The impact of cancer and quality of life for post‐treatment non‐Hodgkin lymphoma survivors

Objective: Recent work suggests that perceptions of the impact of cancer on survivors' lives are associated with physical and mental health and quality of life (QOL) outcomes. This study examines the association between the Impact of Cancer Version 2 Scales (IOCv2) and these outcomes in a large sample of survivors of adult non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Methods: Participants completed a mailed survey to assess physical and mental health (SF‐36), cancer‐specific QOL (FACT‐G) and perceived impact of cancer (IOCv2). Hierarchical multiple regression models, in which demographic, clinical, psychosocial and IOCv2 measures were added sequentially, were employed to evaluate their contribution to explain variance in SF‐36 and FACT‐G scores. Results: A total of 652 post‐treatment NHL survivors participated. Survivors with comorbidities and negative appraisals of life threat and treatment intensity reported worse physical and mental health and QOL (all p<0.05). After controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, younger respondents reported better physical but worse mental health and QOL (all p<0.01). Lower IOCv2 Negative Impact (all p<0.001) and higher Positive Impact (all p<0.05) scores were associated with better physical and mental health and QOL after controlling for demographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics. Conclusions: Findings suggest that perceptions of cancer's impact on survivors' lives may influence or be influenced by health status and functioning and QOL. Longitudinal research is needed to establish causality, which could lead to the development of interventions targeting survivors' impact of cancer concerns, and ultimately to the enhancement of overall health and QOL. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cancer risks among relatives of children with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

A role for genetic susceptibility in the aetiology of childhood lymphomas was investigated in 454 families of children with histologically confirmed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from Northwest England. Cancers in parents were obtained from the UK National Health Service Central Register and in other close relatives by interview with the parents. The cancer incidence among relatives was compared with expected incidence based on cancer registry data for England. There were 197 cancers in relatives (SIR 1.0 95% CI 0.8-1.1). In families of children with HL, there was an excess of HL in the first degree relatives (SIR 5.8 95% CI 1.2-16.9). Excesses of HL diagnosed under population median age (SIR 4.1 95% CI 1.1-10.6) were seen among all relatives and relatives of children who were below the median age at diagnosis (SIR 5.5 95% CI 1.1-16.0). In families of children with NHL, there were non-significant excesses of central nervous system (CNS) tumours in the first degree relatives (SIR 2.9 95% CI 0.8-7.4) and in the second and third degree relatives (SIR 1.5). There were significant excesses of CNS tumours diagnosed under the population median age (SIR 2.8 95% CI 1.1-5.8) in all relatives. Excess CNS tumours were also seen among relatives of children below the median age at diagnosis (SIR 3.2 95% CI 1.1-7.6). In conclusion, genetic susceptibility in some families of children with lymphoma might be operating, but aetiologies in HL and NHL appear to be different. Possible interpretations of our findings, in the context of putative genetic and infectious aetiologies, are discussed.     

Health‐related quality of life among survivors of aggressive non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND:

Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the fifth most common cancer among men and women. Patients with aggressive NHL receive intense medical treatments that can significantly compromise health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). However, knowledge of HRQOL and its correlates among survivors of aggressive NHL is limited.

METHODS:

Self‐reported data on HRQOL (physical and mental function, anxiety, depression, and fatigue) were analyzed for 319 survivors of aggressive NHL. Survivors 2 to 5 years postdiagnosis were selected from the Los Angeles County Cancer Registry. Bivariate and multivariable methods were used to assess the influence of sociodemographic, clinical, and cognitive health‐appraisal factors on survivors' HRQOL.

RESULTS:

After accounting for other covariates, marital status was associated with all HRQOL outcomes (P < .05). Younger survivors reported worse mental function and higher levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue (P < .01). Survivors who had more comorbid conditions or lacked private health insurance reported worse physical and mental function and higher levels of depression and fatigue (P < .05). Survivors who experienced a recurrence reported worse physical function and higher levels of depression and fatigue (P < .05). With the exception of a nonsignificant association between perceived control and physical function, greater perceptions of personal control and health competence were associated significantly with more positive HRQOL outcomes (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results indicated that survivors of aggressive NHL who are younger, are unmarried, lack private insurance, or experience greater illness burden may be at risk for poorer HRQOL. Cognitive health‐appraisal factors were strongly related to HRQOL, suggesting potential benefits of interventions focused on these mutable factors for this population. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Predicting social withdrawal,anxiety and depression symptoms in pediatric brain tumor survivors

Objective: Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTSs) are at risk for impairments in social adjustment and psychological distress. This study investigated longitudinal associations between symptoms of social withdrawal and anxiety/depression in PBTS, as well as medical, demographic, and personal characteristics that may also influence reports of social withdrawal and anxiety/depression.

Method: About 91 PBTS (51% male, mean age 11.21?years, off-treatment) participated. At baseline and 8?months follow-up, primary caregivers of PBTS completed measures of social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Medical information (e.g. tumor type and location, cranial irradiation therapy) and child personal characteristics (e.g. child’s age and gender, executive function, social skills) were obtained at baseline.

Results: Baseline reports of depression symptoms and social skills predicted social withdrawal 8?months later. Social withdrawal at baseline predicted greater combined anxiety and depression symptoms 8?months later. Depression alone predicted greater anxiety symptoms at follow-up. Anxiety symptoms and poor global executive functioning predicted greater depression symptoms at follow-up.

Conclusions: The social adjustment and psychological distress of PBTSs are interrelated and can influence each other across time. These findings support the importance of multifaceted interventions targeting both psychological distress and social adjustment, in order to support the optimal psychosocial adjustment of PBTSs.     

Survival after second primary lung cancer: a population-based study of 187 Hodgkin lymphoma patients

BACKGROUND:

Lung cancer accounts for the largest absolute risk of second malignancies among Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors. However, no population‐based studies have compared overall survival (OS) between HL survivors who developed nonsmall cell lung cancer (HL‐NSCLC) versus patients with first primary NSCLC (NSCLC‐1).

METHODS:

The authors compared the OS of 178,431 patients who had NSCLC‐1 and 187 patients who had HL‐NSCLC (among 22,648 HL survivors), accounting for sex, race, sociodemographic status, calendar year, and age at NSCLC diagnosis, and NSCLC histology and stage. All patients were reported to the population‐based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Hazard ratios (HRs) were derived from a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS:

Although the NSCLC stage distribution was similar in both groups (20% localized, 30% regional, and 50% distant), HL survivors experienced significantly inferior stage‐specific OS. For patients with localized, regional, and distant stage NSCLC, the HRs (95% confidence interval [CI]) for death among HL survivors were 1.60 (95% CI, 1.08‐2.37; P < .0001), 1.67 (95% CI, 1.26‐2.22; P = .0004), and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.06‐1.61; P = .013), respectively. Among HL‐NSCLC patients, significant associations were observed between more advanced NSCLC stage and the following variables: younger age at HL diagnosis (P = .003), younger age at NSCLC diagnosis (P = .048), and longer latency between HL and NSCLC diagnoses (P = .015).

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared with patients who had de novo NSCLC, HL survivors experienced a significant 30% to 60% decrease in OS after an NSCLC diagnosis. Further research is needed to not only elucidate the clinical‐biologic underpinnings of NSCLC after HL, including the influence of previous HL treatment, but also to define the role of lung cancer screening in selected patients. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Beyond cancer: changes, problems and needs expressed by adult lymphoma survivors attending an out-patients clinic

Little is known about the impact of the cancer experience on people following the completion of treatment. Work has begun to outline such experiences primarily in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the 'survival'experience within a British context of care, outlining the changes, problems and needs expressed by adult cancer survivors.
A convenience sample of 10 adult lymphoma patients from one large teaching hospital was interviewed a minimum of 18 months following the completion of successful treatment. Data were collected by means of tape-recorded semi-structured interviews, using a schedule based on the Cancer Survivorship Questionnaire (Loescher et al. , 1990).
Data were analysed using content analysis and this indicated that, whilst survival itself may be reward enough for some, others seek to improve or adjust their current status, physically, psychologically or socially. It was concluded that the British cancer survivors were affected in many ways, some having to adjust more than others to the consequences of cure. The preliminary findings pointed towards a notion of 'subtle survivorship'in the British survivors. While they reported many changes in their lives after treatment, many were typically accepting of these and successfully adjusted to their new lives.     

Resistance training improves fatigue and quality of life in previously sedentary breast cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of resistance training (RT) on quality of life (QOL) and fatigue in breast cancer survivors as an adjunct to usual care. We recruited 39 women who had survived breast cancer [mean age (y) 51.9 ± 8.8; time since diagnosis (m) 11.6 ± 13.2]. Primary outcomes were fatigue as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT) scale and QOL as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT‐G) scale. ANCOVA was used to assess the change in the primary outcomes while controlling for baseline values, with effect sizes (ES) displayed as partial Eta squared. The experimental group received supervised RT 3 days per week in a university clinic for 16 weeks. Perceptions of fatigue improved significantly in the RT group compared to controls [mean (SD) 6.7 (7.5) points vs. 1.5 (3.7) points], (P = 0.006, ES = 0.20) as did QOL [6.9 (8.5) points vs. 1.6 (4.4) points], (P = 0.015, ES = 0.16). We demonstrated both statistically and clinically important improvements in fatigue and QOL in response to RT in breast cancer survivors.     

Risk factors for impaired gonadal function in female Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: final analysis of a retrospective multicenter joint study from Italian and Brazilian Institutions

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of the most common types of cancer in the young and one of the most curable forms of cancer. Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in the study of long‐term morbidities. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for impaired gonadal function in a retrospective cohort of 238 HL female survivors from Italy and Brazil and to analyse the role of oral contraceptives (OC) and GnRH‐analogues. Besides data collection from HL databases, a specific questionnaire was administered to collect data on gonadal function. The median age at diagnosis was 25 years and the median follow‐up was 7 years. Overall, 25% of the patients developed impaired gonadal function. Older age at diagnosis, front‐line therapies containing alkylating agents and more than one treatment were independent risk factors, whereas the use of OC or GnRH‐a reduced independently the risk of impaired gonadal function. The fertility rate among fertile survivors was low when compared with the general population. We confirmed that older age, type of front‐line chemotherapy and a higher number of therapies are associated with gonadal function impairment in terms of infertility and premature menopause in female HL survivors. Also, the use of GnRH‐a or OC was independently identified as a protective factor. Further prospective studies are needed to better understand the barriers to parenthood in HL survivors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Art therapy for anxiety,depression, and fatigue in females with breast cancer: A systematic review

This systematic review employed a meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of art therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and fatigue in female patients with breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The review included nine original studies and analyzed data from a total of 754 patients. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. In total, 1,466 articles were retrieved. We excluded studies in which the participant, interventions, and study design did not satisfy the inclusion criteria, leaving nine articles for analysis, The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools were used for quality evaluation. The analysis revealed a significant difference in treatment outcomes between patients who received art therapy and those who did not (SMD?=?–0.48, 95%CI [–0.75, –0.21, p?=?0.0005]). The review provides initial evidence to suggest that art therapy benefits female breast cancer patients with respect to the treatment of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. However, additional and better-quality studies must be conducted, particularly with larger sample sizes, greater specificity of the design of trials and interventions, and a longer follow-up duration.     

The impact of optimism on anxiety,depression and quality of life in urogenital cancer patients

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between optimism and anxiety, depression and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). A further aim was to investigate the predictive value of optimism for anxiety, depression and HRQOL, quantified with and without controlling the corresponding base level. Methods: A total of 427 urogenital cancer patients were asked to complete the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the health survey SF‐8 during their stay in the hospital (T1), two weeks later (T2) and three months later. Results: Finally, 275 patients (64.4%) completed all questionnaires. Optimism at T1 was significantly associated with anxiety (r=?0.35), depression (r=?0.41) and HRQOL (physical: r=0.29; mental: r=0.27) and can predict outcome variables three months later. After controlling for the base levels of anxiety, depression and HRQOL, the predictive value of optimism remained significant but small. The incrementally variance explained by the LOT varied between 2.1% in anxiety and 8.2% in physical HRQOL. Conclusion: Especially patients with a low level of optimism and a high level of pessimism are at risk for higher levels of anxiety and depression in addition to lowered HRQOL. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.