Quality of life assessment in breast cancer: when does it add prognostic value for survival?

Hope therapy in cancer patients: a systematic review

AIM

To identify the associated factors of hope therapy during treatment in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

Hope is very important to cancer patients at all stages of the disease process. Several and different factors are associated with hope.

DESIGN

A systematic literature review of quantitative empirical studies on hope and quality of life in cancer patients.

DATA SOURCES

Search in MEDLINE, Psychinfo, and Cochrane (January 2010-December 2020).

REVIEW METHODS

A coherent search strategy was designed where MESH terms were combined with "free text" terms: hope (e.g., hope therapy, Herth Hope Index, quality of life) and cancer (e.g. neoplasm, tumor). Two authors independently screened all the studies and assessed their quality.

RESULTS

Twenty studies were included. The overall score of Herth Hope Index in cancer patients was 36.93, and the overall score of quality of life in cancer patients were 47.52. Also, the trend of quality of life and Herth Hope Index in cancer patients has been decreasing, from 2010 to 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic literature review of associated factors of hope in cancer patients receiving treatment shows that hope seems to be positively related mainly by intrinsic factors, such as perceived health, quality of life, and social support.

Quality of Life and Volume Reduction in Women with Secondary Lymphoedema Related to Breast Cancer

Purpose. To assess the quality of life (QOL) as a predictor of volume reduction in women undergoing complex physical therapy (CPT) for lymphoedema following breast cancer. Methods. Clinical trial in 57 women undergoing CPT. Results. At baseline, in measuring quality of life for the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire subscale of functionality, the worst scores for emotional function (55 points) and better social function (89 points) were observed. The symptom scales showed the worst pain averaged (66 points). The overall quality of life showed a low score (40 points). In the BR 23 module, low scores were observed in the field of future perspective (47 points). After treatment of lymphoedema, absolute reduction of excess volume between the upper limbs of 282 mL was observed, representing a reduction of 15%. No association was observed between the domains of quality of life and response to treatment of lymphoedema. Conclusion. This study included 57 women with advanced and chronic lymphoedema in early treatment with CPT and low scores for quality of life. The lymphoedema therapeutic response was not influenced by the QOL at the beginning of treatment.