Desmopressin/Vasopressin
Vasopressin is a hormone that stimulates contraction of muscle tissues of capillaries and arterioles, and exerts some influence on uterine contraction. It causes conservation of water and raises blood pressure. Desmopressin, a synthetic form of the human hormone vasopressin, limits the amount of water eliminated in the urine. It can be administered nasally, via IV, orally, or given as a sublingual tablet. Major uses of desmopressin include bed-wetting, nighttime urination, clotting disorders, and diabetes insipidus.
Dermatitis Control Protocol
Algorithmic protocols for the prevention and management of radiodermatitis have been tested for their efficacy. Protocols consist of gentle washing for all patients, the use of Vaseline® or dimethyl isopropylazulene-soaked gauze to cover irradiated skin for grade 2 reactions, and the addition of antibiotics for grades 3 or 4 radiodermatitis.
Decision Support/Decision Aids
Decision aids are seen as materials provided to facilitate the individual’s decision-making process through the provision of information and activities to work through the actual decision making process. Decision aids may take a number of different forms such as videos, workbooks, and decision-making tools. Decision support is the use of decision aids and/or counseling interactions to facilitate the decision-making process.
Date Palm Pollen
Date palm pollen is produced by flowers on male date palm trees. It has been investigated as a topically administered treatment for oral mucositis in patients with cancer.
Dance/Dance Therapy
Dance or movement therapy is rhythmic body movement. Its use in therapy promotes spontaneous movement expression that can allow people to enact thoughts and feelings and reduce tension. Dance/movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process that furthers the physical and psychological integration of individuals with cancer. Dance and movement therapy have been studied for their effects on anxiety, depression, and fatigue in patients with cancer.
Cyproterone Acetate
Cyproterone acetate is a synthetic steroidal antiandrogen drug used to treat prostate cancer. It suppresses androgen hormones by inhibiting growth of testosterone-sensitive cells. An acetate salt, the drug works by binding to androgen receptors to prevent receptor activation. Additionally, this drug reduces luteinizing hormone via the pituitary gland, which reduces androgen secretion in the testes and overall serum testosterone levels. It has weak progestational and antineoplastic activities.
Cyproheptadine
Cyproheptadine is an antihistamine marketed for the treatment of various allergic problems. Cyproheptadine is a serotonin and histamine antagonist with sedative and anticholinergic effects. In early clinical trials, cyproheptadine was noted to cause unexpected weight gain. It has been marketed in Europe as a drug for weight gain and evaluated for anorexia.
Cutaneous Stimulation
Cutaneous stimulation involves stimulation of nerves via skin contact in an effort to reduce pain impulses to the brain, based on the "gate control" theory of pain. A device used to provide electrocutaneous nerve stimulation was studied for its effect on symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Cryotherapy
The use of ice chips or ice-cold water has been studied for its efficacy in the prevention of oral mucositis. Patients suck on ice or hold ice-cold water in their mouths prior to, during, and after rapid infusions of mucotoxic agents with short half-lives. Cryotherapy is based on the theory that vasoconstriction caused by cold temperatures decreases the exposure of the oral cavity mucous membranes to mucotoxic agents. Thirty minutes of oral cryotherapy is suggested for patients receiving bolus 5-fluorouracil. Cryotherapy also has been used in patients receiving high-dose melphalan.
Cryoablation
Cryoablation or cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold, generally produced by liquid nitrogen or argon gas, to destroy abnormal tissue. It has been used to treat some types of cancer as an alternative to surgery. Cryoablation has been studied for its effect on chronic, cancer-related pain.