02/13/2004 Subject: We have a question on your paper JCO, 2003 Jan1;21(1):129-34. We are a patient organization providing information, education, advocacy and awareness for people with cancer, family and friends on complementary, alternative (CAM), natural therapies and more, from the patient perspective. We recently looked at your paper "Effect of fish oil on appetite and other symptoms in patients with advanced cancer and anorexia/cachexia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study". Our question is how did you decide on a period of two weeks to administer this supplement? Thank you for your response. Ann F. Thanks for your Email. Cancer patients with weight loss and fatigue are very ill and we need treatments capable of making them feel better rapidly. Most palliative care cancer patients live 3 months or less and therefore a treament that takes several weeks to work will not be very useful for them. Other patient groups may have a more chronic condition and could get treatment for weeks or months before finding benefits. A recent study by Jatoi et al (JCO 2003/2004?) treated patients for a longer period and found no major improvement as compared to megestrol ( an apetite stimulat that works in about 20% of patients). We were disappointed by these results but perhaps preparations capable of deliverin a higher dose of EPA wil prove useful in the future. I hope this info helps your group. Good luck! Eduardo Bruera, M.D. Professor & Chair Department of Palliative Care & Rehabilitation Medicine (Unit 8) UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030 713-792-6084 - office *** 713-792-6092 - fax ebruera@mdanderson.org Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.