Efficacy of screening and treatment of breast cancer patients reporting high level of distress.

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 101-101
Author(s):  
Ryan West ◽  
John W Thomas ◽  
Elaine Smith ◽  
Navneet Dhillon ◽  
Haritha Pabbathi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Integrative Oncology ◽  
Symptom Inventory

101 Background: Cancer patients (pts) are burdened by symptoms related to the disease itself or to the toxicities of treatment. The ASCO clinical oncology guideline adaptation recommends all health care providers routinely screen for the presence of emotional distress and specifically symptoms of anxiety from the point of diagnosis onward [Andersen BL, 2014].At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) we perform screening assessments using a Symptom Inventory Tool (SIT) composed of 27 questions. Pts with moderate and severe levels of anxiety are evaluated by the Integrative Resource Assessment Program (IRAP) and subsequently referred to integrative oncology consultation. Methods: The SIT is an assessment tool that captures pts’ perceived symptom burden for real-time clinical intervention, taken at the point of no intervention (baseline) and every 21 days or greater. The SIT is comprised of 27 questions utilizing the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory tool (MDASI) and validated assessment instrument with 8 questions and a free text box added by CTCA. Symptoms were rated “at the worst” on an 11-point numeric scale ranging from 0 (“no present”) to 10 (“as bad as you can imagine”) in the previous 24 hours. Results: Between 9/1/2014 and 2/27/2015, 842 pts with multiple types of cancer were screened for distress and 435 (51.6%) scored 5 or greater, of which 212 completed a second screening assessment.58 breast cancer pts provided SIT distress scores at baseline and then again at least 23 days after the initial assessment. The average reduction in the distress scores for breast cancer patients was 2 (1st SIT mean = 6.2, 2ndSIT mean = 4.2) with 40 pts (69%) reporting a decrease, 7 pts (12%) having no change, and 11 pts (19%) reporting an increase in distress. The 4 interventions most frequently referred and completed by the pts were mind body therapy (100%), rehabilitation (66%), acupuncture (50%), and massage therapy (45%). Conclusions: Distress is a relevant symptom reported by cancer pts. This study demonstrates that early intervention in breast cancer pts using integrative oncology approaches will reduce the distress in 69% of cases.

scholarly journals Social Relationships and Its Association With Affective Symptoms of Women With Breast Cancer: a Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yesol Yang ◽  
Yufen Lin ◽  
Grace Sikapokoo ◽  
Se Hee Min ◽  
Nicole Caviness-Ashe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Sample Type ◽  
Cognitive Symptoms ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Affective Symptoms

Abstract Background: Problems in affective and cognitive functioning are among the most common concurrent symptoms that breast cancer patients report. Social relationships may provide some explanations of the clinical variability in affective-cognitive symptoms. Evidence suggests that social relationships (functional and structural aspects) can be associated with patients’ affective-cognitive symptoms; however, such an association has not been well studied in the context of breast cancer. The purpose of this scoping review was to address the following question: What social relationships are associated with affective-cognitive symptoms of women with breast cancer? This scoping review used the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and PRISMA-Sc. Extracted data included research aims, design, sample, type and measures of social relationships (functional and structural), and the association between social relationships and affective-cognitive symptoms. Results: Of sixty-five included studies, none of them focused on cognitive symptoms of breast cancer patients; thus, in this review, we focused on only the affective symptoms of breast cancer patients and their association with patients’ both aspects of social relationships. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that positive social relationships benefit in mitigating affective symptoms of women with breast cancer. Thus, health care providers need to educate patients about the importance of building solid social relationships and encourage them to participate in a supportive network of friends and family members.

scholarly journals Inquiry and computer program Onko-Online: 25 years of clinical registry for breast cancer at the University Medical Centre Maribor

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-356
Author(s):  
Darja Arko ◽  
Iztok Takac
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Computer Program ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Registries ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Registry

Abstract Background High-quality routine care data collected in the clinical registry play a significant role in improving the management of cancer patients. Clinical cancer registries record important data in the course of cancer diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and survival. Analyses of such comprehensive data pool make it possible to improve the quality of patients care and compare with other health care providers. Methods The first inquiry at the Department of Gynaecologic and Breast Oncology of the then General Hospital Maribor to follow breast cancer patients has been introduced in 1994. Based on our experience and new approaches in breast cancer treatment, the context of inquiry has been changed and extended to the present form, which served as a model for developing a relevant computer programme named Onko-Online in 2014. Results During the 25-year period, we collected data from about 3,600 breast cancer patients. The computer program Onko-Online allowed for quick and reliable collection, processing and analysis of 167 different data of breast cancer patients including general information, medical history, diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up. Conclusions The clinical registry for breast cancer Onko-Online provides data that help us to improve diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer patients, organize the daily practice and to compare the results of our treatment to the national and international standards. A limitation of the registry is the potentially incomplete or incorrect data input by different healthcare providers, involved in the treatment of breast cancer patients.

scholarly journals Overexpression of PBK/TOPK Relates to Poor Prognosis of Patients With Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Qiao ◽  
Jinling Ba ◽  
Jiping Xie ◽  
Ruiping Zhu ◽  
Yi Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Clinicopathological Parameters ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Management ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: PDZ-binding kinase/T lymphokine-activated killer cell-derived protein kinase (PBK/TOPK) is a potential prognostic indicator for patients with breast cancer. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between PBK/TOPK expression and clinicopathological indicators as well as the survival of patients with breast cancer.Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of PBK/TOPK in 202 cases of breast cancer tissues. The relationship between PBK/TOPK and clinicopathological parameters was evaluated using Spearman's rank-order correlation. The difference in PBK/TOPK expression among different molecular types was analyzed with the chi square test. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to create a survival curve and the log rank test was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Prognostic correlation was assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.Results: Among 202 breast cancer samples, PBK/TOPK was expressed ('+' and '++') in 182 samples (90.1%). In addition, the histological grade, TNM stages, lymph node metastasis, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and Ki-67 were positively associated with PBK/TOPK expression. With regard to the molecular type, the expression of PBK/TOPK is different. The expression level of PBK/TOPK was negatively correlated with both the OS and DFS of breast cancer patients. The difference in the above results is meaningful (P<0.05).Conclusions: PBK/TOPK is over-expressed in breast cancer and the expression is closely related to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. Breast cancer patients with high expression of PBK/TOPK have a poor prognosis. Therefore, health care providers can optimize breast cancer management using this indicator.

Development of a decision aid for young canadians diagnosed with breast cancer who are at risk of infertility following cancer treatment.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
Brittany Speller ◽  
Marcia Facey ◽  
Amanda Sissons ◽  
Corinne Daly ◽  
Erin Diane Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Decision Aid ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Support Resources ◽  
Young Breast Cancer

108 Background: Young breast cancer patients are at risk of temporary or permanent infertility following the administration of gonadotoxic cancer treatments. Currently patients do not feel they receive enough information to make informed fertility decisions before treatment. We aim to determine the fertility-related information health care providers and breast cancer survivors consider valuable to include in a Canadian decision aid (Can-DA) for young breast cancer patients by reviewing existing decision support resources. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used to evaluate 6 decision support resources created in other jurisdictions. Using purposeful sampling, 8 multi-disciplinary health care providers and 8 breast cancer survivors from across Canada evaluated 1 to 2 decision support resources in structured interviews. Interviews were conducted in-person and by telephone from March to June 2016 and ranged in length from 30 to 90 minutes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, organized in NVivo, and analyzed deductively using the pre-defined sections of the interview guide as a framework. Results: Each decision support resource had valuable components to adapt for the Can-DA. Participants valued the inclusion of Canadian-specific and accurate information on resources for additional support and the success rates and cost ranges of fertility preservation procedures. There were mixed views on the impact and value of including in-depth fertility information such as adoption and other fertility-related options after treatment. Discrepancies were also seen on the value of personal stories and an explicit values clarification exercise. There was consensus on the inclusion of only pertinent fertility-related information that does not replicate information in supplementary patient education material to avoid overwhelming patients. Conclusions: The evaluation provided valuable insight on the information and design features to consider for the Can-DA. Findings will be used in combination with the International Patient Decision Aid Standards criteria to ensure the Can-DA meets the fertility information needs of young breast cancer patients in Canada.

scholarly journals (Ex-)breast cancer patients with (pre-existing) symptoms of anxiety and/or depression experience higher barriers to contact health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieuwke R. Mink van der Molen ◽  
◽  
Claudia A. Bargon ◽  
Marilot C. T. Batenburg ◽  
Roxanne Gal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Purpose To identify factors associated with (perceived) access to health care among (ex-)breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional study within a large prospective, multicenter cohort of (ex-)breast cancer patients, i.e., UMBRELLA. All participants enrolled in the UMBRELLA cohort between October 2013 and April 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Results In total, 1051 (66.0%) participants completed the survey. During COVID-19, 284 (27.0%) participants reported clinically relevant increased levels of anxiety and/or depression, i.e., total HADS score ≥ 12. Participants with anxiety and/or depression reported statistically significant higher barriers to contact their general practitioner (47.5% vs. 25.0%, resp.) and breast cancer physicians (26.8% vs. 11.2%, resp.) compared to participants without these symptoms. In addition, a higher proportion of participants with anxiety and/or depression reported that their current treatment or (after)care was affected by COVID-19 compared to those without these symptoms (32.7% vs. 20.5%, resp.). Factors independently associated with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during COVID-19 were pre-existent anxiety (OR 6.1, 95% CI 4.1–9.2) or depression (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.5–10.2). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, (ex-)breast cancer patients with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression experience higher barriers to contact health care providers. Also, they more often report that their health care was affected by COVID-19. Risk factors for anxiety and/or depression during COVID-19 are pre-existent symptoms of anxiety or depression. Extra attention—including mental health support—is needed for this group.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document