Cellphones can give cancer-stricken teens a lifeline: U.K. researchers
12.06.2008 00:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Young cancer patients at home can benefit from communication via a specially designed cellphone, say British researchers, adding the system can provide reassurance and independence. Researchers at the Institute of Child Health in London, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, the Children's Hospital Oxford, the University of Stirling and Kelvin Connect Ltd. in Glasgow, are testing specially designed cellphones on young cancer patients. The phones allow participants to record and send details of their symptoms to their doctors and to receive information about commonly experienced symptoms. Participants in the study input their symptoms every day following chemotherapy, using a questionnaire format on their phone, which is similar to a PDA, according to the researchers. If the symptoms the patients describe are deemed to be serious, the phone triggers an alarm at the hospital and alerts an oncology nurse to call the patient and/or to request they come to hospital. The participants are between the ages of 13 and 18. Details of the novel communication system were presented at the Teenage Cancer Trust's Fifth International Conference on Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Medicine on Tuesday in London. "Chemotherapy for cancer can cause many unpleasant, distressing and sometimes life-threatening side-effects, which can have a huge impact on a young person's life," said Dr. Faith Gibson, a senior lecturer in children's cancer nursing research at the Institute of Child Health, in a release. "The advanced symptom management system for young people that we are developing could revolutionize their care, giving them support and confidence in being able to manage their symptoms, as well as giving medical teams valuable information on a day-to-day basis about the way the patient has reacted to their treatment." She says early results of the study, not yet published in an academic journal, show that both patients and their parents feel reassured they are being monitored at home and feel empowered when visiting their doctors, armed with data about their condition. "Health professionals said that the system gave the young people some independence and control back into managing their own life," said Gibson. The system is being primarily funded by Teenage Cancer Trust. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKHealth HeadlinesTaxes, stricter alcohol limits could help cut cost of alcohol abuse: reportAlcohol abuse costs every Canadian $463 a year, says a new study, but could be reduced if Ottawa cut consumption by increasing liquor taxes and lowering blood-alcohol limits, among other policy changes. Cancer risk factors to be studied in large-scale studyA sweeping study on how genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle choices play a part in the development of cancer was launched Wednesday.Adviser to N.L. premier can't recall when told of cancer test mistakesAnother key adviser of Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams testifying at the Cameron inquiry Wednesday couldn't recall much about when he was first told about breast cancer mistakes, and his forgetfulness clearly frustrated the judge in charge.Hong Kong to slaughter all poultry after bird flu outbreakHealth officials ordered the slaughter of all poultry in Hong Kong's street markets Wednesday after detecting one of the largest outbreaks of the bird flu virus in years.FDA official says baby bottles with bisphenol A safePlastic baby bottles and water bottles are safe, a U.S. federal health official said Tuesday, seeking to ease public concerns about the health hazards of a chemical used in the products. Health FeaturesHealthVitamin DBoning up on the sunshine vitaminCONSUMERCalorie trackerHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosFit to be downtownHEALTHFixing pharmaStem cells could lead to better, safer drugsVIDEONutritionIs organic worth the extra cost? (5:02)People who read this also read …
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