Chronic illness as biographical disruption

The paper is based on semi-structured interviews with a series of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Chronic illness is conceptualised as a particular type of disruptive event. This disruption highlights the resources (cognitive and material) available to individuals, modes of explanation for pain and suffering, continuities and discontinuities between professional and lay thought, and sources of variation in experience.     

Chronic illness as biographical disruption or biographical disruption as chronic illness? Reflections on a core concept

Taking as its point of departure Bury's (1982) concept of chronic illness as biographical disruption, this paper provides a critical assessment of its fortunes since that time. Having 'rescued' the concept from recent postmodern and disability critiques, the paper provides a series of further reflections on its strengths and weaknesses, including the notion of 'normal illness'; the importance of timing and context; the significance of continuity as well as loss; and the role of biographical disruption itself in the aetiology of illness. This, in turn, provides the basis for a broader set of reflections on the vicissitudes of the biographically embodied self in conditions of late modernity: a situation of chronic reflexivity in which our bodies/selves are continually problematised if not pathologised. The paper concludes, given this 'balance sheet', with a discussion of some potentially fruitful lines of future research, including links with the life-events and inequalities literature.     

Discussing the effects of prostate cancer beyond biographical disruption and new normalcy: the experiences of men with prostate cancer in Germany

The concept of biographical disruption has been used to explain the experience of a cancer diagnosis. Studies on cancer experience increasingly suggest that people diagnosed in older age may not have such disruptive experiences. Prostate cancer is diagnosed more often in older men and is often considered a disease of old age; furthermore, the signs of illness in prostate cancer and the signs of ageing might become convoluted. With this in mind, this paper aims to explore how 42 men with prostate cancer who participated in an interview study respond to and make sense of bodily changes. The sample was selected using a maximum variation strategy in order to describe a range of possible experiences with prostate cancer. Analysis was conducted thematically. The men’s narratives tell of the constant process of dealing with ageing-related and/or cancer-related changes to both their bodies and their social interactions, and their struggle to disentangle the related effects of ageing and/or cancer on their bodies. We describe how men “muddle through” problems of urinary leakage, potency and loss of libido. We then identify how men attributed changes as part of ageing and/or cancer to (better) manage the experiences of loss.     

From biographical disruption to biographical reinforcement: the case of HIV-positive men

In-depth interviews were conducted with 44 asymptomatic HIV-positive men infected through homosexual relations or medical treatment for haemophilia. The objective was to better understand interrelations between: the consequences of infection on everyday life; the meanings given to being HIV-positive; and the reconstruction of identities. The consequences for everyday life are examined in relation to: the importance of keeping one's immune status secret; self-imposed restraints and the constraints ensuing from the immune status; and the resources interviewees tapped to cope with their new situation. The meanings given to infection arose as these men reinterpreted their individual and collective pasts. This biographical reconstruction reinforced components of identity that, prior to HIV-infection, had been built around haemophilia or homosexuality. This is what is called biographical reinforcement, a notion developed in relation to biographical disruption.     

Leuprorelin: a leading role in advanced prostate cancer therapy

Leuprorelin is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue, licensed in the UK for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This review highlights the efficacy and tolerance of this agent and the benefits provided for developing patient-centred therapy and optimizing patient quality of life.     

Estimating survival gain for economic evaluations with survival time as principal endpoint: a cost-effectiveness analysis of adding early hormonal therapy to radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer

The problem of estimating expected outcomes for the economic evaluation of treatments for which the outcome of principal interest is (quality adjusted) survival time has so far not received sufficient attention in the literature. The best estimate of expected survival is mean survival time, but with censored survival data, the true survival time for all the subjects is not known, so the mean is not defined.A possible solution to this estimation problem is illustrated by a retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis of the addition of hormonal therapy to standard radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. A recently proposed method is used to approach the problem caused by censored cost data, and the impact of uncertainty is assessed by bootstrap resampling techniques. Mean survival time is estimated by a restricted means analysis with the time point of restriction determined by statistical criteria. When average total costs and mean survival time is evaluated at this time point of restriction, the result is that the combined therapy (radiotherapy plus hormonal therapy) increases mean survival time by about 1 year, while reducing the costs per patient for the French health insurance system by 12 700 FF. The time point of restriction may also be determined by other criteria and mean survival time may be estimated by extrapolating the survival curves by means of various parametric survival distributions. We show that the exact results of the economic evaluation are decisively determined by the restriction time point chosen and the approach taken to estimate mean survival time.     

Breast cancer diagnosis: biographical disruption,emotional experiences and strategic management in Thai women with breast cancer

In this article we draw on Bury's theory of biographical disruption to discuss the meanings of, and emotional experiences related to, being diagnosed with breast cancer among southern Thai women. Qualitative methods, including in‐depth interviewing and drawing methods, were used to collect data from 20 women with breast cancer. The women perceived breast cancer to be a rhok raai; an evil or dread disease. They believed that breast cancer would lead to death. The disruption in their biography occurred when they detected abnormalities indicating breast cancer. The women's narratives revealed their chaotic lives upon this diagnosis and the news precipitated in them shock, fear, anxiety and loss of hope. Although they experienced chaos and disruption, the women cultivated strategies that helped them cope with their experiences by accepting their fate and adhering to Buddhist beliefs and practices. Through their narratives of biographical disruption, the women in our study offer healthcare providers knowledge that could lead to an appreciation of their needs and concerns. This knowledge is crucial for health professionals who wish to provide emotional support to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in Thailand and elsewhere.     

Bicalutamide treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer

In men with locally advanced prostate cancer, bicalutamide 150 mg monotherapy provides a similar disease outcome to medical or surgical castration. However, castration is associated with loss of sexual interest and function, decreased energy and an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Bicalutamide 150 mg monotherapy has less impact on sexual interest and physical capacity than castration.     

Troubling biographical disruption: narratives of unconcern about hepatitis C diagnosis

This paper explores the impact of hepatitis C diagnosis among participants of a recent qualitative study based in New Zealand and Australia. The findings of this research were unique with regard to the small amount of existing literature on the topic. Whilst most social research indicates that diagnosis with hepatitis C is a disruptive or distressing experience, study participants were almost evenly divided between those who reported being distressed by diagnosis and those who described contracting hepatitis C as 'no big deal'. The varied nature of participants' narratives about their hepatitis C diagnosis indicates that the experience of biographical disruption is contextual: dependent upon previous experiences of illness, marginalisation or hardship, and the extent to which hepatitis C is an unknown entity or normalised within community networks. This paper draws on the theoretical frameworks of biographical disruption, normalisation and dys-appearance to illuminate these and other contextual issues informing participants' narratives of unconcern about hepatitis C diagnosis.     

Trends in the hormonal therapy of thyroid cancer

The highly differentiated thyroid cancers account for 0.70% of malignancies. Their management is primarily hormonal, in addition to the percutaneous irradiation and application of iodine isotope. This method is not aimed at the inhibition of the potential artificial hypothyreosis but mainly at the prevention of the tumour development or tumorous dissemination. The authors, in case of their 28 patients with the above diagnosis, tried to clarify if the TRH-tolerance TSH-level determination promotes the optimal patient management, the ideal hormone substitution lasting for several years. Their results suggest that the drugs containing L-thyroxin prove to be most effective in the clinical practice. Their optimal dose is 2.8-3.0 micrograms/kg. The study of the TRH-sensitized TSH-level does not primarily facilitate the ideal hormone substitution but may decrease the "unnecessary" amount of thyroid hormone-containing drugs. In view of the fact that the hormonal treatment may last even several decades for a patient, the authors considering economic points as well, do not reject the TRH-tolerance TSH-study. In their opinion the more favourable solution may be provided by the wide-scale application of the IRMA-TSH.     

晚期非小细胞肺癌的化放疗序贯治疗

目的探讨吉西他滨联合顺铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌3周方案并序贯化放疗的疗效和不良反应。方法经病理和细胞学证实的晚期非小细胞肺癌患者,既往未进行化疗和放疗,临床上有可测量病灶(根据WHO标准),美国东部肿瘤协作组(ECOG)评分为0～2分,肝、肾功能基本正常。均给予吉西他滨和顺铂的联合化疗并序贯化放疗方案治疗。按照WHO的标准评价疗效和不良反应,并随访生存期。结果共入组43例患者,其中39例可评价疗效:19例(48.72%)部分缓解、13例(33.33%)病情稳定和7例(17.95%)疾病进展。生存期为3.7～21.4个月,中位生存期为10.1个月。主要的不良反应为血液毒性,表现为白细胞、中性粒细胞、血小板和血红蛋白下降;其次为消化道症状。结论吉西他滨联合顺铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌3周方案并序贯化放疗是晚期非小细胞肺癌的标准一线化疗方案之一,患者可较好耐受。     

晚期非小细胞肺癌的化放疗序贯治疗

目的探讨吉西他滨联合顺铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌3周方案并序贯化放疗的疗效和不良反应。方法经病理和细胞学证实的晚期非小细胞肺癌患者，既往未进行化疗和放疗，临床上有可测量病灶（根据WHO标准），美国东部肿瘤协作组（ECOG）评分为0—2分，肝、肾功能基本正常。均给予吉西他滨和顺铂的联合化疗并序贯化放疗方案治疗。按照WHO的标准评价疗效和不良反应，并随访生存期。结果共入组43例患者，其中39例可评价疗效：19例（48．72％）部分缓解、13例（33．33％）病情稳定和7例（17．95％）疾病进展。生存期为3．7—21．4个月，中位生存期为10．1个月。主要的不良反应为血液毒性，表现为白细胞、中性粒细胞、血小板和血红蛋白下降；其次为消化道症状。结论吉西他滨联合顺铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌3周方案并序贯化放疗是晚期非小细胞肺癌的标准一线化疗方案之一，患者可较好耐受。     

High-dose-rate brachytherapy and hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy combined with long-term hormonal therapy for high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer: outcomes after 5-year follow-up

The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria-defined high-risk (HR) and very high-risk (VHR) prostate cancer. Data from 178 HR (n = 96, 54%) and VHR (n = 82, 46%) prostate cancer patients who underwent ¹⁹²Ir-HDR brachytherapy and hypofractionated EBRT with long-term ADT between 2003 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean dose to 90% of the planning target volume was 6.3 Gy/fraction of HDR brachytherapy. After five fractions of HDR treatment, EBRT with 10 fractions of 3 Gy was administered. All patients initially underwent ≥6 months of neoadjuvant ADT, and adjuvant ADT was continued for 36 months after EBRT. The median follow-up was 61 months (range, 25–94 months) from the start of radiotherapy. The 5-year biochemical non-evidence of disease, freedom from clinical failure and overall survival rates were 90.6% (HR, 97.8%; VHR, 81.9%), 95.2% (HR, 97.7%; VHR, 92.1%), and 96.9% (HR, 100%; VHR, 93.3%), respectively. The highest Radiation Therapy Oncology Group-defined late genitourinary toxicities were Grade 2 in 7.3% of patients and Grade 3 in 9.6%. The highest late gastrointestinal toxicities were Grade 2 in 2.8% of patients and Grade 3 in 0%. Although the 5-year outcome of this tri-modality approach seems favorable, further follow-up is necessary to validate clinical and survival advantages of this intensive approach compared with the standard EBRT approach.     

Dietary patterns in patients with advanced cancer: implications for anorexia-cachexia therapy

BACKGROUND: Severe malnutrition and wasting are considered hallmarks of advanced malignant disease, and clinical research into anorexia-cachexia therapy and nutritional support for cancer patients is ongoing. However, information on typical dietary intakes and food choices for this population is notably lacking; proposed therapies for anorexia and wasting are not framed within the context of current intake. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to characterize the food intake patterns of patients with advanced cancer. DESIGN: Patients with advanced cancer (n = 151) recruited from a regional cancer center and palliative-care program completed a 3-d dietary record a mean (+/-SD) 8 +/- 7 mo before death. Food items were categorized according to macronutrient content and dietary use and subsequently entered into cluster analysis. RESULTS: Wide variations in intakes of energy (range: 4-53 kcal . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1); x +/- SD: 25.1 +/- 10.0 kcal . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) and protein (range: 0.2-2.7 g . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1); x +/- SD: 1.0 +/- 0.4 g . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) were observed. Even the subjects with the highest intakes had a recent history of weight loss, which suggests that the diets of those persons were consistently inadequate for weight maintenance. Cluster analysis found 3 dietary patterns that differed in food choice and caloric intake. Low intakes and a high risk of weight loss were associated with decreased frequency of eating and dietary profiles with little variety and unusually high proportions of liquids. CONCLUSION: These data provide a glimpse into dietary habits toward the end of life. Unique dietary patterns were found in this nutritionally vulnerable patient population.