Predictors of symptom distress in women with breast cancer during the first chemotherapy cycle.

PURPOSE: To determine the extent to which personal characteristics and "person factors" predict symptom distress during the first cycle of chemotherapy. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, correlational. SAMPLE AND SETTING: 120 women with Stage I and II breast cancer starting their first cycle of chemotherapy were recruited from six diverse oncology settings. METHODS: Self-report questionnaires were completed prior to the beginning, the nadir, and the end of the first chemotherapy cycles. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Personal characteristics, "person factors", and symptom distress. FINDINGS: Optimism and external locus of control predicted low symptom distress levels at the both the nadir and at the end of the first cycle. Fatigue, appearance, and insomnia caused the greatest distress with higher symptom distress scores reported at the nadir with a mean item score of 1.98 on a five-point Likert scale. CONCLUSIONS: Women who maintained a positive outlook, and trusted their health care providers experienced lower levels of symptom distress. Findings suggest that most women experienced some symptom distress, particularly during the middle of the first cycle of chemotherapy.     

Measurement of symptom distress in women with early-stage breast cancer

While symptom distress can alter the cancer experience, it is difficult to define and measure. This study's aims were (1) to determine whether the McCorkle Symptom Distress Scale (SDS) or the Rhodes Adapted Symptom Distress Scale (ASDS) was the more accurate measure of symptom distress in women with breast cancer; (2) correlate both scales with a visual analogue scale (VAS) measuring anxiety, a symptom frequently reported clinically; (3) determine tool preference; and (4) establish when during the first cycle of chemotherapy the highest levels of symptom distress were experienced. One hundred twenty women were recruited and measurement of symptom distress (SDS and ASDS) and anxiety (VAS) taken at the start of chemotherapy (Time 1), at the nadir (Time 2), and at the end of the cycle (Time 3). Both instruments were highly correlated and detected change over time; none was correlated with the VAS anxiety scale. Symptom distress scores were generally low, with fatigue, appearance, insomnia, and concentration causing the greatest distress. Other factors like functioning, body image, and menopausal symptoms cited as contributors to symptom distress levels were not measured and could account for low scores and perhaps suggest that symptom distress may not be accurately measured in today's women with early-stage breast cancer.     

Attention and symptom distress in women with and without breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The cognitive capacity to direct attention (CDA) is essential for self-care and independent functioning. Older women may be more vulnerable to fatigue-related losses in CDA following surgery for breast cancer. Normal functional variations in CDA associated with aging might affect attentional responses in older women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, and factors such as extent of surgery or symptom distress might influence CDA over time. OBJECTIVES: To examine (a) differences in CDA and symptom distress in older women newly diagnosed with breast cancer as compared to a control group of older women without breast cancer; (b) the pattern of change in CDA and symptom distress from the pretreatment period to 3 months after surgery; and (c) to examine the relationship of CDA with symptom distress and extent of surgery over time. METHODS: Women, 55 to 79 years of age, newly diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 47), were assessed with measures of CDA and symptom distress: (a) before surgery, (b) at 2 weeks postsurgery, and (c) 3 months postsurgery. To account for normal variations associated with aging, 48 women of similar age without breast cancer were assessed following a routine screening mammogram and 3 months later. RESULTS: Before treatment, the breast cancer group scored significantly lower than the control group (p < .05) on measures of CDA and higher on symptom distress. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant main effects of group, but not time, for the measures of CDA and symptom distress with the breast cancer group having worse status than the control group. For CDA only, there was a significant group by time interaction effect (p = .005) so that the breast cancer group showed a gradual gain in CDA over time. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced performance in a cognitive function was observed before treatment and found to persist over an extended interval in older women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.     

结肠癌术后辅助化疗患者症状困扰的纵向研究

目的 探讨和描述结肠癌术后辅助化疗患者的症状发生率、频率、严重度以及困扰程度的纵向变化.方法 采用前瞻性研究方法对108例结肠癌术后辅助化疗患者进行连续6个月的症状随访,并分析其结果.结果 结肠癌术后辅助化疗患者的症状困扰主要为疲乏、恶心、食欲下降、味觉改变及四肢麻木,在化疗的初期、中期和后期表现为不同的特点.结论 护理人员应深入了解结肠癌辅助化疗患者在化疗不同时期的症状特点和困扰,帮助其采取积极的应对方式和措施,减轻化疗痛苦,从而提高患者生命质量.     

Psychological distress among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer

PurposePsychological distress is common in the cancer continuum. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of distress and to investigate the related problems and the characteristics of women with breast cancer who experienced psychological distress at the time of diagnosis.MethodsWe used cross-sectional data from a questionnaire study. Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer were consecutively invited to respond before breast surgery. Between October 2008 and October 2009, a total of 357 responded out of 426 (84%) invited. Among these, 343 patients completed the ‘distress thermometer’ to measure psychological distress and the accompanying ‘problem list’ to identify related problems. Logistic regression models with 95% confidence intervals were used to estimate the associations between psychological distress, age, social support and domains on the problem list.ResultsWith a cut-off of 3 on the distress thermometer, 77% of women with breast cancer reported distress, whereas when the cut-off was 7, 43% were distressed. The mean distress score was 5.4 (SD, 3.1). The most frequently reported problems were worry (77%) and nervousness (71%). Distress was significantly associated with the total score and three domains on the problem list. Younger women (<50 years) reported higher levels of distress than older (≥50 years). We found no significant association between distress and having a partner or someone outside the family to rely on.ConclusionsDistress was reported by 77% of patients. Age and problem list were significantly associated with distress. No significant association between psychological distress and social support was observed.     

食管癌术后化疗患者症状困扰对患者焦虑、抑郁的影响

目的探讨食管癌术后化疗患者症状困扰对患者焦虑、抑郁的影响。方法选取经病理切片确诊为食管癌并行食管癌根治术的患者108例,至少经历1个疗程化疗。采用M D Anderson症状调查量表和医院焦虑抑郁量表对患者进行调查。结果患者的症状困扰及生活受干扰评分为3.91和2.91,患者焦虑状态与症状困扰和生活受干扰程度呈正相关,抑郁与生活受干扰程度呈正相关。结论症状困扰在食管癌术后化疗患者中较为普遍,在护理此类患者时,除提供一般性护理措施外,更应关注患者心理状况。     

Relationships of mood disturbance and social support to symptom experience in Korean women with breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to identify how mood disturbance and social support were related to the symptoms experienced by Korean women with breast cancer. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used for the study. A convenience sample of 134 Korean women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer was recruited. The participants completed questionnaires on symptom experience using the Symptom Experience Scale, mood disturbance using the Linear Analogue Self-Assessment Scale, and social support using the Social Support Scale. Mood disturbance and social support had a significant interaction effect on symptom experience. A higher level of mood disturbance led to a higher level of symptoms when the level of social support was average or low, which implies that clinical interventions for attenuating the impact of mood disturbance on symptom experience might be effective only for women perceiving average or low levels of social support.     

Hypnosis for symptom management in women with breast cancer: a pilot study

Eight women who were in treatment for breast cancer (n = 4) or breast cancer survivors (n = 4), presenting with 1 or more of 4 symptoms (chronic pain, fatigue, hot flashes, and sleep difficulties), were given 4 to 5 sessions of self-hypnosis training for symptom management. Analyses revealed (a) significant pre- to posttreatment decreases in pain intensity, fatigue, and sleep problems and (b) that pain intensity continued to decrease from posttreatment to 6-month follow-up. Although there was a slight increase in fatigue severity and sleep problems from posttreatment to 6-month follow-up, the follow-up scores did not return to pretreatment levels. The findings provide initial support for using hypnosis to manage symptoms in women who are breast cancer survivors. Clinical trials evaluating hypnosis efficacy over and above other treatments are warranted.     

Specialist breast care and research nurses’ attitudes to adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer

Purpose

Breast cancer largely affects older women (≥70 y) who have historically been excluded from clinical trials; consequently, treatment is often not evidence-based. Older women may not be offered adjuvant chemotherapy due to assumptions that they would not benefit, cannot tolerate it or do not wish to have it. Specialist breast care nurses (BCN) and research nurses (RN) play an important role influencing decisions. We report the roles, attitudes and involvement of such nurses regarding adjuvant chemotherapy in older women.

Method

A questionnaire examined 259 UK BCN and RN’s views about efficacy and desirability of chemotherapy in older women, participation in decision-making in MDTs, and roles when chemotherapy was discussed with patients.

Results

72% of BCN and 48% of RN agreed that age should not be a factor influencing who is offered chemotherapy. BCNs indicated involvement in decision-making with older breast cancer patients, discussing chemotherapy with patients at different points following diagnosis and during treatment, and proposing chemotherapy in MDT meetings. RNs were involved to a lesser extent. 69% of all nurses had not received specific training in the area and 70% thought training would be beneficial. Nurses disagreed that older patients would not tolerate or did not want chemotherapy but 1/3 agreed or were uncertain that burdens of chemotherapy outweighed benefits. A third felt that older women had less control over treatment decisions than younger women.

Conclusions

This study suggests a need to develop the role of specialist nurses to facilitate treatment decision-making relating to chemotherapy in older women.     

Fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms prior to chemotherapy for breast cancer

Goals Previous investigations have shown that women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer experience both disturbed sleep and fatigue. However, most of the previous research examined women either during or after chemotherapy. This study examined sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms in women with breast cancer before the start of chemotherapy.Patients and methods Eighty five women with Stages I–IIIA breast cancer who were scheduled to begin adjuvant or neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy participated. Each had sleep/wake activity recorded with actigraphy for 72 consecutive hours and filled out questionnaires on sleep, fatigue, depression, and functional outcome.Main results On average, the women slept for about 6 h a night and napped for over an hour during the day. Sleep was reported to be disturbed and fatigue levels were high. Circadian rhythms were robust, but women who were more phase-delayed reported more daily dysfunction (p<0.01).Conclusions The data from the current study suggest that the women with breast cancer likely experience both disturbed sleep and fatigue before the beginning of chemotherapy. Although their circadian rhythms are robust, breast cancer patients with more delayed rhythms experience more daily dysfunction secondary to fatigue. These data suggest that strategies to improve disturbed sleep and to phase-advance circadian rhythms prior to initiation of chemotherapy may be beneficial in improving daily function in breast cancer patients.