A dyadic study of employment outcomes and quality of life in patients with breast cancer and their support persons.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 176-176
Author(s):  
Christine M Veenstra ◽  
Thomas Braun ◽  
Chandler McLeod ◽  
Daniela Wittmann ◽  
Sarah T. Hawley

176 Background: Many women with breast cancer face job loss related to their diagnosis, but little is known about employment outcomes among their partners and other supporters. Moreover, virtually nothing is known about associations between patients’ quality of life and supporters’ employment outcomes. Methods: Breast cancer patients reported to Georgia and LA SEER registries in 2014-15 (N = 2,502, 68% RR) and their key decision support person (DSP) were surveyed separately. 1234 DSPs responded (71% RR). Patients and DSPs were asked about employment impacts of the patient’s breast cancer. Patients’ quality of life (QOL) was measured with the PROMIS scale for global health. Descriptive analyses of employment outcomes (job loss, missed days due to cancer) were generated for patients and DSPs. Associations between patients’ QOL and employment outcomes of patients and their DSPs were assessed using linear mixed model regression analyses stratified by dyad type (partner vs. non-partner DSP). Results: Among DSPs, 43% were partners. 57% were non-partners (daughters, other family, friends). 67% were employed at time of patient’s diagnosis. Among these, 11% were no longer employed at survey completion. 39% missed >30 days work. Non-partner DSPs were as likely as partners to lose their job or miss work because of the patient’s cancer. 65% patients were employed at diagnosis. Compared to patients whose DSP was a partner, patients with non-partner DSP were more likely to lose their job (39% vs. 24%; p<0.01) or miss >30 days work (55% vs. 45%; p<0.01). For patients with partner and non-partner DSPs, having an employed DSP at diagnosis and having an employed DSP who stays employed were associated with improved patient QOL after adjustment for DSP sociodemographic and patient clinical variables. Conclusions: Both non-partner and partner DSPs faced negative employment impacts related to patients’ breast cancer. Job loss and >30 days of missed work were more likely among patients with non-partner DSPs. Having an employed DSP and having an employed DSP who stays employed positively contributed to patients’ QOL.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18241-e18241
Author(s):  
Christine M Veenstra ◽  
Daniela Wittmann ◽  
Chandler McLeod ◽  
Thomas Braun ◽  
Sarah T. Hawley

e18241 Background: Many women with breast cancer face job loss related to their diagnosis, but little is known about employment outcomes among their partners and other supporters. Moreover, virtually nothing is known about associations between patients’ quality of life and supporters’ employment status. Methods: Breast cancer patients reported to Georgia and LA SEER registries in 2014-15 (N = 2,502, 68% RR) and their key decision support person (DSP) were surveyed separately. 1234 DSPs responded (71% RR). Patients and DSPs were asked about employment impacts of the patient’s breast cancer. Patients’ quality of life (QOL) was measured with the PROMIS scale for global health. Descriptive analyses of employment outcomes (job loss, missed days due to cancer) were generated for patients and DSPs. Associations between patients’ QOL and employment status of patients and their DSPs were assessed using linear mixed model regression analyses stratified by dyad type (partner vs. non-partner DSP). Results: Among DSPs, 43% were partners. 57% were non-partners (daughters, other family, friends). 67% were employed at time of patient’s diagnosis. Among these, 11% were no longer employed at survey completion. 39% missed > 30 days work. Non-partner DSPs were as likely as partners to lose their job or miss work because of the patient’s cancer. 65% patients were employed at diagnosis. Compared to patients whose DSP was a partner, patients with non-partner DSP were more likely to lose their job (39% vs. 24%; p < 0.01) or miss > 30 days work (55% vs. 45%; p < 0.01). For patients with a partner DSP, both patient and DSP employment at diagnosis were associated with improved patient QOL (each associated with a QOL score 24% of 1 standard deviation higher; each p < 0.05). For patients with non-partner DSPs, only patient employment at diagnosis was associated with improved patient QOL (QOL score 51% of 1 standard deviation higher; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Both non-partner and partner DSPs faced negative employment impacts related to patients’ breast cancer. Job loss and > 30 days of missed work were more likely among patients with non-partner DSPs. Only the employment of partner DSPs at diagnosis positively contributed to patients’ QOL.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Chulkova ◽  
Tatyana Semiglazova ◽  
Margarita Vagaytseva ◽  
Andrey Karitskiy ◽  
Yevgeniy Demin ◽  
...  

Psychological rehabilitation is an integral part of rehabilitation of a cancer patient. Psychological rehabilitation is aimed at a patient adaptation in the situation of the disease and improvement his quality of life. Understanding of an oncological disease is extreme and (or) crisis situation and monitoring dynamics of the psychological statement of a patient allows using differentiated approach in the provision of professional psychological assistance. The modified scale of self-esteem level of distress (IPOS) was used for screening of mental and emotional stress of cancer patients. There were selected groups of cancer patients who were most in need of professional psychological assistance. Results of a psychological study of one of these groups - breast cancer patients - are presented.


Author(s):  
Lorena Gutiérrez-Hermoso ◽  
Lilian Velasco-Furlong ◽  
Sofía Sánchez-Román ◽  
Elisabeth Berzal-Pérez ◽  
Natasha Alcocer-Castillejos ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Marilot C. T. Batenburg ◽  
Wies Maarse ◽  
Femke van der Leij ◽  
Inge O. Baas ◽  
Onno Boonstra ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To evaluate symptoms of late radiation toxicity, side effects, and quality of life in breast cancer patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Methods For this cohort study breast cancer patients treated with HBOT in 5 Dutch facilities were eligible for inclusion. Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity treated with ≥ 20 HBOT sessions from 2015 to 2019 were included. Breast and arm symptoms, pain, and quality of life were assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and -BR23 before, immediately after, and 3 months after HBOT on a scale of 0–100. Determinants associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT were assessed. Results 1005/1280 patients were included for analysis. Pain scores decreased significantly from 43.4 before HBOT to 29.7 after 3 months (p < 0.001). Breast symptoms decreased significantly from 44.6 at baseline to 28.9 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001) and arm symptoms decreased significantly from 38.2 at baseline to 27.4 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001). All quality of life domains improved at the end of HBOT and after 3 months follow-up in comparison to baseline scores. Most prevalent side effects of HBOT were myopia (any grade, n = 576, 57.3%) and mild barotrauma (n = 179, 17.8%). Moderate/severe side effects were reported in 3.2% (n = 32) of the patients. Active smoking during HBOT and shorter time (i.e., median 17.5 vs. 22.0 months) since radiotherapy were associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT. Conclusion Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity reported reduced pain, breast and arm symptoms, and improved quality of life following treatment with HBOT.


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