Editorial article

Dear Readers of ‘Palliative Medicine in Practice’!

We are delighted to present you the first issue of the journal in 2017. In the new issue you can find two original articles, three review articles and one case report.

The issue starts with the original article by Magdalena Dutsch-Wicherek, MD, Magdalena Bańskowska-Woźniak, MD, Adrianna Makarewicz, MD, Wojciech Kaźmierczyk, MD, Konrad Dziobek, MD and Łukasz Wicherek, MD „The evaluation of the intensity of radiation reaction using Dische scale in prediction of swallowing dysfunction and quality of life deterioration in patients with head and neck cancer treated with combined therapy including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in Oncological Center in Bydgoszcz”. The article raises the significant clinical problem of the influence of swallowing disturbances on the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients. The use of validated tools for symptoms assessment enables to gain detailed knowledge and thus to efficient symptomatic treatment. Undoubtedly, the quality of life of cancer patients is one of the main goals of rational treatment along with the complete cure and significant extension of patients survival.

The second original article by Elżbieta Trylińsk-Tekielska, MD and Paweł Gidziński, MD titled “Expectations from physiotherapist and sense of well–being of palliative care patients” refers to the role of physiotherapist in advanced cancer from the perspective of patients’ needs and expectations. Research has shown that informative support concerning diagnostic and physiotherapeutic treatments and the treatment progress, which should be adjusted to the individual needs of particular patients.

The above-mentioned article indirectly, due to the significant role of physiotherapist in lymphedema, refers to the review article titled “The management of the prevention and the treatment of lymphoedema — a literature review” by Katarzyna Ochałek, MD and Tomasz Grądalski, MD. The current, mainly international literature has been reviewed. The authors, who are experts in this field, apart from presenting the current therapeutic recommendations, indicate the barriers to effective treatment of lymphedema in our country.

In the review article “Bone pain in cancer patients — what is known about it’s pathomechanism” by Renata Zajączkowska, MD, Professor Jerzy Wordliczek and me, the undersigned, presents pathomechanism and the causes of bone pain in cancer patients. Bone pain as the main type of pain in this group of patients is still a challenge for nursing care until effective therapeutic treatment. It is connected with the complex pathomechanism, which includes receptor and neuropathic component of the bone pain. The use of personalized treatment of bone pain, such as the use of monoclonal antibodies or development of the modern radiotherapy methods and systemic treatment, mainly immunotherapy and molecular therapies gives us hope.

The next review article is “The impact of palliative radiotherapy on quality of life of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer” by Monika Rucińska, MD and Agata Sugajska, MD. On the basis of literature data and their own extensive experience the authors presented the usage of palliative radiotherapy in the treatment of numerous symptoms of lung cancer patients. Despite progress in causal treatment, lung cancer is still a massive epidemiological and therapeutic problem, which makes the palliative and supportive care extremely important for this group of patients. The use of palliative therapy has undoubtedly impact on the extension of patients survival and to the improvement of patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life.

The issue closes with the case report „Neuropathic pain after chemotherapy treated with tapentadol — a case report” by Anna Przeklasę-Muszyńską, MD, Magdalena Kocot-Kępska, MD and Professor Jan Dobrogowski. The problem of peripheral neuropathy caused by the cytotoxic agents is becoming especially important in the light of the frequent use of medicines causing damage to nervous system (platin, taxine, Vinca alkaloid derivatives, thalidomide, bortezomib) and by the considerable difficulties in the treatment. The paper presents the treatment by the use of opioid with the dual mechanism — tapentadol, which in consequence ensured significant reduction in pain and the improvement of the quality of life.

With the first issue in 2017, I would like to welcome Leszek Pawłowski, MD — Associate Professor, from the Department of Palliative Medicine at Medical University of Gdańsk, who actively participate in the patients and caregivers legal problems. I would also like to thank you for accepting a position as a Secretary Editor of “Medycyna Paliatywna w Praktyce” and wish you a lot of satisfaction.

I would like to welcome Ilona Obara, MD, from the Newcastle University, United Kingdom in Scientific Committee. Ilona Obara, MD is famous for many publications in international journals, which increased our knowledge in the field of pain treatment.

I kindly encourage all Readers — Polish as well as foreign — to submit the articles (original, review papers and case reports) and comments on the particular topic connected with the thematic profile of the journal. Best regards and wishing you pleasant reading.

Yours faithfully,
Wojciech Leppert