Vol 1-3 Short Communication

Using Metaphors to Explain Immunotherapy to Cancer Patients

Rachel S. Hianik1, Mehmet A. Bilen1,2, Ragini R. Kudchadkar1,2, Margie D. Dixon1, Melinda L. Yushak1,2, Rebecca D. Pentz1,2*

1Winship Cancer Institute, USA

2Emory University School of Medicine, USA

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy is continually being integrated into cancer care, but there is no research on communication strategies to explain it. We examine how metaphors are being used in clinical oncology to describe immunotherapy to patients.

METHODS: We observed and audio-recorded 33 first-time conversations about immunotherapy. We took note of each metaphor used in each conversation and conducted a follow-up interview to assess patient understanding of the metaphor used.

RESULTS: Metaphors were used and understanding was assessed 43 times in the 33 conversations about immunotherapy. We describe 14 metaphors used to describe four immunotherapy topics. Patients understood the metaphors 54% of the time.

CONCLUSION: Metaphors are being used by providers as a way to describe immunotherapy in clinical oncology. We hope that the examples we provide can be adapted and expanded by other oncologists to assist them in communication with patients about immunotherapy.

DOI: 10.29245/2690-0009/2019/3.1108 View / Download Pdf
Vol 1-3 Case Report

Coats Plus Syndrome and Mutation of the TERT Gene: A Case Report

Typhaine Grenet1,2, Caroline Kannengiesser3,4,5, Raphael Borie3, 5, 6, 7, Audrey Giocanti-Aurégan2

1Centre d’imagerie et de Laser, 11 rue Antoine Bourdelle, Paris, France

2Ophthalmology department, Avicenne hospital, Paris 13 University, APHP, Bobigny, France

3Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France

4Laboratoire de Génétique, APHP, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France

5Service de Pneumologie A, Centre de Compétence des Maladies Pulmonaires Rares, Paris, France

6DHU FIRE, Hôpital Bichat, APHP, Paris, France

7INSERM, Unité 1152, Paris, France

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral Coats Plus syndrome associated with a TERT gene deletion.

Case report: A 35-year-old man with a history of liver transplant, hematological impairment, and lung fibrosis due to a TERT gene mutation was referred for blurred vision in the right eye (RE). Ophthalmological examination revealed bilateral peripheral ischemia of the retina associated with bilateral peripheral telangiectasia and telangiectasia at the posterior pole of the RE responsible for macular edema, confirmed by multimodal imaging.

Conclusion: In this young patient with bilateral Coats-like lesions associated with systemic liver and lung failures due to a TERT mutation, we report a case of Coats plus syndrome due to a TERT mutation.

DOI: 10.29245/2690-0009/2019/3.1107 View / Download Pdf