In a blog for anyone with an interest in brain tumours, brainstrust Director of Services and Cochrane Review author Helen Bulbeck reflects on supportive care, what it is, what research tells us about the current state of play with supportive care, and what people living with brain tumours might find helpful.
Cancer
Unprovoked venous thromboembolism: should we be looking for cancer?
Retired GP Lynda Ware looks at new evidence on whether unprovoked venous thromboembolism warrants cancer screening
Glioblastoma: honest conversations for shared decision-making
Peter Buckle, a patient advocate whose wife died of glioblastoma, and Professor Scott Murray, GP and palliative care innovator, call for honest communication between health professionals and people with glioblastoma and their families, enabling shared decision-making and planning, with a focus on quality of life. They give sources of information and support for patients and families, and practical suggestions for clinicians.
Diagnosing and treating brain tumours: reflections on the latest Cochrane evidence
In this blog for people living with a brain tumour, healthcare practitioners and anyone with an interest in brain tumours, Helen Bulbeck, Cochrane consumer representative and director of policy and services for brainstrust, looks at the latest Cochrane evidence on brain tumours and reflects on what this special collection means for the brain tumour community and why collaboration has been key to the success of this work.
Informal caregivers: the invisible people caring for cancer survivors
In this blog for informal cancer caregivers, Beverley Lim Høeg and Pernille Envold Bidstrup, who are both psychologists and cancer researchers, look at the challenges faced by those caring for a loved-one with cancer and explore why informal caregivers deserve more support and focus in cancer treatment and research. Pernille is also the mother of a 9 year old cancer survivor.
Prostate cancer: “To treat, or not to treat?”
In this blog for people making treatment decisions about prostate cancer, surgeons Francisco Lopez, Freddie Hamdy and Alastair Lamb explore the evidence, weigh up the benefits and harms, and suggest some questions that you may wish to discuss with your clinician.
Communicating about cancer: experiences and reflections
We invited people to share their experiences and views on communicating about cancer on Twitter. In this blog, Sarah Chapman reflects on what emerged.
Cancer and Post-Traumatic Stress
Sally Crowe reflects on her experiences of post-traumatic stress (PTS) after being diagnosed and treated for a rare cancer - a common, but little talked about outcome of having cancer.
Communication with cancer patients: does practice make perfect?
Charlotte Squires reflects on the importance of communication skills for healthcare professionals working with people who have cancer, from her perspective both as doctor and a patient with advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Does communication skills training improve cancer care?
Liz O’Riordan reflects on the Cochrane Review 'Communication skills training for healthcare professionals working with people who have cancer' from her perspective as both breast surgeon and someone with recurrent breast cancer.
Contemplating Cancer: a special series from Cochrane UK
Introducing 'Contemplating Cancer', Cochrane UK's special series of blogs and other resources sharing cancer evidence and experience.
Malignant pleural effusions (MPE): new evidence on management
A blog for physicians on Cochrane evidence on the optimal management strategy for patients with malignant pleural effusions.