RESUMEN
As many as 24.7% of cancer patients are also parents to children younger than 18 years of age. This population faces unique challenges, and quality of life in parental cancer patients has not been well studied. This integrative review assessed parental cancer patients' quality of life. PubMed and Scopus were searched using the following terms: quality of life, distress, anxiety, coping, emotion, social support, employment, work, psychosocial, physical, function, parental cancer, and parents with cancer. English publications conducted within the past 15 years that used an objective instrument to measure quality of life in adult cancer patients with children 18 years of age or younger were included. Studies with an intervention focus were excluded. After review of 672 articles, nine studies met the criteria for inclusion. Several instruments were utilized to measure quality of life. Some parental cancer patients reported decreased quality of life when compared with other cancer patients and the general population at diagnosis and years after. Parental cancer patients may be at an increased risk of decreased quality of life. With this understanding, health-care providers should complete comprehensive assessments routinely so that these patients' unique needs may be more adequately addressed.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are not common in most cancers, they are present in more than 90% of some rare tumors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved larotrectinib for patients with NTRK gene fusion-positive cancers that meet certain criteria. With ongoing advancements in tumor sequencing, it is anticipated that cancer treatment will be determined by genetic variants rather than by cancer type in the future. OBJECTIVES: This article provides an overview of larotrectinib, a targeted therapy. METHODS: This article reviews clinical trial results and highlights implications for oncology nurses caring for patients taking larotrectinib. FINDINGS: Larotrectinib is an effective treatment option for some patients with NTRK gene fusion-positive cancers. Oncology nurses are key to educating patients on dosing, administration, side effects, and precautions.
