Claudia West, RN, MS
Professor Emeritus
Physiological Nursing
School of Nursing

Currently I am Project Director for a study funded by the National Cancer Institute to explore the prevalence, severity, and impact of symptoms women may experience in their breast surgical area after breast cancer surgery. If neuropathic pain develops in the surgical area, the women will be asked to participate in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a lidocaine patch. My area of clinical interest is in respiratory nursing. I teach a course in basic chest x-ray interpretation, for which I have developed a web-based format.

Professional Activities: Active in a number of professional organizations, including the American Nurses Association/California, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Oncology Nursing Society, American Pain Society, and the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Honors and Awards 1986 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award 1986, 1990, 1991 Teacher of the Year Award (by the Bachelor of Science Students) 1983 Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing 2000 Chapter Service Award of Alpha Eta Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing

Education BS - Loretto Heights College, Denver, CO MS - University of California, San Francisco

• Persistent arm pain is distinct from persistent breast pain following breast cancer surgery.
  The journal of pain 2014 Langford DJ, Paul SM, West C, Abrams G, Elboim C, Levine JD, Hamolsky D, Luce JA, Kober KM, Neuhaus JM, Cooper BA, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Persistent breast pain following breast cancer surgery is associated with persistent sensory changes, pain interference, and functional impairments.
  The journal of pain 2014 Langford DJ, Paul SM, West C, Levine JD, Hamolsky D, Elboim C, Schmidt BL, Cooper BA, Abrams G, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Predictors of initial levels and trajectories of anxiety in women before and for 6 months after breast cancer surgery.
  Cancer nursing 2014 Kyranou M, Puntillo K, Dunn LB, Aouizerat BE, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Neuhaus J, West C, Dodd M, Miaskowski C
• Associations between cytokine genes and a symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression in patients prior to breast cancer surgery.
  Biological research for nursing 2014 Doong SH, Dhruva A, Dunn LB, West C, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Elboim C, Abrams G, Merriman JD, Langford DJ, Leutwyler H, Baggott C, Kober K, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Cytokine gene variations associated with trait and state anxiety in oncology patients and their family caregivers.
  Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 2014 Miaskowski C, Cataldo JK, Baggott CR, West C, Dunn LB, Dhruva A, Merriman JD, Langford DJ, Kober KM, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Aouizerat BE
• Evidence of associations between cytokine gene polymorphisms and quality of life in patients with cancer and their family caregivers.
  Oncology nursing forum 2014 Alexander K, Cooper B, Paul SM, West C, Yates P, Kober KM, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Women Prior to and for Six Months After Breast Cancer Surgery.
  Journal of applied biobehavioral research 2014 Kyranou M, Puntillo K, Aouizerat BE, Dunn LB, Paul SM, Cooper BA, West C, Dodd M, Elboim C, Miaskowski C
• Cytokine gene associations with self-report ratings of morning and evening fatigue in oncology patients and their family caregivers.
  Biological research for nursing 2014 Dhruva A, Aouizerat BE, Cooper B, Paul SM, Dodd M, West C, Wara W, Lee K, Dunn LB, Langford DJ, Merriman JD, Baggott C, Cataldo J, Ritchie C, Kober KM, Leutwyler H, Miaskowski C
• Side of cancer does not influence limb volumes in women prior to breast cancer surgery.
  Lymphatic research and biology 2014 Smoot B, Paul SM, Aouizerat BE, Elboim C, Levine JD, Abrams G, Hamolsky D, Neuhaus J, Schmidt B, West C, Topp K, Miaskowski C
• Disease and treatment characteristics do not predict symptom occurrence profiles in oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy.
  Cancer 2014 Miaskowski C, Cooper BA, Melisko M, Chen LM, Mastick J, West C, Paul SM, Dunn LB, Schmidt BL, Hammer M, Cartwright F, Wright F, Langford DJ, Lee K, Aouizerat BE
• Cytokine gene variations associated with subsyndromal depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2014 Saad S, Dunn LB, Koetters T, Dhruva A, Langford DJ, Merriman JD, West C, Paul SM, Cooper B, Cataldo J, Hamolsky D, Elboim C, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Pain medication management processes used by oncology outpatients and family caregivers part II: home and lifestyle contexts.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2014 Schumacher KL, Plano Clark VL, West CM, Dodd MJ, Rabow MW, Miaskowski C
• Pain medication management processes used by oncology outpatients and family caregivers part I: health systems contexts.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2014 Schumacher KL, Plano Clark VL, West CM, Dodd MJ, Rabow MW, Miaskowski C
• Cytokine candidate genes predict the development of secondary lymphedema following breast cancer surgery.
  Lymphatic research and biology 2014 Leung G, Baggott C, West C, Elboim C, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Abrams G, Dhruva A, Schmidt BL, Kober K, Merriman JD, Leutwyler H, Neuhaus J, Langford D, Smoot BJ, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Identification of patient subgroups and risk factors for persistent arm/shoulder pain following breast cancer surgery.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2014 Miaskowski C, Paul SM, Cooper B, West C, Levine JD, Elboim C, Hamolsky D, Abrams G, Luce J, Dhruva A, Langford DJ, Merriman JD, Kober K, Baggott C, Leutwyler H, Aouizerat BE
• Variations in potassium channel genes are associated with breast pain in women prior to breast cancer surgery.
  Journal of neurogenetics 2014 Langford DJ, West C, Elboim C, Cooper BA, Abrams G, Paul SM, Schmidt BL, Levine JD, Merriman JD, Dhruva A, Neuhaus J, Leutwyler H, Baggott C, Sullivan CW, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Association between an interleukin 1 receptor, type I promoter polymorphism and self-reported attentional function in women with breast cancer.
  Cytokine 2013 Merriman JD, Aouizerat BE, Cataldo JK, Dunn L, Cooper BA, West C, Paul SM, Baggott CR, Dhruva A, Kober K, Langford DJ, Leutwyler H, Ritchie CS, Abrams G, Dodd M, Elboim C, Hamolsky D, Melisko M, …
• Associations between cytokine gene variations and severe persistent breast pain in women following breast cancer surgery.
  The journal of pain 2013 Stephens K, Cooper BA, West C, Paul SM, Baggott CR, Merriman JD, Dhruva A, Kober KM, Langford DJ, Leutwyler H, Luce JA, Schmidt BL, Abrams GM, Elboim C, Hamolsky D, Levine JD, Miaskowski C, Aouizerat …
• Associations between cytokine gene variations and self-reported sleep disturbance in women following breast cancer surgery.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2013 Alfaro E, Dhruva A, Langford DJ, Koetters T, Merriman JD, West C, Dunn LB, Paul SM, Cooper B, Cataldo J, Hamolsky D, Elboim C, Kober K, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Differences in morning and evening fatigue in oncology patients and their family caregivers.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2013 Dhruva A, Aouizerat BE, Cooper B, Paul SM, Dodd M, West C, Wara W, Lee K, Dunn LB, Langford DJ, Merriman JD, Baggott C, Cataldo J, Ritchie C, Kober K, Leutwyler H, Miaskowski C
• Lymphatic and angiogenic candidate genes predict the development of secondary lymphedema following breast cancer surgery.
  PloS one 2013 Miaskowski C, Dodd M, Paul SM, West C, Hamolsky D, Abrams G, Cooper BA, Elboim C, Neuhaus J, Schmidt BL, Smoot B, Aouizerat BE
• Preliminary evidence of an association between an interleukin 6 promoter polymorphism and self-reported attentional function in oncology patients and their family caregivers.
  Biological research for nursing 2013 Merriman JD, Aouizerat BE, Langford DJ, Cooper BA, Baggott CR, Cataldo JK, Dhruva A, Dunn L, West C, Paul SM, Ritchie CS, Swift PS, Miaskowski C
• Identification of patient subgroups and risk factors for persistent breast pain following breast cancer surgery.
  The journal of pain 2012 Miaskowski C, Cooper B, Paul SM, West C, Langford D, Levine JD, Abrams G, Hamolsky D, Dunn L, Dodd M, Neuhaus J, Baggott C, Dhruva A, Schmidt B, Cataldo J, Merriman J, Aouizerat BE
• Cytokine gene variation is associated with depressive symptom trajectories in oncology patients and family caregivers.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2012 Dunn LB, Aouizerat BE, Langford DJ, Cooper BA, Dhruva A, Cataldo JK, Baggott CR, Merriman JD, Dodd M, West C, Paul SM, Miaskowski C
• Identification of distinct subgroups of breast cancer patients based on self-reported changes in sleep disturbance.
  Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 2012 Van Onselen C, Cooper BA, Lee K, Dunn L, Aouizerat BE, West C, Dodd M, Paul S, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness in women before and after surgery for breast cancer.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2012 Van Onselen C, Paul SM, Lee K, Dunn L, Aouizerat BE, West C, Dodd M, Cooper B, Miaskowski C
• Differences in depression, anxiety, and quality of life between women with and without breast pain prior to breast cancer surgery.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2012 Kyranou M, Paul SM, Dunn LB, Puntillo K, Aouizerat BE, Abrams G, Hamolsky D, West C, Neuhaus J, Cooper B, Miaskowski C
• Determination of cutpoints for low and high number of symptoms in patients with advanced cancer.
  Journal of palliative medicine 2012 Gilbertson-White S, Aouizerat BE, Jahan T, Paul SM, West C, Schumacher K, Dodd MJ, Rabow M, Abu Raddaha AH, Miaskowski C
• Differences in sleep disturbance, fatigue and energy levels between women with and without breast pain prior to breast cancer surgery.
  Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2012 Van Onselen C, Aouizerat BE, Dunn LB, Paul SM, West C, Hamolsky D, Lee K, Melisko M, Neuhaus J, Miaskowski C
• Evidence of associations between cytokine genes and subjective reports of sleep disturbance in oncology patients and their family caregivers.
  PloS one 2012 Miaskowski C, Cooper BA, Dhruva A, Dunn LB, Langford DJ, Cataldo JK, Baggott CR, Merriman JD, Dodd M, Lee K, West C, Paul SM, Aouizerat BE
• A longitudinal study of measures of objective and subjective sleep disturbance in patients with breast cancer before, during, and after radiation therapy.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2012 Dhruva A, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Lee K, West C, Aouizerat BE, Dunn LB, Swift PS, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories and predictors of symptom occurrence, severity, and distress in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2012 Knapp K, Cooper B, Koetters T, Cataldo J, Dhruva A, Paul SM, West C, Aouizerat BE, Miaskowski C
• Associations between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes and breast pain in women prior to breast cancer surgery.
  The journal of pain 2012 McCann B, Miaskowski C, Koetters T, Baggott C, West C, Levine JD, Elboim C, Abrams G, Hamolsky D, Dunn L, Rugo H, Dodd M, Paul SM, Neuhaus J, Cooper B, Schmidt B, Langford D, Cataldo J, Aouizerat BE
• Association between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes and a symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression.
  Cytokine 2012 Illi J, Miaskowski C, Cooper B, Levine JD, Dunn L, West C, Dodd M, Dhruva A, Paul SM, Baggott C, Cataldo J, Langford D, Schmidt B, Aouizerat BE
• Sleep-wake circadian activity rhythms and fatigue in family caregivers of oncology patients.
  Cancer nursing 2012 Dhruva A, Lee K, Paul SM, West C, Dunn L, Dodd M, Aouizerat BE, Cooper B, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• Identification of distinct depressive symptom trajectories in women following surgery for breast cancer.
  Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association 2011 Dunn LB, Cooper BA, Neuhaus J, West C, Paul S, Aouizerat B, Abrams G, Edrington J, Hamolsky D, Miaskowski C
• Sleep-wake circadian activity rhythm parameters and fatigue in oncology patients before the initiation of radiation therapy.
  Cancer nursing 2011 Miaskowski C, Lee K, Dunn L, Dodd M, Aouizerat BE, West C, Paul SM, Cooper B, Wara W, Swift P
• Differences in sleep disturbance and fatigue between patients with breast and prostate cancer at the initiation of radiation therapy.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2011 Garrett K, Dhruva A, Koetters T, West C, Paul SM, Dunn LB, Aouizerat BE, Cooper BA, Dodd M, Lee K, Wara W, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of pain and analgesics in oncology outpatients with metastatic bone pain during participation in a psychoeducational intervention study to improve pain management.
  The journal of pain 2011 Langford DJ, Paul SM, Tripathy D, West C, Dodd MJ, Schumacher K, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of pain and analgesics in oncology outpatients with metastatic bone pain.
  The journal of pain 2011 Langford DJ, Tripathy D, Paul SM, West C, Dodd MJ, Schumacher K, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of anxiety in oncology patients and family caregivers during and after radiation therapy.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2011 Dunn LB, Aouizerat BE, Cooper BA, Dodd M, Lee K, West C, Paul SM, Wara W, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• Predictors of the trajectories of self-reported sleep disturbance in men with prostate cancer during and following radiation therapy.
  Sleep 2011 Miaskowski C, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Lee K, Dodd M, West C, Aouizerat BE, Dunn L, Swift PS, Wara W
• Differences in sleep disturbance parameters between oncology outpatients and their family caregivers.
  Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2011 Carney S, Koetters T, Cho M, West C, Paul SM, Dunn L, Aouizerat BE, Dodd M, Cooper B, Lee K, Wara W, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• The effects of pain, gender, and age on sleep/wake and circadian rhythm parameters in oncology patients at the initiation of radiation therapy.
  The journal of pain 2010 Buffum D, Koetters T, Cho M, Macera L, Paul SM, West C, Aouizerat B, Dunn L, Dodd M, Lee K, Cooper B, Wara W, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• Predictors of the trajectories of self-reported attentional fatigue in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
  Oncology nursing forum 2010 Merriman JD, Jansen C, Koetters T, West C, Dodd M, Lee K, Paul SM, Aouizerat BE, Cooper BA, Swift PS, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Preliminary evidence of an association between a functional interleukin-6 polymorphism and fatigue and sleep disturbance in oncology patients and their family caregivers.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2010 Miaskowski C, Dodd M, Lee K, West C, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Wara W, Swift PS, Dunn LB, Aouizerat BE
• Trajectories of fatigue in patients with breast cancer before, during, and after radiation therapy.
  Cancer nursing 2010 Dhruva A, Dodd M, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Lee K, West C, Aouizerat BE, Swift PS, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Relationship between mood disturbance and sleep quality in oncology outpatients at the initiation of radiation therapy.
  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2010 Van Onselen C, Dunn LB, Lee K, Dodd M, Koetters T, West C, Paul SM, Aouizerat BE, Wara W, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• Changes in sexual function on mood and quality of life in patients undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
  Oncology nursing forum 2010 Howlett K, Koetters T, Edrington J, West C, Paul S, Lee K, Aouizerat BE, Wara W, Swift P, Miaskowski C
• A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of photon stimulation on pain, sensation, and quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2009 Swislocki A, Orth M, Bales M, Weisshaupt J, West C, Edrington J, Cooper B, Saputo L, Islas M, Miaskowski C
• Differences in symptom clusters identified using occurrence rates versus symptom severity ratings in patients at the end of radiation therapy.
  Cancer nursing 2009 Kim E, Jahan T, Aouizerat BE, Dodd MJ, Cooper BA, Paul SM, West C, Lee K, Swift PS, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Preliminary evidence of a genetic association between tumor necrosis factor alpha and the severity of sleep disturbance and morning fatigue.
  Biological research for nursing 2009 Aouizerat BE, Dodd M, Lee K, West C, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Wara W, Swift P, Dunn LB, Miaskowski C
• Relationship between sleep and physical activity in female family caregivers at the initiation of patients' radiation therapy.
  Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN 2009 Willette-Murphy K, Lee KA, Dodd M, West C, Aouizerat BE, Paul S, Swift P, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of fatigue in family caregivers of patients undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
  Research in nursing & health 2009 Fletcher BA, Schumacher KL, Dodd M, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Lee K, West C, Aouizerat BE, Swift PS, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Changes in symptom clusters in patients undergoing radiation therapy.
  Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 2009 Kim E, Jahan T, Aouizerat BE, Dodd MJ, Cooper BA, Paul SM, West C, Lee K, Swift PS, Wara W, Miaskowski C
• Trajectories of fatigue in men with prostate cancer before, during, and after radiation therapy.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2008 Miaskowski C, Paul SM, Cooper BA, Lee K, Dodd M, West C, Aouizerat BE, Swift PS, Wara W
• Prevalence, severity, and impact of symptoms on female family caregivers of patients at the initiation of radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
  Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2008 Fletcher BS, Paul SM, Dodd MJ, Schumacher K, West C, Cooper B, Lee K, Aouizerat B, Swift P, Wara W, Miaskowski CA
• The use of a responder analysis to identify differences in patient outcomes following a self-care intervention to improve cancer pain management.
  Pain 2007 Miaskowski C, Dodd M, West C, Paul SM, Schumacher K, Tripathy D, Koo P
• Differences in the prevalence and severity of side effects based on type of analgesic prescription in patients with chronic cancer pain.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2007 Villars P, Dodd M, West C, Koetters T, Paul SM, Schumacher K, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski C
• Subgroups of patients with cancer with different symptom experiences and quality-of-life outcomes: a cluster analysis.
  Oncology nursing forum 2006 Miaskowski C, Cooper BA, Paul SM, Dodd M, Lee K, Aouizerat BE, West C, Cho M, Bank A
• Qualitative research contribution to a randomized clinical trial.
  Research in nursing & health 2005 Schumacher KL, Koresawa S, West C, Dodd M, Paul SM, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski C
• The PRO-SELF pain control program improves patients' knowledge of cancer pain management.
  Oncology nursing forum 2004 Kim JE, Dodd M, West C, Paul S, Facione N, Schumacher K, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski C
• No evidence for sex differences in the severity and treatment of cancer pain.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2004 Edrington JM, Paul S, Dodd M, West C, Facione N, Tripathy D, Koo P, Schumacher K, Miaskowski C
• Randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of a self-care intervention to improve cancer pain management.
  Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2004 Miaskowski C, Dodd M, West C, Schumacher K, Paul SM, Tripathy D, Koo P
• The PRO-SELF(c): Pain Control Program--an effective approach for cancer pain management.
  Oncology nursing forum 2003 West CM, Dodd MJ, Paul SM, Schumacher K, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski C
• The usefulness of a daily pain management diary for outpatients with cancer-related pain.
  Oncology nursing forum 2002 Schumacher KL, Koresawa S, West C, Dodd M, Paul SM, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski C
• Putting cancer pain management regimens into practice at home.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2002 Schumacher KL, Koresawa S, West C, Hawkins C, Johnson C, Wais E, Dodd M, Paul SM, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski C
• Pain management autobiographies and reluctance to use opioids for cancer pain management.
  Cancer nursing 2002 Schumacher KL, West C, Dodd M, Paul SM, Tripathy D, Koo P, Miaskowski CA
• Oncology outpatients with pain from bone metastasis require more than around-the-clock dosing of analgesics to achieve adequate pain control.
  The journal of pain 2002 Miaskowski C, Mack KA, Dodd M, West C, Paul SM, Tripathy D, Koo P, Schumacher K, Facione N