Centroblastic lymphoma (CBL) is the most common type of lymphoma in dogs and it usually responds well to chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to provide useful prognostic factors for dogs with CBL. Data regarding sex, breed, age, signalment, treatment and clinical course of the disease from 52 dogs diagnosed with centroblastic lymphoma (CBL) with cytology and immunocytochemistry were provisionally collected and related to the treatment outcome and survival. More than 80% of dogs were treated with chemotherapy and achieved complete remission in 80% of cases. Among the prognostic factors positively related to the overall survival time of dogs with CBL were: the application of chemotherapy, achieving a complete remission, application of at least one additional chemotherapeutic agent to the basic protocol, especially the administration of mitoxantrone and asparaginase. Moreover, mitotic count 14 or higher measured in cytological slides in the area of 2,37 mm2 have been linked to shorter overall survival in dogs with CBL.

Background. For many years virtual reality (VR) has been used to support therapy in many clinical contexts. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of VR as an intervention to reduce distress and increase patient comfort during chemotherapy. Participants and Procedure. Twenty-six adult patients of the Haematology Clinic participated in the between-group design study. The experimental group used a VR application during three chemotherapy sessions, while the control group underwent treatment as usual.
Participants' task in VR was to locate and destroy cancer cells using drug particles emitted from a virtual weapon. Several self-report measures were used, measuring attitudes towards the chemotherapy session, experiences during the session, items related to using visualization techniques, and questions related to evaluating the VR application.
Results. We found a significant difference between groups regarding the experience of the session. Participants in the experimental group reported more sense of control over the treatment process, higher levels of physical comfort, and relaxation. We discuss the implications of these results in various contexts, including gender differences, age, and time between chemotherapy sessions.
Conclusions. Virtual Reality applications can effectively influence the experience of the chemotherapy session positively. Its use can also affect the psychological aspects of a patient's treatment process.