Fractional CO2 laser therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause for breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Fractional CO2 laser therapy is an emerging treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This was a single arm feasibility study of breast cancer survivors with dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness. Participants received three treatments of fractional CO2 laser therapy at 30-day intervals and returned for a 1-month follow-up. Feasibility was defined as treatment completion without serious adverse events (SAE) in 80% of patients. We collected data on the Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Urinary Distress Index (UDI), and SAE. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients participated in the study. The majority of women had Estrogen receptor/Progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive/Her2neu negative (n = 37; 63%), stage I (n = 32, 54%) or II (n = 19, 32%) breast cancer. Most were receiving endocrine therapy (n = 54, 92%), most commonly aromatase inhibitors (AI; n = 40, 68%). Fifty-nine (88.1%) of those enrolled completed all treatments according to protocol with no reported SAE. No patient withdrew due to SAE. The scores of the VAS (mean Δ - 0.99; 95% CI [- 1.19, - 0.79], p < 0.001)), FSFI (mean Δ 9.67; 95% CI [7.27, 12.1], p < 0.001), and UDI (mean Δ - 8.85; 95% CI [- 12.75, - 4.75], p < 0.001)) improved from baseline to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Fractional CO2 laser treatment for breast cancer survivors is feasible and appears to reduce GSM symptoms across treatment and follow-up.

A Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) intervention in the breast cancer population. METHODS: This single-arm feasibility study evaluated a 14-week CR intervention program in breast cancer survivors. Feasibility was defined as completion of at least 30/36 sessions of the program without serious adverse events (SAE) in 80% of patients. Secondary endpoints included the change in VO2 max, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, Duke Activity Secondary Index (DASI), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and QLQ-C30. All outcomes were reported as mean change and compared using paired t-tests. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were enrolled in the study. 18 patients of the 25 enrolled (72%) completed the 14 weeks program without SAE. The overall adherence to the study protocol was 60%. Of the 18 participants who did not withdraw from the program, 15 (83%) adhered to the study protocol and completed 30 or more sessions. There was a nonsignificant improvement in VO2 max (mean Δ0.5, p=0.6). The scores for DASI, BFI, and QLQ-C30 improved from baseline to posttreatment. CONCLUSION: A CR intervention in breast cancer survivors had high adherence in those who were able to complete the 14-week program. The program significantly improved patient reported physical activity, fatigue, and quality of life (QoL), without significant improvement in CVD risk factors. Implications for cancer patients are that early implementation of a CR program should be considered by practitioners as it improves QoL and exercise tolerance in breast cancer survivors.

Patient-reported sexual function of breast cancer survivors with genitourinary syndrome of menopause after fractional CO2 laser therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the change in sexual function following treatment with fractional CO2 laser therapy in breast cancer (BC) survivors with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). METHODS: A single-arm feasibility study of BC survivors with symptoms of GSM, including dyspareunia and/or vaginal dryness, was conducted. Participants who received three treatments with fractional CO2 laser and 4-week follow-up were contacted for patient-reported outcomes and adverse events at 12 months. Sexual function was measured using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised (FSDS-R). Descriptive statistics were calculated for patient demographics and disease characteristics for the set of participants who agreed to long-term follow-up and those who were lost to follow-up. FSFI and FSDS-R scores were summarized at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 months, as well as the change from baseline, and were compared using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: A total of 67 BC survivors enrolled, 59 completed treatments and 4-week follow-up; 39 participated in the 12 month follow-up. The overall FSFI score improved from baseline to 4-week follow-up (median Δ 8.8 [Q1, Q3] (QS) (2.2, 16.7)], P < 0.001). There were improvements at 4 weeks in all domains of the FSFI (P < 0.001 for each) including desire (median Δ 1.2; QS [0.6, 1.8]), arousal (median Δ 1.2; QS [0.3, 2.7]), lubrication (median Δ 1.8 (0, 3.3), orgasm (median Δ 1.2; QS [0, 3.6]), satisfaction (median Δ 1.6 (0.4, 3.2)), and pain (median Δ 1.6 (0, 3.6). The FSDS-R score also improved from baseline to 4-week follow-up (median Δ -10.0; QS [-16, -5] P < 0.001) indicating less sexually related distress. The scores of the FSFI and FSDS-R remained improved at 12 months and there were no serious adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS: In BC survivors with GSM, the total and individual domain scores of the FSFI and the FSDS-R improved after fractional CO2 laser therapy.

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The Wrong Turn to Tijuana: Dry Beriberi after Gastric Bypass Surgery with Incidental Spinal Stenosis.

Thiamine deficiency is a condition characterized by several different presentations, but one of the most devastating is dry beriberi. It is associated with polyneuropathy and muscle weakness which typically affects the lower extremities and progressively involves the upper extremities. This case outlines a case of a 41-year-old man that presented to the hospital with diffuse weakness and decreased sensation in his legs and hands over a 3-day period. The patient's medical history revealed a gastric bypass surgery 4 months previously in Tijuana, Mexico, with no follow-up, binge drinking on weekends, and emesis in the past few weeks. A physical examination revealed a significant decrease in strength in the lower extremities bilaterally as well as in the hands bilaterally. MRI showed central disc protrusion at T6-T7 that indented the spinal cord, consistent with spinal stenosis. Neurosurgery was counseled and corpectomy was recommended. While awaiting surgery, a low thiamine level resulted. Neurology was consulted, and it was recommended that high-dose IV thiamine treatment be started. An EMG study further supported the diagnosis of thiamine deficiency. The patient received high-dose IV thiamine for 2 weeks and was discharged to acute rehabilitation on a high oral dose of thiamine. While at the rehabilitation facility, the patient continued to achieve functional gains and was later discharged to a skilled nursing facility, where he continues to make progress in his activities of daily living. This case serves to remind practitioners that early recognition and treatment of thiamine deficiency is imperative, especially when other clinical evidence may point to a different diagnosis.