Pandemic and resilience: A qualitative analysis of the emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer patients in active treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-259
Author(s):  
Silvia Nicolescu ◽  
Adriana Băban
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Active Treatment ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Insight Into

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unequivocal disruptive impact on all walks of life. Cancer care and the patients involved have been especially affected due to disruptions in treatment scheduling and enhanced vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. The present study undertook an exploratory qualitative analysis to investigate the emotional impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on breast cancer patients undergoing active treatment. Ten breast cancer patients were interviewed concerning their illness and pandemic perception. To supplement their perspective, we also interviewed six psycho-oncologists on the emotional impact the pandemic has had on the patients they provide care to. The data collected during the interviews was inductively analysed using thematic analysis. The resulting themes showed patients to have experienced increased emotional distress symptoms, while prioritising the cancer treatment over the threat of infection. Those that had developed emotional regulation skills prior to the pandemic, along their cancer journey, made good use of them, providing proofs of emotional resilience. More vulnerable patient groups have also been highlighted, such as those that did not previously develop such healthy emotional regulation skills, newly diagnosed cancer patients and those lacking social support. Our study provides a useful insight into the emotional experience of the assessed oncology patients during the Covid-19 pandemic, and useful insight into the mechanisms that build resilience and flexibility for this population.

scholarly journals Trastuzumab Mechanism of Action; 20 Years of Research to Unravel a Dilemma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3540
Author(s):  
Hamid Maadi ◽  
Mohammad Hasan Soheilifar ◽  
Won-Shik Choi ◽  
Abdolvahab Moshtaghian ◽  
Zhixiang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Her2 Positive ◽  
Her2 Positive Breast Cancer ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Positive Breast Cancer

Trastuzumab as a first HER2-targeted therapy for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer patients was introduced in 1998. Although trastuzumab has opened a new avenue to treat patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and other types of cancer, some patients are not responsive or become resistant to this treatment. So far, several mechanisms have been suggested for the mode of action of trastuzumab; however, the findings regarding these mechanisms are controversial. In this review, we aimed to provide a detailed insight into the various mechanisms of action of trastuzumab.

Distress and body image due to altered appearance in posttreatment and active treatment of breast cancer patients and in general population controls

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danbee Kang ◽  
Eun-Kyung Choi ◽  
Im-Ryung Kim ◽  
Seok Jin Nam ◽  
Jeong Eon Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Body Image ◽  
General Population ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Active Treatment ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Skin Changes ◽  
Population Controls

ABSTRACTObjective:Our objective was to evaluate long-term altered appearance, distress, and body image in posttreatment breast cancer patients and compare them with those of patients undergoing active treatment and with general population controls.Method:We conducted a cross-sectional survey between May and December of 2010. We studied 138 breast cancer patients undergoing active treatment and 128 posttreatment patients from 23 Korean hospitals and 315 age- and area-matched subjects drawn from the general population. Breast, hair, and skin changes, distress, and body image were assessed using visual analogue scales and the EORTC BR–23. Average levels of distress were compared across groups, and linear regression was utilized to identify the factors associated with body image.Results:Compared to active-treatment patients, posttreatment patients reported similar breast changes (6.6 vs. 6.2), hair loss (7.7 vs. 6.7), and skin changes (5.8 vs. 5.4), and both groups had significantly more severe changes than those of the general population controls (p < 0.01). For a similar level of altered appearance, however, breast cancer patients experienced significantly higher levels of distress than the general population. In multivariate analysis, patients with high altered appearance distress reported significantly poorer body image (–20.7, CI95% = –28.3 to –13.1) than patients with low distress.Significance of results:Posttreatment breast cancer patients experienced similar levels of altered appearance, distress, and body-image disturbance relative to patients undergoing active treatment but significantly higher distress and poorer body image than members of the general population. Healthcare professionals should acknowledge the possible long-term effects of altered appearance among breast cancer survivors and help them to manage the associated distress and psychological consequences.

scholarly journals Correlation Between Family Support and Emotional Regulation with The Resilience of Breast Cancer Patients in The City of Surabaya: A Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Mauna Qurrotul Ain ◽  
Mira Triharini ◽  
Tiyas Kusumaningrum
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Breast Cancer Incidence ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
The Individual

Introduction: Breast cancer incidence has increased recently. Breast cancer patients usually feel inconvenience, psychological impact, and unstable emotions. The purpose of this study is to review the literature on the relationship between family support and emotional regulation with the resilience of breast cancer patients.Methods: The review literature search uses a database "Google Scholar, Sinta, Jurnal Ners dan Scopus with keywords "Family Support, Emotion Regulation, Resilience, Breast Cancer, Patient" in the last ten years 2009-2019.Results: 4,434 journals then identified for titles obtained as much as 2,142 and filtered according to abstract obtained 98 remaining journals, then review the complete full-text publication of a fully detailed 46 journal The final article that was in accordance with the inclusion criteria was 19 journals (articles).There is a significant relationship between family support and emotional regulation to the resilience of breast cancer patients.Conclusion: Family support can affect the health conditions felt by breast cancer patients; good emotional regulation is needed so that the patient can survive. On the articles that have been reviewed, Family support and hope given to people suffering from chronic diseases can be mediators of the emergence of resilient characters With good emotional regulation Individuals can control emotions by monitoring, evaluating and modifying emotional reactions, thus acquired adaptive emotions and organized behavior, then forming good self-acceptance and the individual feeling confident in him, able to live a life of positive, optimistic, and confident 

scholarly journals The Mediation Role of Psychological Hardiness between Emotional Self-regulation and Stress Management in Breast Cancer Patients

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mahshid Shah Abadi ◽  
Masoud Mohammadi ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Amin Hashemipour
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Hardiness

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in both developed and developing countries. It may cause several problems regarding physical, psychological, and social aspects. Cognitive emotion self-regulation is key factor in coping with these issues. This study is aimed to assess the mediating role of psychological hardiness between emotional self-regulation and stress management in breast cancer patients. Method: Current study is a cross-sectional study. Study society included women with breast cancer referring to shiraz governmental hospitals including Namazi, Shahid Faghihi and Bualisina Hospitals from which 120 individuals fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. This investigation is a descriptive-correlation study in which three questionnaires (psychological hardiness, emotional self-regulation and stress management) were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using statistical methods such as Pearson correlation coefficient and regression using SPSS ver. 24 software. Results: Mean age of participants was 45 years in this study (81.7%). Results of regression test revealed a significant relationship between cognitive emotional self-regulation with stress management and cognitive hardiness (P<0.001). Regression results showed that cognitive emotional self-regulation explains 17% and 15% of all changes in cognitive hardiness and stress management. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that emotional regulation (disorder in emotional regulation) can directly affect stress management ability. Moreover, increased emotional regulation disorder, reduced psychologic hardiness. Thus, emotional self-regulation can affect quality of life of these patients and improve their ability to cope with cancer-derived challenges.

CDK4/6 plus aromatase inhibitor-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12537-e12537
Author(s):  
Donald Chan ◽  
Azael David Freites Martinez ◽  
Shari Beth Goldfarb ◽  
Shanu Modi ◽  
Devika Gajria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Aromatase Inhibitor ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Novel Therapy ◽  
Clinical Images ◽  
Topical Minoxidil

e12537 Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6 inhibitors are a novel therapy for metastatic breast cancer, and have shown to double the risk of alopecia. This study analyzed CDK4/6 plus aromatase inhibitor-induced alopecia (CDKIA), its impact on quality of life (QoL), and response to topical dermatologic therapy. Methods: The study analyzed a retrospective cohort of breast cancer patients diagnosed with CDKIA, evaluating clinical features, QoL, and response to therapy. CDKIA was also compared with endocrine-therapy induced alopecia (EIA). Results: 39 female CDKIA patients (median age 62 years [range 34-81]) were included, and 36 (92%) had standardized clinical images. CDKIA was most commonly attributed to a CDK inhibitor and letrozole in 23 patients (59%). CDKIA was similar to androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in every patient. Compared to EIA, CDKIA took less time to develop, was more severe, was associated with diffuse alopecia more frequently, and consisted of more vellus hairs on trichoscopy (Table). The Hairdex questionnaire, an alopecia-specific QoL survey, showed that CDKIA patients experienced worse QoL than EIA patients ( P < 0.05) and were most affected emotionally ( P < 0.01). There was a moderate to significant alopecia improvement in 11 of 13 CDKIA patients (85%) after treatment with topical minoxidil. Conclusions: CDKIA was clinically similar to AGA in association with diffuse alopecia. Patients with CDKIA had a negative emotional impact on appearance-based QoL. However, topical minoxidil may improve the severity of CDKIA. Baseline characteristics of CDKIA and EIA patients. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals My Alma: A Digital App Supporting Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients in Greece

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 98s-98s
Author(s):  
C. Mitsi ◽  
E. Tzintziropoulou ◽  
L. Panagiotopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Healthy Behaviors

Background: Current research has shown that women with MBC patients feel ashamed and isolated. In Greece, “Alma Zois”, as a patient group, has made several attempts to provide support, but with a moderate success. Nevertheless, MBC patients have unmet needs that consist of better information and knowledge about MBC, better support for physical and emotional impact of MBC and better quality of life. Especially when it comes to younger women, these needs seem to be less covered. The development of a specially designed digital application (app) will cover the gap between support services and MBC patients by embracing the digital era in a country where 66% of the population uses smartphones. Aim: The development of the app aims at: 1) providing useful information about metastatic breast cancer, 2) reaching out to MBC patients, 3) improving the quality of life, 4) increasing healthy behaviors, and 5) increasing compliance. Methods: The project “My Alma App” is designed according to three major pillars: 1) Awareness, 2) Support 3) Communication. The 1st part AWARENESS includes: information about MBC. Calendar - Daily record of healthy behaviors (walking, nutrition, etc.). The 2nd part SUPPORT includes: 1) Psychological advice provided by psycho-oncologists, 2) Emotional-meter: issue the daily question “How are you feeling today?” and based on the patient's answer, the app can provide multiple suggestions/call to action. The 3rd part COMMUNICATION includes: personalized motivation, calendar with reminders of medication, therapies and events that might be of interest according to each patient's profile. Results: To achieve the best quality for the project: 1) A technical development of the app is been held, 2) The app will be tested by a group of patients as a pilot study and 3) Updates and improvements based on users feedback (metastatic breast cancer patients) and latest scientific data will be made. After the official launch, a short satisfaction survey will be addressed to every registered user. Finally, to motivate patients to use the app, a special social media campaign about the app will be launched. Conclusion: It is expected that the app will provide to MBC patients ways and methods to deal with the emotional challenges, distress and ways to improve their daily activities and their quality of life. Upon the end of the launch of the app, it is expected that a number of 500 Stage III and IV breast cancer patients will start using the app. The number of people who will download the app, the data provided by app users and the ratings and answers on “emotion-meter” during a period of time will be indexes of impact of the project to the MBC community in Greece.

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