scholarly journals Qualitative Findings Following Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Breast Cancer Survivors with Fear of Cancer Recurrence

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Shepler ◽  
Elizabeth Cottingham ◽  
Patrick Stutz ◽  
Shelley Johns
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Fear Of Cancer

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) takes an emotional toll on cancer survivors and significantly undermines quality of life following treatment. During a randomized controlled trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for post-treatment breast cancer survivors with clinically significant FCR, we conducted qualitative interviews to glean a deeper understanding of the impact of ACT on survivors’ coping with FCR.  Methods: Breast cancer survivors (stage I-III) who had completed a 6-week ACT intervention were invited to share their experiences in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using a deductive approach. Participants received a $25 gift card for their time. Participants (n=16) were primarily White (81.3%) and college educated (68.8%), with a mean age of 57.3 (SD=11.1) and 75% had an income over $50,000.    Results: Prior to the study, survivors generally coped with FCR by denying their FCR or by attempting to control their fears through faith, lifestyle management, avoidance, and positivity. Survivors uniformly noted the sense of community they felt in their ACT group when listening to other survivors describe their own struggle with FCR. This common bond created a foundation that allowed survivors to embrace the ACT intervention and develop adaptive coping skills related to acceptance, present-moment awareness, and living consistently with one’s values. Survivors noted that these skills reduced the negative impact of FCR and other life challenges and improved quality of life compared to pre-study coping techniques.  Conclusion and Potential Impact: By building trust with other cancer survivors, participants were able to shift from attempts to ‘control’ FCR to a more ‘accepting’ approach to manage FCR and other life stressors. While research with a larger group of participants is needed, initial findings indicate that ACT may be a promising addition to care for cancer survivors. 

scholarly journals Perilla Oil and Bifidobacterium for Alleviating Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors: Study Protocol for a Three-Arm Phase II Randomized Controlled Study (POB Study)

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Yohei Sasaki ◽  
Mina Honyashiki ◽  
Takayuki Kinoshita ◽  
Akira Matsui ◽  
Ayako Nakashoji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Perilla Oil ◽  
Fear Of Cancer

The fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is the most common and most severe unmet need among cancer survivors. Safe treatments for the FCR that are easily disseminated are greatly needed. Our primary aim is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and effect size of perilla oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and Bifidobacterium, a probiotic, on FCR in breast cancer survivors after the completion of chemotherapy. This study has been planned as an exploratory clinical study (phase II) and will be conducted as a three-arm, 12-week parallel group, masked-rater randomized controlled trial. Fifteen participants will be randomized with 1:1:1 allocation to receive Bifidobacterium plus perilla oil, Bifidobacterium alone, or no intervention (control). Interventions will end within 12 weeks after the random allocation of each participant. The participants will be outpatients with invasive breast cancer aged 20 years or older whose chemotherapy was completed at least 6 months before registration; hormone therapy may be ongoing. The primary outcome will be severity of FCR at 12 weeks assessed by masked raters using the 4-item Concerns about Recurrence Scale concerning overall fear of recurrence. The study protocol for the current study is registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031200029).

Trajectories of fear of cancer recurrence in young breast cancer survivors

Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Schapira ◽  
Yue Zheng ◽  
Shari I. Gelber ◽  
Philip Poorvu ◽  
Kathryn J. Ruddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Fear Of Cancer ◽  
Young Breast Cancer

Impact of chemotherapy on the association between fear of cancer recurrence and the gut microbiota in breast cancer survivors

2020 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 186-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Okubo ◽  
Takayuki Kinoshita ◽  
Noriko Katsumata ◽  
Yasuhito Uezono ◽  
Jinzhong Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Fear Of Cancer

scholarly journals Interpretation Bias in Breast Cancer Survivors Experiencing Fear of Cancer Recurrence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malwina Tuman ◽  
Kailey E. Roberts ◽  
Geoffrey Corner ◽  
Courtney Beard ◽  
Carol Fadalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Interpretation Bias ◽  
Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Fear Of Cancer ◽  
The Relationship

Introduction: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a prevalent and persistent challenge that many cancer survivors endure. While the role of interpretation bias, a tendency to perceive ambiguous situations as threatening, has been established in the onset and maintenance of FCR, few studies have examined cancer-related interpretation bias specifically. Grounded in the cognitive formulation of FCR, the current study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between cancer-related interpretation bias, FCR, and somatic symptoms, and examining whether bias mediates the relationship between somatic symptoms and FCR.Materials and Methods: This study used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of a cognitive bias modification intervention. Breast cancer survivors (n = 110) provided demographic and medical background information as well as self-report measures of FCR and severity of somatic symptoms. A computer-based assessment of interpretation bias was used to measure cancer-related interpretation bias on several bias indices: percentage of cancer-related threat endorsement, and percentage of benign endorsement; mean reaction time (RT) for threat, and mean RT for benign endorsement.Results: Higher threat endorsement was linked to higher Overall Fear and emerged as a mediator of the relationship between overall somatic symptoms and Overall Fear. We also found that older age was related to longer benign endorsement RT.Conclusion: This study contributes understanding of factors related to cancer-related interpretation bias and provides evidence that bias may influence the relationship between somatic symptoms and FCR in cancer survivors.

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