Energy Conservation and Activity Management
Energy conservation is the deliberate and planned management of one’s personal energy resources to prevent their depletion. Energy conservationstrategies include planning, delegating, setting priorities, pacing, resting, and scheduling activities that require high-energy use at times of peak energy. Balancing rest and activity during times of high fatigue allows for maintaining adequate energy to perform valued activities and reach important goals.
Emollients and Moisturizers
Emoliients and moisturizers are substances that may contain a variety of chemical agents designed to make the external skin layers more pliable and increase skin hydration by reducing water evaporation from the skin. Emollients and moisturizers have been studied in patients with cancer regarding their effects in the management of skin toxicities caused by cancer treatments.
Elemental Diet and Oral Rinse
An elemental diet contains easily absorbable proteins in the form of amino acids, very minimal fat content, and easily absorbable vitamins and mineral content. Elemental diets have been used to maintain nutrition and reduce diarrhea (because absorption in the upper intestine can reduce stool volume) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Use of an elemental diet formula was studied in patients with cancer for its effect on radiation-induced diarrhea (Russell, 1975). Use of an elemental diet as an oral rinse prior to swallowing has been tested for its effect on mucositis.
Elemental Diet
An elemental diet is one that contains easily absorbable proteins in the form of amino acids, very minimal fat content, and easily absorbable vitamins and mineral content. Elemental diets have been used to maintain nutrition and reduce diarrhea (because absorption in the upper intestine can reduce stool volume) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Use of an elemental diet formula has been studied in patients with cancer for its effect on radiation-induced diarrhea.
Electronic Antinausea Device (ELANI)
An electronic antinausea instrument is an apparatus that provides low-frequency electric stimulation percutaneously through a pulse generator that looks similar to a wristwatch. The pulse generated is transferred to the brain cortex via the median nerve in the wrist. The electric pulse is supposed to adjust a number of activities, including the central stimulation of nausea and vomiting in the brain. This type of device was studied in patients with cancer for its effect on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
EEG Biofeedback
EEG biofeedback, or neurofeedback, involves real-time display of brain electrical activity provided to the individual as visual or auditory information. Use of this feedback approach was studied in patients with cancer for its effect on cognitive impairment, sleep-wake disturbances, and fatigue.
Early Palliative Care
Palliative care services encompassing holistic multidisciplinary patient care and aggressive symptom management are often associated with care at the end of life. Early palliative care refers to instituting specialized palliative care services at the time of cancer diagnosis or soon after diagnosis. Early palliative care is not reflective of end-of-life care needs but is aimed at providing comprehensive care and specialized expertise in symptom management.
Early Opioid Use
Early opioid use refers to managing chronic pain by using opioids to treat levels of pain lower than the levels the World Health Organization’s (WHO's) three-step pain relief ladder specifies for treating with opioids. The WHO suggests beginning treatment at step 1, using nonopioids with or without adjuvant medication, and moving to step 2, using weak opioids, if pain persists.
EACA (Epsilon-Aminocaproic acid)
Epsilon-aminocaproic acid is a potent antifibrinolytic agent used to control bleeding by inhibiting the plasmin-plasminogen system. It can be administered orally or intravenously and is excreted in the urine. Major side effects include cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, rhabdomyolysis, and creation of thrombi. It may be beneficial in the prevention of bleeding, but additional studies are necessary.
Duloxetine
Duloxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant. Antidepressants in general have been examined for treatment of depression in patients with cancer. Duloxetine specifically has been examined for its effect on pain and peripheral neuropathy.