In the Shadows of Cancer. Leisure and Subjective Wellbeing of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients in Honduras, Nicaragua and Portugal

In contemporary societies, a significant proportion of women will be affected by breast or ovarian cancer over the course of their lives. Dealing with illness is known to impact profoundly on the general quality of life of women, but this assessment is usually made in clinical terms, and less attention is given to the social determinants of quality of life for cancer patients, and to the implications of cancer for their subjective wellbeing. In this article, we specifically discuss the impact of being engaged in a leisure activity for the subjective wellbeing of women experiencing breast or ovarian cancer. Based on an exploratory comparative study among Honduras, Nicaragua and Portugal, we analyze the influence of leisure engagement, country of residence, treatment and social support for the subjective wellbeing of women dealing with cancer, proposing a discussion on the intersections of wellbeing, leisure and illness. The research was supported by a survey applied to 128 women diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer. Significant relationships were found amongst subjective wellbeing, leisure engagement, country and support from patients’ associations. Results highlight the need to consider the effects of leisure among cancer patients, and the importance of institutionalized support to improve their quality of life.

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LIVING WELL AFTER CANCER: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PRODUCTIVE LEISURE

Psychological Applications and Trends 2021 ◽

10.36315/2021inpact029 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cecile J. Proctor ◽

◽

Danie A. Beaulieu ◽

Anthony J. Reiman ◽

Lisa A. Best ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

The Impact

"It is now recognized that the ""cancer experience"" extends beyond diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life care. Relative to individuals who have not faced a cancer diagnosis, cancer survivors report increased mental health concerns and lowered physical and psychological well-being (Langeveld et al., 2004). Health-related quality of life encompasses overall physical (e.g., energy, fatigue, pain, etc.) and psychological functioning (e.g., emotional well-being, etc.), as well as general health perceptions (Hays & Morales, 2001). Nayak and colleagues (2017) reported that 82.3% of cancer patients had below-average quality of life scores, with the lowest scores found in the general, physical, and psychological well-being domains. Research suggests that various positive lifestyle variables, including social connectedness, leisure activity, and mindfulness practices are associated with increased quality of life in cancer patients (Courtens et al., 1996; Fangel et al., 2013; Garland et al., 2017). In this study, 350 cancer survivors completed an online questionnaire package that included a detailed demographic questionnaire with medical and online support and leisure activity questions. Additional measures were included to assess quality of life (QLQ-C30; Aaronson et al., 1993), social connectedness (Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults, SELSA-S; DiTommaso et al., 2004), and mindfulness (Adolescent and Adult Mindfulness Scale, AAMS; Droutman et al., 2018). Results show that increased QOL is predicted by increased medical support, lower family loneliness, self-acceptance, and engaging in a variety of leisure activities. Encouraging family support, including the patient in the decision-making process, encouraging a variety of physically possible leisure activities, and normalizing negative emotions surrounding diagnosis and disease symptoms are all ways that overall QoL can be improved."

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Randomized Study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaekologische Onkologie Ovarian Cancer Study Group Comparing Quality of Life in Patients With Ovarian Cancer Treated With Cisplatin/Paclitaxel Versus Carboplatin/Paclitaxel

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2005.02.4067 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 579-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Elfriede R. Greimel ◽

Vesna Bjelic-Radisic ◽

Jacobus Pfisterer ◽

Felix Hilpert ◽

Fedor Daghofer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Free Survival ◽

The Impact

Purpose The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) of ovarian cancer patients treated with paclitaxel/carboplatin (TC) versus paclitaxel/cisplatin (PT) and to determine the impact of treatment toxicity on the various QoL domains. Patients and Methods In this phase III trial, 798 patients with ovarian cancer stages IIB-IV were randomly assigned to receive TC or PT. The primary end point was progression-free survival; secondary end points included toxicity, QoL, and response to treatment. Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 before treatment, within 3 days before the second and the fourth chemotherapy cycle, and 3 weeks after completion of chemotherapy. Results Previously reported data showed that patients undergoing TC or PT did not differ in progression-free survival and overall survival. However, the TC arm was superior, indicating a better overall QoL compared with the PT arm. Controlling for toxicity and age, a significant treatment by assessment time interaction was found for four QoL functioning scales and three symptoms scales. Patients in the TC arm showed better means scores after treatment on overall QoL (P = .012), physical functioning (P = .012), role functioning (P = .005), and cognitive functioning (P = .024), compared with the PT arm. Concerning symptom experience, patients undergoing TC showed less nausea and vomiting (P < .001), less appetite loss (P < .001), and less fatigue (P = .033) after completion of treatment compared with patients undergoing PT. Conclusion The TC regimen achieved better QoL outcomes compared with the PT regimen. Thus, clinicians may consider replacing cisplatin with carboplatin when treating ovarian cancer patients with chemotherapy.

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QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS WITH PROLONGED USE OF CHEMOTHERAPY - A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE STUDY

10.26226/morressier.597eedbed462b80296ca1b36 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ka Yu Tse

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Cancer Patients

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Perspectives on the Impact of Ovarian Cancer: Women's Views of Quality of Life

Oncology Nursing Forum ◽

10.1188/05.onf.1143-1149 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 1143-1149 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Betty Ferrell ◽

Carey A. Cullinane ◽

Kate Ervin ◽

Cindy Melancon ◽

Gwen C. Uman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Ovarian Cancer ◽

The Impact ◽

Women’S Views

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Assessing the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on patients’ quality of life: An Arabic version of the Functional Living Index-Emesis

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/1078155221998447 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107815522199844

Author(s):

Abdullah M Alhammad ◽

Nora Alkhudair ◽

Rawan Alzaidi ◽

Latifa S Almosabhi ◽

Mohammad H Aljawadi

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Arabic Language ◽

Nausea And Vomiting ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Arabic Version ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Arabic Speaking ◽

The Impact

Introduction Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is a serious complication of cancer treatment that compromises patients’ quality of life and treatment adherence, which necessitates regular assessment. Therefore, there is a need to assess patient-reported nausea and vomiting using a validated scale among Arabic speaking cancer patient population. The objective of this study was to translate and validate the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE) instrument in Arabic, a patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess the influence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on patients’ quality of life. Methods Linguistic validation of an Arabic-language version was performed. The instrument was administered to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in a tertiary hospital's cancer center in Saudi Arabia. Results One-hundred cancer patients who received chemotherapy were enrolled. The participants’ mean age was 53.3 ± 14.9 years, and 50% were female. Half of the participants had a history of nausea and vomiting with previous chemotherapy. The Cronbach coefficient alpha for the FLIE was 0.9606 and 0.9736 for nausea and vomiting domains, respectively, which indicated an excellent reliability for the Arabic FLIE. The mean FLIE score was 110.9 ± 23.5, indicating no or minimal impact on daily life (NIDL). Conclusions The Arabic FLIE is a valid and reliable tool among the Arabic-speaking cancer population. Thus, the Arabic version of the FLIE will be a useful tool to assess the quality of life among Arabic speaking patients receiving chemotherapy. Additionally, the translated instrument will be a useful tool for future research studies to explore new antiemetic treatments among cancer patients.

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The patients’ perspective on coordinated action for cancer and AMR

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1153 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

K Apostolidis

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Immune System ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cancer Treatments ◽

Unique Challenge ◽

Coordinated Action ◽

The Impact ◽

Patients Perspective

Abstract The speaker will present the perspective of the cancer patients, and the challenges they encounter across the spectrum of care and what measures they consider relevant in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and, indeed, to raise awareness of the impact of AMR on rendering cancer treatments ineffective. She will elaborate on survivorship, and on the impact of AMR on the quality of life of patients, their carers, and families. Emphasis will be given on the implications of modern therapies, such as immunotherapy, representing a unique challenge in terms of better understanding the effect on overall health of patients, with the effect they have the immune system, further weakening the patient and leaving him/her exposed to infections potentially of higher risk than cancer itself.

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Analysis of the Impact of Personalized Nursing Service and Hospice Care on the Quality of Life of Elderly Cancer Patients

Tobacco Regulatory Science ◽

10.18001/trs.7.4.24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 469-473

Author(s):

Ting Fang ◽

Nian Wang ◽

Meng Chen ◽

Hongmei Ma

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Hospice Care ◽

Pain Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

The Difference ◽

The Impact

Objective Explore the impact of personalized nursing services and hospice care on the quality of life of elderly patients with advanced cancer. Method We selected 80 elderly cancer patients admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to May 2021, and divided these patients into a study group and a control group using a random number table method. The patients in the control group used conventional nursing methods to treat and care for the patients, and the patients in the study group used hospice care measures and combined personalized nursing measures. The quality of life and pain treatment effects of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were compared. Result Before treatment, the quality-of-life scores of the two groups of patients were low, and there was no statistical difference (P>0.05); After treatment, the quality of life of the two groups of patients improved, but compared with the control group, the improvement was more obvious in the study group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of pain treatment effect, the total effective rate of pain treatment in the study group was 87.5%, which was significantly better than the 62.5% in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Personalized nursing services and hospice care are conducive to improving the survival and treatment of elderly patients with advanced cancer, and can be used as a clinical application program for the care of advanced cancer patients.

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