of an adverse effect by this lidocaine treatment. Conclusion: This treatment may be useful for refractory pain of neuropathic in a patient having morphine intolerance with terminal phase.

Introduction: The rapid-onset opioid fentanyl is used to treat breakthrough pain in the management of cancer pain. Case Report: A 33-year-old woman started to receive palliative radiation for multiple spinal metastases and pathological fracture of the sacrum following surgery for right breast cancer. Although oxycodone sustained-release tablets and oxycodone powder had been used for the treatment of pain, there had been no alleviation in response to oxycodone powder at times that she experienced breakthrough pain. Therefore, the patient was switched to rapidly acting fentanyl citrate sublingual tablets. An analgesic effect was obtained, but numbness of the lower lip and taste disturbance emerged. Furthermore, pain in the lower jaw emerged and eating became difficult. Therefore, the patient was switched to fentanyl citrate buccal tablets. However, once the agents were dissolved and spread inside the mouth, the same symptoms emerged. Conclusion: Because the same symptoms were observed even after switching agents, fentanyl citrate or the common ingredient contained in both agents appeared to be the cause of this event.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological emergency characterized by various metabolic abnormalities, such as hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia. Although TLS is rare in solid tumors, it has been reported in various cancers and sarcomas. It can be caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical procedures. TLS in solid tumors may be lethal when it once develops. Hence, prophylaxis is considered important in medium risk diseases. We experienced the case that serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level had elevated drastically a month prior to the onset of TLS in hypopharyngeal cancer. It is suggested that monitoring of LDH may be helpful for predicting the onset of TLS.

Background: There is increasing demand for clinical clerkships in palliative medicine, though conventional medical education has focused only on providing students with sufficient medical knowledge and skills. In Japan, there is no standard program for palliative medicine in undergraduate medical education. Our hospice, in cooperation with a clinical clerkship for palliative medicine launched by Tokyo Medical and Dental University, has developed its own comprehensive bedside learning curriculum. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the program. Methods: The curriculum involves not only experience in hospice care, ward rounds, and interviews with terminally ill patients, it also provides each medical student with educational sessions moderated by certified hospice nurses and pharmacists. We conducted a self-administered five-point scale questionnaire (with a higher score indicating higher satisfaction) to assess students’ satisfaction and understanding of the program. We also conducted a questionnaire on basic palliative medicine knowledge before and after the program. Results: Twenty students took part in the program. Ratios of scores of 4 or 5 for satisfaction and understanding of the program were 100% and 95%, respectively. Mean rates of correct answers on the pre-program and post-program test were 51% and 85%, respectively; showing a marked increase and emphasizing the educational significance of our curriculum. Students evidently benefit from the experience of bedside learning, and 95% reported having recommended the program to their juniors. Conclusion: These outcomes suggest the program is effective toward developing a standard education program in palliative medicine.

Objectives: A cancer salon was established at Jichi Medical University Hospital in April 2014 operated based on the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. This study aims to understand the actual situation of the cancer salon and outcomes of participants, and utilize the information for optimal administration. Methods: The cancer salon was open to the public and conducted in our hospital. The program consisted of mini-lectures, relaxation, and interaction with the participants. We conducted a questionnaire survey for the participants. Results: We held 11 sessions from April 2014 to March 2015. The total number of participants was 369, and the average number of participants per session was 34 (22-50). Participants mainly consisted of patients and families who received care in our hospital. A high percentage of participants were women in their 60’s, patients who were newly diagnosed cancer within 3 years, or patients with breast cancer. Participants’ satisfaction tended to be high in lectures and relaxation, and there was a tendency for anxiety to be alleviated in their psychological state. Discussion: We must challenge that we refine quantitative evaluation methods and develop the system of assessment of detailed needs and provide appropriate support. Furthermore, we would like to propagate this system to the area around our hospital, support the development of cancer salons at other medical institutions, collaborate with them, and contribute to the creation of an inclusive society.

Purposes: This report describes our activities of performing aromatherapy massage for cancer patients in the general ward. Methods: The number of patients, sex, age, aroma treatment times, outcome, disease type, performance status (PS), treatment phase, symptoms, massage site, and oil type were investigated using the clinical records from March 2014 to March 2016. Results: Aromatherapy massage was performed for 116 patients a total of 301 times. With regard to the final outcome, 50 patients were moved to the palliative care unit (PCU), whereas 49 patients died in the general ward. The main symptoms were general malaise, edema, pain, and anxiety. The popular massage sites were lower limbs, back, and upper limbs. The preferred oils were citrus and relaxation-inducing type. Discussion: By joining the palliative care team, certified aromatherapy nurses were allowed to perform the aromatherapy massage on more patients in the general ward than before. The need for aromatherapy massage was found not only in terminally ill patients but also in chemotherapy patients with good PS. In addition, for patients who were moved to the PCU, aromatherapy massage functioned as bridge between the general ward and PCU because one of the aromatherapy nurses worked in the PCU.