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Kim MK, Park HJ, Lee KJ. Living lab modelling as a pilot study assessing the potential psychological health benefits of forest environment for cancer survivors. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2024; 67:404-413. [PMID: 38987994 PMCID: PMC11266852 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.24035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the physiological and psychological changes in cancer survivors who engage in repeated forest therapy in a living environment. METHODS This study included stay-based forest therapy for female cancer survivors aged ≥40 years. The program was conducted in two cycles, each spanning 3 weeks and consisting of a 2-night, 3-day stay, followed by daily life integration. The cycles were repeated from July 2, 2022, to August 18, 2022. Participant assessment included standard physical health parameters and a questionnaire on general characteristics, lifestyle habits, stress levels, and health status. RESULTS Thirty-seven female cancer survivors participated in the forest healing program, 56.8% of whom had a history of breast cancer. The median body mass index (BMI) was 23.80 kg/m2 (range, 21.00-25.60). More than half of the patients reported mild-to-moderate fatigue, chronic pain, and mild-to-moderate depression (81%, 65%, and 73%, respectively). After two cycles of forest therapy, no significant differences were observed in terms of fatigue, pain, or BMI levels. However, significant improvements were found in quality of life measures, particularly the psychological quality of life (mean score 12.54 at baseline vs. 13.48 after cycle 2; P=0.007). Positive improvements were also observed in terms of stress (mean score 17.03 vs. 13.76; P=0.002) and depression (mean score 8.35 vs. 6.11; P=0.002) levels. CONCLUSION Our forest-healing program demonstrated that nature-based therapies improve the mental health and quality of life of female cancer survivors, suggesting the need for further research on nature-based interventions to better support cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Kyung Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyo Jin Park
- Department of Family Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung Ju Lee
- Department of Women's Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea
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Kim J, Choi CH. Basic knowledge for counseling patients undergoing risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2024; 67:343-355. [PMID: 38817104 PMCID: PMC11266848 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.24054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in the molecular diagnosis of cancer. It provides personalized medicine, including cancer diagnosis, prognosis, targeted therapy, and risk detection. These advances allow physicians to identify patients at risk for cancer before it develops and offer them an opportunity to prevent its development. Mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1 and 2) are one of the most well-known cancer-related gene mutations since actor Angelina Jolie shared her experience with genetic mutations and risk-reducing surgery in the media. In Korea, tests for germline BRCA1/2 mutations have been covered by insurance since May 2012 and the number of women of BRCA1/2 mutations has continued to increase over the past decade. Most carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations consider risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) resulting in early menopause and want to know the lifetime risks and benefits of RRSO. However, despite the increasing number of carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations, the counseling and management of patients requiring RRSO varies among physicians. This article provides basic knowledge on RRSO to help physicians comprehensively assess its risks and benefits and manage at-risk women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihye Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, Gwangmyeong, Korea
| | - Chel Hun Choi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Hemminki K, Zitricky F, Försti A, Hemminki A. Survival in Elderly Ovarian Cancer Remains Challenging in the Nordic Countries. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2198. [PMID: 38927904 PMCID: PMC11201377 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite treatment having improved through intensive surgical procedures and chemotherapy-and more recently, targeted therapies-ovarian cancer is the most fatal female cancer. As such, we wanted to analyze age-specific survival trends for ovarian cancer in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden over the past 50 years, with a special aim of comparing survival development between the age groups. METHODS We modelled survival data from the NORDCAN database for 1-, 5- and conditional 5/1-year relative (between years 1 and 5) survival for ovarian cancer from 1972 to 2021. RESULTS Young patients had a 70% 5-year survival while the survival was only 30% for the oldest patients. Conditional survival showed that survival between years 1 and 5 did not improve for patients older than 60 years throughout the 50-year period, during which time the gaps between the youngest and the oldest patients widened. CONCLUSIONS Improvement in 1-year survival was so large that it masked the modest development between years 1 and 5, resulting in a widening age disparity in 5-year survival. The current treatment practices, which appear increasingly effective for younger patients, have not helped remedy the large age differences in ovarian cancer survival. Early detection methods and therapeutic innovations are urgently needed, and aged patients need a special focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Hemminki
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 30605 Pilsen, Czech Republic;
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frantisek Zitricky
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 30605 Pilsen, Czech Republic;
| | - Asta Försti
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland;
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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Wongpratate M, Bumrungthai S. Cervical cancer in Thailand: 2023 update. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2024; 67:261-269. [PMID: 38528826 PMCID: PMC11099091 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.23277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer continues to pose a challenge to the health of Thai women, as the second most common cancer after breast cancer. Since high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types are the main cause for cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination are necessary to reduce the incidence of this disease. At present, the World Health Organization hopes to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer to 4 or less cases per 100,000 women-years using 90%- 70%-90% intervention by 2030. The first intervention involves vaccinating 90% of women aged 15 years with the HPV vaccine. The second intervention involves screening 70% of women between the ages of 35 and 45 years using a high-performance screening test. The third intervention involves detecting cervical lesions in 90% of affected women to enable diagnosis and treatment. In this context, this study reviews trends in the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer in Thailand, in addition to providing an up-to-date overview of the causes and necessary risk factors for cervical cancer, as well as reporting on cervical screening and HPV vaccination rates and cervical cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study may prove useful for the formulation of policy aimed at eliminating cervical cancer in Thailand, such as the implementation of a free HPV vaccine service and providing athome kits for cervical screening through clinics and pharmacies. In addition, this review also highlights the need for further research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening rates in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuree Wongpratate
- Department of Pre-Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham,
Thailand
| | - Sureewan Bumrungthai
- Department of Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani,
Thailand
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Sukkasame P, Jareemit N, Punyashthira A, Inthasorn P, Chantawong N, Suwannarurk K, Pariyawateekul P, Tangjitgamol S. Attitude toward human papillomavirus self-sampling and associated factors among Thai women undergoing colposcopy. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2024; 67:286-295. [PMID: 38454573 PMCID: PMC11099094 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.23293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare attitudes toward self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing before and after specimen collection in women undergoing colposcopy. The factors associated with the pre-sampling attitude were also studied. METHODS This prospective study enrolled women with abnormal cervical cytology and/or positive high-risk HPV who attended colposcopy clinics at 10 cancer centers in Thailand between October 2021 and May 2022. Prior to colposcopy, the attitudes of the women toward self-sampling were surveyed through a questionnaire. Written and verbal instructions for self-sampling were provided before the process and subsequent colposcopy. The attitudes toward self-sampling were reassessed after the actual self-sampling. Factors associated with the attitudes were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 499 women were included in this study. The mean age was 39.28±11.36 years. A total of 85.3% were premenopause, and 98.8% had sexual experience. With the full score of 45, the attitude score after self-sampling was significantly higher than the attitude score before self-sampling (39.69±5.16 vs. 37.76±5.71; P<0.001). On univariate analysis, the factors associated with attitude before HPV self-sampling were age, menopausal status, sexual activity, education level, income, knowledge regarding HPV, and prior high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion histology. The remaining significant factor on multivariate analysis was sexual activity within the past year (B=0.105, 95% confidence interval, 0.014-2.870; P=0.048). CONCLUSION Attitudes toward self-sampling improved after the actual self-sampling process, as evidenced by higher attitude scores. Sexual activity was the only independent factor related to the attitude before self-sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pichamon Sukkasame
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Bangkok,
Thailand
| | - Nida Jareemit
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok,
Thailand
| | - Awassada Punyashthira
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani,
Thailand
| | - Perapong Inthasorn
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok,
Thailand
| | - Nopwaree Chantawong
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani,
Thailand
| | - Komsun Suwannarurk
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani,
Thailand
| | - Piyawan Pariyawateekul
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Bangkok,
Thailand
| | - Siriwan Tangjitgamol
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok,
Thailand
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MedPark Hospital, Bangkok,
Thailand
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Lee HJ, Lee B, Choi H, Lee M, Lee K, Lee TK, Hwang SO, Kim YB. Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risks of Various Cancers in Postmenopausal Women with De Novo or a History of Endometriosis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:809. [PMID: 38398200 PMCID: PMC10886569 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the occurrence of various cancers in postmenopausal women with de novo or a history of endometriosis. In the datasets for ten cancers (cervical, uterine, ovarian, breast, colon, gastric, liver, lung, pancreatic, and thyroid), women who received HRT (the HRT group) and those who did not (the control group) were selected by a 1:1 matching with those who met the study criteria. In the dataset for each cancer, the incidence of each cancer was very low (0.2% to 1.5% in the HRT group and 0.2% to 1.3% in the control group). The duration of HRT was 1.3 ± 2.1 years. After adjusting for co-variables, HRT was a significant risk factor for uterine cancer (p < 0.05). However, the risk of liver cancer decreased significantly with duration of HRT (p < 0.05). Moreover, combined estrogen and progesterone decreased the risks of liver and thyroid cancers significantly (p < 0.05), and estrogen alone decreased the risks of breast and lung cancers significantly (p < 0.05). Tibolone was not associated with the risk of any of the cancers assessed. These results can help guide the use of HRT in women with de novo or a history of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Joong Lee
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 11765, Republic of Korea
| | - Banghyun Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Hangseok Choi
- Medical Science Research Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyung Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungjin Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Kyoung Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ook Hwang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Beom Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si 13620, Republic of Korea
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