A University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
doctoral student has been awarded a $133,400 grant from the
Department of Defense to study 100 patients following lung cancer
surgery. The study’s goal is to use research results to
develop better before and after surgery treatment and home care
therapies to promote quality and extension of life.
Carol Pierce is the UNMC student who is primary investigator
of the two-year grant awarded by the Department of Defense
Tri-Service Nursing Research Program. Pierce is a lieutenant
colonel in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.
The study is one of the first that will focus on how well
patients resume their physical and social activities once
they’ve gone home from the hospital. Traditionally, lung
cancer research has focused on information about survival or
death after treatment.
In the past, Pierce said only about 25 percent of lung cancer
patients were eligible for surgery — those with small, isolated
tumors that hadn’t spread. But over the last few years, an
increasing number of patients with advanced stages of lung cancer
are now eligible for surgery.
These include patients with tumors larger than 3 centimeters,
who previously may only have been treated with radiation and
chemotherapy. "The hope is if a patient is eligible for
surgery, it will hopefully cure lung cancer," said Pierce.
"Surgery is currently the only possible cure for lung
cancer."
Researchers are beginning to study the quality and extension
of life of those following lung cancer surgery, she said. The
surgery involves lung resection — removing part of the lung.
Patients participating in the study include those from UNMC,
the Veterans Administration hospital in Omaha and patients at the
Midlands Pulmonary Clinic in Sioux City, Iowa.
"We know through clinical follow-up six weeks after
surgery that patients normally have a decrease in lung function
that may cause shortness of breath, but it is normally believed
they will improve," said Pierce.
"This study will document measurements in pulmonary
function before and after surgery and give us information about
whether patients recover to a functional existence or if they
become disabled and what may be the reasons causing these
deficiencies."
Lung cancer is the number one cause of death among men and
women in the United States. About 90 percent of lung cancer is
associated with cigarette smoking, acccording to the American
Cancer Society.
"The incidence of lung cancer is increasing in all
populations due to cigarette smoking," said Pierce. "We
anticipate that there will be an increase of the death rate among
women who smoke."
Pierce said the rate of deaths among male smokers has
plateaued, while the death rate is increasing among women. This
is due to women starting smoking at a younger age and more women
smoking.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the
state. Through its commitment to research, education and patient
care, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading
centers for cancer research and treatment and solid organ
transplantation. Nearly $25 million in research grants and
contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually. In addition,
UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other
institution.