Pyridoxine
Vitamin B6, pyridoxine, helps the body break down protein and maintain the health of red blood cells, the nervous system, and parts of the immune system. Pyridoxine is found in fish, liver, pork, chicken, potatoes, wheat germ, bananas, and dried beans. This vitamin comes in regular and extended-release (long-acting) tablets. Pyridoxine has been used as an intervention for skin reactions in patients with cancer.
Psyllium Fiber
Psyllium is a specific form of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber has been used to treat diarrhea because of its ability to absorb fluid and increase the weight of stools.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy involves a variety of approaches for structured therapeutic interaction between a trained professional and the client addressing problems that are psychological in nature.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in various species of mushrooms. Psilocybin is rapidly metabolized to psilocin, which is a potent agonist at serotonin receptor activation, directly correlated with human hallucinogenic activity. It has been examined in the treatment of anxiety in patients with advanced stage cancer.
Prucalopride
Prucalopride is a selective, high-affinity 5-HT4 agonist that targets impaired motility in the gastrointestinal tract. This drug has been examined for the treatment of constipation.
Provider Communication Skill Training
Provider communication skill training is an approach in which the healthcare professional who provides services to the patient is trained to improve communication skills. Improved communication with the patient is proposed to have a positive effect on the patient’s symptoms and outcomes. Improved provider communication skills may improve assessment of the patient and the provider’s ability to facilitate effective communication by the patient, thereby enhancing symptom management.
Propolis (Bee Glue)
Propolis, or bee glue, is a resin-like material made by bees to coat the inside of the hive. Propolis is derived from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing toma trees and is believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Propolis has been studied in patients with cancer for treatment of mucositis.
Prophylactic Platelet Transfusions
Prophylactic platelet transfusion involves transfusion prior to thrombocytopenia levels generally requiring therapeutic platelet transfusion. Use of trigger levels for platelet transfusion, different dosage, and varied intervals between transfusions have been studied in patients with cancer for prevention of bleeding.
Prophylactic Octreotide
Octreotide is a medication that has physiologic effects that inhibit glucagon, insulin, splanchnic blood flow, and vasoactive peptides in the gastrointestinal tract. It has been used for treatment of watery diarrhea from tumors that secrete vasoactive intestinal peptides. Octreotide has been studied for management of chemotherapy- and radiation therapy-induced diarrhea. Octreotide is given by IV or subcutaneous injection.
Prophylactic Laxatives for Patients on Opioids
Prophylactic laxatives are the provision of laxatives prior to any symptoms of constipation to prevent or avoid constipation. This approach has been suggested for patients with cancer on opioids for pain management.