Coping with physical and psychological symptoms: a qualitative study of advanced lung cancer patients and their family caregivers

Background: Both advanced cancer patients and their family caregivers experience distress and have a range of concerns after cancer diagnosis. However, longitudinal studies on this topic have been lacking. Aim: To investigate concerns in both patients with advanced lung cancer and their family caregivers longitudinally from diagnosis. Design: A multi-center prospective questionnaire-based study. Setting/participants: We recruited patients with newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer and their family caregivers at 16 hospitals in Japan. We prospectively assessed the prevalence of their concerns using the Concerns Checklist and investigated the associations between their concerns and mental status as well as quality of life until 24 months after diagnosis. Results: A total of 248 patients and their 232 family caregivers were enrolled. The prevalence of serious concerns was highest at diagnosis (patients: 68.3%, family caregivers: 65.3%). The most common serious concern was concern about the future in both groups at diagnosis (38.2% and 40.5%, respectively) and this remained high in prevalence over time, while the high prevalence of concern about lack of information improved 3 months after diagnosis in both groups. Approximately one-third of patient-family caregiver dyads had discrepant reports of serious concerns. The presence of serious concerns was significantly associated with anxiety and depression continuously in both groups. Conclusions: The majority of advanced lung cancer patients and their family caregivers have serious concerns from diagnosis, which is associated with their psychological distress. The spectrum of concerns alters over the disease trajectory, warranting efficient tailored care and support for both groups immediately after diagnosis.

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TP53 Exon 8 Mutations are Associated with Shorter Survival in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3218685 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Yutao Liu ◽

Fang Xu ◽

Yubo Wang ◽

Qingchen Wu ◽

Buhai Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Lung Cancer ◽

Lung Cancer Patients

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The mediating effect of resilience on happiness of advanced lung cancer patients

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-021-06201-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sunwha Cho ◽

Eunjung Ryu

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Advanced Lung Cancer ◽

Lung Cancer Patients

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Distress experienced by lung cancer patients and their family caregivers in the first year of their cancer journey

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951521000377 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Michèle Aubin ◽

Lucie Vézina ◽

René Verreault ◽

Sébastien Simard ◽

Éveline Hudon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Screening Program ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Quebec City ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Distress Score ◽

Ambulatory Oncology

Abstract Objectives Diagnosis of cancer is emotionally threatening not only for patients but also for their family caregivers (FC) who witness and share much of the illness experience. This study compares distress experienced by lung cancer patients and their FC during the year following the diagnosis. Methods A prospective cohort study of 206 patients recently diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer (participation rate 79.5%) and 131 FC (participation rate 63.6%) was conducted in an ambulatory oncology clinic in Quebec City (Canada). They completed validated questionnaires regarding their personal and psychological characteristics (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale—HADS), in the first months after the diagnosis of lung cancer and after 6 and 12 months. Univariate, bivariate, and linear mixed models were conducted to compare patient and FC distress. Results At baseline, 7.8% of patients reported distress (HADS total score >15) and their mean distress score was 7.0 ± 4.9 (range 0–42). In contrast, 33.6% of FC presented significant distress and their mean distress score was 12.0 ± 7.2 (P < 0.0001). Proportions of patients and FC with distress remained relatively stable at 6 and 12 months, and at every time point, FC reported higher levels of distress compared to their relative with cancer (P < 0.0001). Comparable trends were found when looking at the mean scores of distress, anxiety, and depression throughout the study. Significance of results Being diagnosed with lung cancer and going through its different phases seems to affect more FC than patients. The psychological impact of such diagnosis appears early after the diagnosis and does not significantly change over time. These findings reinforce the importance for oncology teams, to include FC in their systematic distress screening program, in order to help them cope with their own feelings and be able to play their role in patient support and care throughout the cancer journey.

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