Predicting general and cancer-related distress in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer

Breast density knowledge and willingness to delay treatment for pre-operative breast cancer imaging among women with a personal history of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Following a breast cancer diagnosis, it is uncertain whether women's breast density knowledge influences their willingness to undergo pre-operative imaging to detect additional cancer in their breasts. We evaluated women's breast density knowledge and their willingness to delay treatment for pre-operative testing.

METHODS

We surveyed women identified in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium aged ≥ 18 years, with first breast cancer diagnosed within the prior 6-18 months, who had at least one breast density measurement within the 5 years prior to their diagnosis. We assessed women's breast density knowledge and correlates of willingness to delay treatment for 6 or more weeks for pre-operative imaging via logistic regression.

RESULTS

Survey participation was 28.3% (969/3,430). Seventy-two percent (469/647) of women with dense and 11% (34/322) with non-dense breasts correctly knew their density (p < 0.001); 69% (665/969) of all women knew dense breasts make it harder to detect cancers on a mammogram; and 29% (285/969) were willing to delay treatment ≥ 6 weeks to undergo pre-operative imaging. Willingness to delay treatment did not differ by self-reported density (OR:0.99 for non-dense vs. dense; 95%CI: 0.50-1.96). Treatment with chemotherapy was associated with less willingness to delay treatment (OR:0.67; 95%CI: 0.46-0.96). Having previously delayed breast cancer treatment more than 3 months was associated with an increased willingness to delay treatment for pre-operative imaging (OR:2.18; 95%CI: 1.26-3.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding of personal breast density was not associated with willingness to delay treatment 6 or more weeks for pre-operative imaging, but aspects of a woman's treatment experience were.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV : NCT02980848 registered December 2, 2016.

Study on the cut-off point and the influencing factors of distress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

Objective

Our aim is to investigate the cut-off point of distress and the influencing factors associated with distress in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of distress was conducted in 167 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer admitted to the Department of General Surgery of a tertiary care hospital from July 2020 to March 2022. Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Distress Thermometer (DT) questionnaire within 3 days of admission. The HADS ≥15 was used as the gold standard, and the cut-off point of the DT measure was analyzed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The cut-off point obtained by ROC curve analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of distress in breast cancer patients by univariate and multivariate regression analysis.

Results

A total of 167 patients completed the survey, with an average HADS score of 8.43 ± 5.84 and a total HADS score of ≥15 in 37 (22.16%) patients, the mean DT score was 2.96 ± 1.85. ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.885, with a maximum Jorden index (0.723) at a DT score of 4, the sensitivity was 100.0% and specificity was 72.3%. There were 73 (43.71%) patients with DT score ≥ 4. Regression analysis showed that insurance/financial problems, dealing with partner problems, tension, bathing/dressing problems, pain, and sleep problems were independent risk factors for l distress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Conclusion

A DT score 4 is the cut-off point for distress in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. In clinical practice, target intervention should be carried out according to the risk factors of distress of patients.

Preliminary Validation of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in China

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common and highly malignant cancer in southern China. It is important to accurately assess the illness perception of nasopharyngeal carcinoma according to the common-sense model of self-regulation. The purpose was to validate the Chinese version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A cross-sectional survey of 631 patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was conducted in Guangzhou, China. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The factor structure was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of each dimension. The EFA revealed that the 29-item self-rated scale has a seven-factor structure consistent with the original scale and explained 67.3% of the variance after extraction and rotation. The scale showed satisfactory reliability. The item-total correlations ranged from -0.16 to 0.64 (p < 0.05). The item-subscale correlations ranged from 0.46 to 0.91 (p < 0.05). The item-other subscale correlations ranged from -0.38 to 0.51 and from -0.21 to 0.56 (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the timeline (acute/chronic) (r = 0.224, r = 0.166), consequences (r = 0.415, r = 0.338), timeline cyclical (r = 0.366, r = 0.284), emotional representations (r = 0.497, r = 0.465), personal control (r = -0.122, r = -0.134), treatment control (r = -0.135, r = -0.148), and illness coherence (r = -0.261, r = -0.213) subscales, and depression, anxiety (p < 0.05). The scale revealed acceptable reliability, factorial validity, and construct validity. It could be used to assess the illness representations of Chinese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Examining the levels of psychological support available to patients with haematological cancer in England: a mixed methods study

OBJECTIVES

The psychological impact of a haematological malignancy is well documented. However, few studies have assessed the provision of psychological support to people with these diagnoses. This study explores the extent and nature of psychological support for people diagnosed with haematological cancer to inform future service provision.

DESIGN

This study consisted of an online survey with healthcare professionals (phase 1) and qualitative interviews with patients (phase 2) and key health professionals (phase 3). A descriptive analysis of survey data and thematic analysis of interviews were conducted.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred health professionals practising in England completed the survey. Twenty-five interviews were conducted with people diagnosed with haematological cancer in the past 3 years, and 10 with key health professionals, including haematologists, cancer nurse specialists and psychologists were conducted.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Level of psychological assessment undertaken with people with haematological cancer, and level and nature of psychological support provided.

RESULTS

Less than half (47.3%) of survey respondents strongly agreed/agreed that their patients were well supported in terms of their psychological well-being and approximately half (49.4%) reported providing routine assessment of psychological needs of patients, most commonly at the time of diagnosis or relapse. Patients described their need for psychological support, their experiences of support from health professionals and their experiences of support from psychological therapy services. There was considerable variation in the support patients described receiving. Barriers to providing psychological support reported by health professionals included time, skills, resources and patient barriers. Most doctors (85%) and 40% of nurse respondents reported receiving no training for assessing and managing psychological needs.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological well-being should be routinely assessed, and person-centred support should be offered regularly throughout the haematological cancer journey. Greater provision of healthcare professional training in this area and better integration of psychological support services into the patient care pathway are required.

Associations Between Demographic, Clinical, and Symptom Characteristics and Stress in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing cancer treatment experience global stress and cancer-specific stress. Both types of stress are associated with a higher symptom burden.

OBJECTIVE

In this cross-sectional study, we used a comprehensive set of demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics to evaluate their relative contribution to the severity of global and cancer-specific stress.

METHODS

Patients (N = 941) completed study questionnaires before their second or third cycle of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Consistent with our a priori hypothesis, we found both common and distinct characteristics associated with higher levels of global stress and cancer-specific stress. A significant proportion of our patients had scores on the Impact of Event Scale-Revised suggestive of subsyndromal (29.4%) or probable (13.9%) posttraumatic stress disorder. Four of the 5 stepwise linear regression analyses for the various stress scales explained between 41.6% and 54.5% of the total variance. Compared with various demographic and clinical characteristics, many of the common symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments uniquely explained a higher percentage of the variance in the various stress scales. Symptoms of depression made the largest unique contribution to the percentage of total explained variance across all 5 scales.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians need to assess for global stress, cancer-specific stress, and depression in patients receiving chemotherapy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Patients may benefit from integrative interventions (eg, mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture) that simultaneously address stress and symptoms commonly associated with cancer and its treatments.

Prevalence and predictors of psychological distress among patients with thyroid cancer during transitional period in China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the psychological distress and its predictors among Chinese patients with thyroid cancer during their transitional period from hospital to home.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a cancer hospital in Tianjin, China. A total of three hundred patients with thyroid cancer completed the Chinese version of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT), Cancer Fatigue Scale, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain the model of predictors of psychological distress among patients with thyroid cancer during the transitional period.

RESULTS

The DT score of 300 patients with thyroid cancer ranged from 0 to 10, and the median DT score was 2 [1-4]. The prevalence of clinically relevant psychological distress (DT score ≥ 4) in Chinese patients with thyroid cancer during their transitional period was 29.33% (88/300). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that gender (OR = 2.505, P = 0.036), fatigue (OR = 1.086, P = 0.005), and illness perception (OR = 1.137, P < 0.001) were significantly related to psychological distress in patients with thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychological distress of patients with thyroid cancer during the transitional period is medium level. Patients with thyroid cancer who are female, easily fatigued, and have worse illness perceptions are more likely to experience psychological distress. Therefore, clinical attention should be paid to female patients and potential interventions aimed at improving fatigue and illness perception. It may reduce the prevalence of psychological distress during the transitional period.

Experiencia del paciente oncológico durante la pandemia por el COVID-19 y su opinión sobre la telemedicina

Objetivo: la pandemia por el COVID-19 está generando un importante impacto emocional en la población general y, en especial, en los pacientes crónicos, como los oncológicos. Además, ha supuesto cambios en la atención sanitaria. El presente estudio pretende conocer este impacto, en la población oncológica y, desde su propia experiencia, explorar sus estrategias de afrontamiento así como conocer su opinión sobre la atención sanitaria recibida. Metodología: participaron 118 pacientes pertenecientes a 5 centros hospitalarios de la provincia de Barcelona. Los datos fueron recogidos a través del cuestionario HADS y de un cuestionario ad-hoc para valorar el malestar emocional, las estrategias de afrontamiento, la percepción de riesgo de contagio, el apoyo social y los cambios ocurridos en la atención sanitaria. Resultados: el 51,4% de los participantes puntuaron alto en la escala de ansiedad y un 36% en la de depresión. La preocupación (73,7%), el miedo (72,8%), la ansiedad (56,1%) y la tristeza (56,1%) fueron las emociones más frecuentemente expresadas. El 74,1% se sintieron muy satisfechos con la atención sanitaria recibida y el 94,6% refirieron haberse sentido acompañados por su equipo sanitario. Respecto a la valoración de la telemedicina, un 40,7% manifestaron no estar a favor de esta alternativa mientras que el 33,7% consideraron que era una buena opción. Conclusiones: los pacientes oncológicos consideran que la pandemia ha afectado negativamente a su estado emocional y su calidad de vida. Conocer la opinión que tienen los pacientes sobre la telemedicina nos puede ayudar a definir más adecuadamente el uso de este tipo de asistencia.

Cognitive appraisal of the disease and stress level in lung cancer patients. The mediating role of coping styles

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to provide support for the hypothesis that there was a correlation between the subjective appraisal of one's disease and the level of stress, as well as the hypothesis that coping styles may have a mediating role on the relationship between the perception of the disease and stress level in patients diagnosed with lung cancer.

METHODS

The study involved 97 respondents diagnosed with lung cancer, including 50 men and 47 women. The following methods were used for the study: the Disease-Related Appraisals Scale, the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Socio-demographic data were also collected.

RESULTS

The results show that emotion-oriented coping (EOC) acts as a mediator on the relationship between the appraisal of the disease and stress level in patients diagnosed with lung cancer. A total of 4 multiple mediation models were tested.

CONCLUSION

The research findings provide support for the hypothesis that coping style is crucial for the way patients appraise their disease and for their stress level. It is important to diagnose individual specific needs of lung cancer patients. The research results are an important source of information for those responsible for training medical staff on how to support cancer patients in their illness.

Self-Esteem as a Predictor of Mental Adjustment in Patients with Breast Cancer

This study aimed to explore the relationship between self-esteem and mental adjustment and examine the directional effects in patients with breast cancer using path modeling. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study. A total of 128 patients with breast cancer were selected through convenience sampling at a medical center in northern Taiwan. They completed a basic characteristics questionnaire, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale short form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and path analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed that higher self-esteem was associated with better mental adjustment (β = 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.6~1.3, p < 0.001). Age, religious beliefs, employment, cancer stage, and symptom distress were correlated with mental adjustment. Path modeling demonstrated that self-esteem, cancer stage, performance status, and symptom distress directly affected mental adjustment in patients with breast cancer. These findings suggest that health professionals should evaluate self-esteem, performance status, and symptom distress in patients with breast cancer immediately upon admission. This can facilitate early implementation of relevant nursing interventions and, consequently, improve self-esteem and symptom distress and increase mental adjustment in these patients.

Longitudinal Trends in Illness Perception and Depression during Adjuvant Breast Cancer Endocrine Therapy: A Prospective Observational Study

This study aimed to identify the changes in the illness perceptions and depression of women with breast cancer, undergoing AET, at three time points (i.e., before initiating AET, 3 months follow-up, and 12 months follow-up). We investigated the interaction effects of their demographic and clinical characteristics on illness perception changes over time. Furthermore, factors including the patient’s characteristics and illness perceptions associated with depressive symptoms 1 year after starting AET were explored. Illness perception and depressive symptoms were assessed with the brief illness perception questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, in a prospective study of 150 women. The changes in illness perceptions and depression between the three time points were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. The factors associated with depressive symptoms were identified using regression analysis. Illness perception improved overall over the 12 months. However, more patients perceived their illness as chronic, experienced more symptoms, and developed negative beliefs that treatment could not control their disease. Patients’ depressive symptoms decreased significantly. Depression at the baseline, cancer stage, and the perception of personal control were highly associated with depression after 12 months. These findings suggest that healthcare providers should offer appropriate interventions to patients, for managing symptoms, having a positive belief that treatment can control their disease, and preventing long-term depressive symptoms.

The mental health impacts of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be a turning point with negative impacts on mental health, treatment and prognosis. This meta-analysis sought to determine the nature and prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress-related symptoms in the wake of a breast cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

Ten databases were searched between March and August 2020. Thirty-nine quantitative studies were meta-analysed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of clinically significant symptoms was 39% for non-specific distress (n = 13), 34% for anxiety (n = 19), 31% for post-traumatic stress (n = 7) and 20% for depression (n = 25). No studies reporting breast cancer patients' well-being in our specific time frame were found.

CONCLUSION

Mental health can be impacted in at least four domains following a diagnosis of breast cancer and such effects are commonplace. This study outlines a clear need for mitigating the impacts on mental health brought about by breast cancer diagnosis. CRD42020203990.

Psychological Distress and Coping Ability of Women at High Risk of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer before Undergoing Genetic Counseling-An Exploratory Study from Germany

Carriers of pathogenic variants causing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are confronted with a high risk to develop malignancies early in life. The present study aimed to determine the type of psychological distress and coping ability in women with a suspicion of HBOC. In particular, we were interested if the self-assessed genetic risk had an influence on health concerns and coping ability. Using a questionnaire established by the German HBOC Consortium, we investigated 255 women with breast cancer and 161 healthy women before they were seen for genetic counseling. The group of healthy women was divided into groups of high and low self-assessed risk. In our study, healthy women with a high self-assessed risk stated the highest stress level and worries about their health and future. A quarter of the women requested psychological support. Overall, only few women (4–11%) stated that they did not feel able to cope with the genetic test result. More women (11–23%, highest values in the low-risk group) worried about the coping ability of relatives. The results of our exploratory study demonstrate that the women, who presented at the Department of Human Genetics, Hanover Medical School, Germany were aware of their genetic risk and had severe concerns about their future health, but still felt able to cope with the genetic test result.

An Improved Stress-Scale Specifically Designed to Measure Stress of Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

Most breast cancer patients are middle-aged women actively involved in establishing a family, developing a career, or raising children. With the exception of the Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Stress Scale (NDBCSS), few stress scales have been designed for women with breast cancer. This study checked the dimensionality of the NDBCSS by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the results showed a poor fit, indicating an urgent need for improvement. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using the varimax rotation method was performed to improve the model, the revised NDBCSS (NDBCSS-R), which showed a good Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value, Bartlett’s test of sphericity, and internal consistency reliability. The NDBCSS-R showed improved indices compared with NDBCSS, including: chi-square fit statistics/degree of freedom (CMIN/DF), goodness-of-fit index (GFI), adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI), normed fix index (NFI), relative fit index (RFI), incremental fix index (IFI), Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), comparative fix index (CFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), root mean square residual (RMR), parsimonious goodness-fit-index (PGFI), and parsimonious normed fit index (PNFI). In conclusion, the improved NDBCSS-R can provide health professionals with an early understanding of the stress levels of women with breast cancer so that they can provide immediate medical intervention to prevent vicious cycles in a timely manner.

Living with Metastatic Cancer: A Roadmap for Future Research

Living with metastatic cancer, or metavivorship, differs from cancer survivorship and has changed as novel treatments have increased survival time. The purpose of this narrative review is to describe factors that impact challenges in metavivorship within a conceptual framework to guide future research. This review focuses on the specific metavivorship outcomes of progressive disease, survival time, symptoms, distress, financial toxicity, and quality of life. We describe the predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating (3P) model of metavivorship. Understanding the biological, psychological, and social 3P factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of challenges in metavivorship provides a roadmap for future research. Implications of this model include prevention by targeting predisposing factors, management of precipitating factors after onset of metastatic disease, and treatment of perpetuating factors to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life during the chronic phase of metavivorship. This can be accomplished through biopsychosocial screening efforts, monitoring of patient-reported outcomes, education and communication interventions, interdisciplinary symptom management, advance care planning, and behavioral interventions to cultivate psychological resilience.

Factors that Influence Treatment Delay for Patients with Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer is sometimes delayed. A lengthy delay may have a negative psychological impact on patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sociodemographic, clinical and pathological factors associated with delay in the provision of surgical treatment for localised breast cancer, in a prospective cohort of patients.

METHODS

This observational, prospective, multicentre study was conducted in ten hospitals belonging to the Spanish national public health system, located in four Autonomous Communities (regions). The study included 1236 patients, diagnosed through a screening programme or found to be symptomatic, between April 2013 and May 2015. The study variables analysed included each patient's personal history, care situation, tumour history and data on the surgical intervention, pathological anatomy, hospital admission and follow-up. Treatment delay was defined as more than 30 days elapsed between biopsy and surgery.

RESULTS

Over half of the study population experienced surgical treatment delay. This delay was greater for patients with no formal education and among widows, persons not requiring assistance for usual activities, those experiencing anxiety or depression, those who had a high BMI or an above-average number of comorbidities, those who were symptomatic, who did not receive NMR spectroscopy, who presented a histology other than infiltrating ductal carcinoma or who had poorly differentiated carcinomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Certain sociodemographic and clinical variables are associated with surgical treatment delay. This study identifies factors that influence surgical delays, highlighting the importance of preventing these factors and of raising awareness among the population at risk and among health personnel.

Breast cancer post-surgical impact on women´s quality of life during chemotherapy treatment: A structural equation modelling approach

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer is an important public health problem that is increasing in incidence, being a stressor with a negative impact on women's quality of life. This study is focused on the evaluation of temporal precursors (one month before) of women's quality of life undergoing chemotherapy, considering post-surgical personal, clinical, cognitive and neuropsychophysiological factors, according to the Transactional Stress and Coping Model.

METHODS

This longitudinal study included 112 patients with breast cancer. Data were collected in two different moments: before and during the adjuvant chemotherapy. Structural equation modelling was used to support a theoretically based model in which some antecedent factors impact patients' long-term quality of life through a set of mediators.

RESULTS

The associations of breast symptoms, body image and sexual functioning with psychological distress and quality of life were totally mediated by illness perceptions, while the associations of working memory with psychological distress and quality of life were totally mediated by self-efficacy for coping. Patients with greater psychological distress showed higher levels of nadir cortisol.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed the importance of assessing patients' perceptions of their illness, prior to chemotherapy, as well as promoting more self-efficacy for coping, in order to improve women's emotional state and quality of life.

Quality of life and adjustment in men with prostate cancer: Interplay of stress, threat and resilience

PURPOSE

Diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer can generate many challenges which impact on adjustment, so understanding the psychosocial factors which contribute to individual vulnerability to poor adaptation warrants further investigation. This study investigates stress and masculine identity threat as predictors of quality of life and emotional adjustment in men with localized prostate cancer and the role of resilience as a potential protective psychological factor.

METHODS

Participants were invited to complete a survey study via online prostate cancer forums. Participants were 204 men ranging in age from 44-88 years (M = 65.24±7.51) and who were diagnosed with early localized prostate cancer within the previous five years. Measures used included the Perceived Stress Scale, Cancer-Related Masculine Threat Scale and the Conor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Using a cross-sectional online survey design, the extent to which perceived stress, masculine threat and psychological resilience are associated with quality of life, positive and negative affect and distress was assessed.

RESULTS

Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that perceived stress accounted for 26%-44% of variance on quality of life and adjustment indices, with high stress associated with low mood and poor quality of life. Low masculine threat and high resilience predicted better quality of life and emotional adjustment accounting for between 1-7% of the variance. Resilience moderated the relationship between stress and distress and mediated the association between masculine threat and distress and negative affect.

CONCLUSION

Perceived stress was the most powerful predictor in the model and findings suggest it contributes significantly to functional and affective status in survivors of prostate cancer. Psychological resilience is a protective factor which buffers the negative effect of stress and masculine identity threat on emotional adjustment. Findings indicate that men should be screened as part of the diagnostic and treatment process for high perceived stress and low resilience to identify those at risk for poor adjustment during survivorship.

Role of Metacognition Thinking and Psychological Traits in Breast Cancer Survivorship

Longer survivorship is possible due to advances enabling early detection and treatment. However, cancer survivors are faced with prognostic uncertainty regarding survival, long-term symptoms, surveillance, and consequences of treatment. This study aimed at investigating emotional traits of women after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis from a three-year perspective of the disease. We intended to examine the emotional trend within longer survivorship after the primary treatment for BC. A sample of 72 women diagnosed with breast cancer (age range 30–55 years) was evaluated based on metacognition (Metacognitive Questionnaire—30 test), psychological distress (Psychological Distress Inventory test), anxiety, stress, and depression (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 test). The data analysis applied was descriptive analysis, ANOVA, MANOVA, and ANCOVA comparing MCQ-30 variables and psychological traits (PDI, DASS-21). The results indicated positive recovery after primary care despite emotional fragility in survivorship owing to negative thoughts; correlations among metacognitive factors, anxiety, and distress not only confirmed the negative emotional pattern just after primary care, but also showed women regaining a positive emotional pattern in daily life. The survivors exhibited emotional fragility during certain specific points of time during the course of their survivorship. Based on our findings, the fear of recurrence and cancer-specific psychological treatment is a better framework to boost and improve clinical practice.

Risk factors for cancer-related distress in colorectal cancer survivors: one year post surgery

PURPOSES

Cancer-related distress is known to persist long after completion of treatment. Factors related to distress are largely unexplored in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. We examined changes over time and risk factors for distress in CRC patients over the first year after surgery.

METHODS

We included 212 CRC patients with data at 6 and 12 months post-surgery from the ColoCare Study in Heidelberg, Germany. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, social support, and health-related quality of life (HrQOL) prior to surgery were evaluated as predictors of cancer-related distress. Distress was measured with the Cancer and Treatment Distress instrument (CTXD). Linear regression analyses examined associations between risk factors and distress.

RESULTS

Distress subscale scores varied significantly over time: health burden subscale score increased (P < .001), while finances (P = .004), medical demands (P < .001), and identity (P < .001) subscale scores decreased over time. Uncertainty and family strain subscale scores did not change. Younger age, lower income, advanced tumor stage, poorer social support, and poorer baseline HrQOL predicted higher level distress at 6 and 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Cancer-related distress continues unresolved after surgery. Although some risk factors are difficult to alter, those at highest risk can be identified earlier for possible preventive strategies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Screening for risk factors pre-surgery would allow for targeted interventions including strategies to improve resources for those with low support, thereby reducing long-term distress in CRC survivors.

The impact of leisure time physical activity on mental health and health perception among people with cancer

Background: People with cancer often report high levels of negative psychological symptoms and poor perception of health due to cancer treatment and activity limitations. Prior studies have suggested that participation in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) can reduce negative psychological symptoms and improve health perception. However, a few studies have examined the contribution of LTPA to health benefits among people with cancer. Thus, we aimed to examine how a different level of LTPA engagement contributed to mental health and health perceptions among people with cancer.

Methods: Using the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data, cross sectional data of 504 respondents diagnosed with any types of 22 cancers listed in the survey questionnaire were analyzed. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to test for mean differences in mental health and health perception among the three different LTPA groups(i.e., inactive, moderately active, and vigorously active groups).

Results: Results indicated that people with cancer who reported higher levels of LTPA scored higher on mental health and health perception than those with lower levels of LTPA (Pillai’s trace= 0.060, F (4,944) = 15.06, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: This finding suggests that individuals with cancer gained more health benefits through high engagement in LTPA. Moreover, we suggested that LTPA can be used as an important therapeutic intervention to promote health quality and wellbeing among people with cancer. Implications for practical suggestions are further discussed.

Lymphedema Surveillance and Patient-Reported Anxiety: Comparison Between Volumetric Assessment and Bioimpedance Analysis

Background: Lymphedema is a complication of breast cancer therapy associated with substantial anxiety. We designed a prospective, randomized study to assess the psychosocial impact of different surveillance methods for lymphedema. Methods and Results: In this open-label study of 38 women undergoing breast cancer surgery, we screened for lymphedema using traditional volumetric measurements (circumferential readings from the wrist to the axilla) versus bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) using electric current. The primary outcome measure was total anxiety measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory, a 21-item questionnaire administered at preoperative, 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month postoperative visits (range 0-63 points). Outcome metrics were compared after adjustment for baseline anxiety. There were no differences in clinical characteristics or cancer therapies between groups, except for more reoperation for positive surgical margins in the BIS patients (5% vs. 32%, p = 0.036). Baseline anxiety, depression, and associated medical therapies were similar as well. Only one woman in each group developed lymphedema during the study. Anxiety was higher in the BIS group at baseline (mean Beck score 12.2 vs. 7.2, p < 0.001), but anxiety levels gradually declined by the end of the 6-month study in both groups, with no differences in adjusted anxiety scores between the two groups at any time point during follow-up (all p = NS). Conclusions: In this pilot study of women scheduled for breast cancer surgery, most subjects reported mild anxiety at baseline, and anxiety levels fell during continued lymphedema surveillance visits. There was no difference in patient-reported anxiety when surveillance was performed using standard volumetric versus BIS measurements.

Factors related to re-excision procedures following primary breast-conserving surgery for women with breast cancer in the U.S. Military Health System

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Re-excision surgery is undertaken to obtain clear margins after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for localized breast cancer. This study examines patient and tumor characteristics related to re-excision surgery in the universal-access Military Health System (MHS).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients with pathologically confirmed stage I-III breast cancer between 1998 and 2014 in the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository-linked databases who received primary BCS. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression methods identified characteristics associated with re-excision surgery (lumpectomy and mastectomy) and conversion to mastectomy, given as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Of 7637 women receiving BCS, 26.3% had a re-excision and 9.9% converted to mastectomy. Tumor location, larger tumor size (≥4 cm), and regional lymph node involvement were associated with a greater likelihood of re-excision and mastectomy conversion. Pathology before BCS (AOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.35, 0.44 for re-excision) and neoadjuvant treatment (AOR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36, 0.69 for re-excision) were associated with a decreased likelihood of these outcomes. Additionally, age, tumor histology, and military-specific variables were associated with mastectomy conversion.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive preoperative workup, including tumor pathology, may better inform surgical decision-making and reduce re-excision rates.

Biopsychosocial and clinical characteristics in patients with resected breast and colon cancer at the beginning and end of adjuvant treatment

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze biopsychosocial factors affecting how patients cope with cancer and adjuvant treatment and to appraise psychological distress, coping, perceived social support, quality of life and SDM before and after adjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients compared to colon cancer patients.

Methods

NEOcoping is a national, multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective study. The sample comprised 266 patients with colon cancer and 231 with breast cancer. The instruments used were the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire-Patient (SDM-Q-9) and Physician’s (SDM-Q-Doc), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ).

Results

Breast cancer patients reacted worse to the diagnosis of cancer with more symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatization, and were less satisfied with their involvement than those with colon cancer (p = 0.003). Participants with colon cancer were older and had more physical symptoms and functional limitations at the beginning of adjuvant treatment, while there were scarcely any differences between the two groups at the end of adjuvancy, at which time both groups suffered greater psychological and physical effects and scored lower on coping strategies, except for anxious preoccupation.

Conclusions

Breast cancer patients need more information and involvement of the oncologist in shared decision-making, as well as and more medical and psychological support when beginning adjuvant treatment. Both breast and colon cancer patients may require additional psychological care at the end of adjuvancy.

Emotional "Patient-Oriented" Support in Young Patients With I-II Stage Breast Cancer: Pilot Study

Objective: The recent increased survival rate after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment is mostly related to early screening in younger age. Evidence gained from newly detected assessed psychological needs as well as certain emotional regulatory patterns in younger survivors has been related in the literature to an extremely low rate of adherence to the psychological therapies offered. Tailored psychological support is necessary. The aim of the present study was to verify the preliminary efficacy of supportive psychological intervention with an innovative orientation: the Early BC Psychological Intervention (EBC-Psy).

Methods: A controlled study design was used to investigate the efficacy of EBC-Psy intervention. Preliminary data involved twenty-four patients in the age range of 35–50 years, diagnosed with cancer at the early stage (I–II), who were exposed to the EBC-Psy intervention. To address the effect of intervention, emotional variables were tested before the treatment (Time 1) and then again after 6 months of the treatment (Time 2); evaluated emotional dimensions were anxiety, anger, depression, and psychological distress.

Results: EBC-Psy intervention appears to be effective on both depression (p = 0.02) and psychological distress (p = 0.01), even in a short time, highlighting the strength of a reinforced positive psychological conceptual approach to deal with the “disease condition” in younger patients; on the contrary, the control group evidenced an increase in the same emotional variables in timing.

Conclusion: Our findings, even if limited by this small-scale protocol, seemed to confirm the role of positive psychotherapy after BC diagnosis and treatment through the impact of cognitive processes, coping strategies, and psychological resilience. Future theoretical framework could boost the intervention to design an innovative survivorship model.