Cancer patients with an implanted venous access port (IVAP) often manage their care at home during chemotherapy intervals, including maintaining the device, monitoring complications, and following medication instructions. Home care ensures continued support after discharge. However, due to factors such as age, gender, culture, psychological status, and family support, the quality of home care varies significantly. Understanding these factors can help provide targeted guidance to improve the care of cancer patients.

To explore IVAP chemotherapy on home care quality and its association with mental health and family support for cancer patients.

This investigative study was based on a medical records system. It investigated the relationship between psychological status, family support, and home care quality in 180 patients with cancer undergoing IVAP chemotherapy. Psychological status was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory (S-AI); family support was assessed using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and home care quality was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Pearson's correlation and Structural Equation Modeling were used to analyze the interplay between these factors.

The average S-AI score was 47.52 ± 14.47, PSSS was 52.48 ± 12.64, and EORTC QLQ-C30 was 70.09 ± 17.32. A substantial inverse relationship was observed between the EORTC QLQ-C30 and S-AI scores (r = -0.712). A significant positive correlation was found between the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the PSSS, with a correlation coefficient of (r = 0.744). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that family social support, psychological status, and average monthly family income were the main factors influencing the variation in the quality of home care, explaining 71.9% of the variation. The Structural Equation Modeling results indicated that psychological status acted as a partial mediator in the association between family social support and home care quality of life, explaining 32.78% of the mediation effect.

Psychological status and family social support positively impacted cancer patients' home care quality, with psychology partially mediating this effect.

The aims of this study were to characterize patients' distress, psychological symptoms, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate differences in the experiences, resilience, and psychological symptoms of patients with and without distress.

Convergent parallel mixed-methods.

Semistructured interviews and structured questionnaires.

Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, depression, anxiety, and resilience were identified using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and independent sample t tests. Joint displays facilitated data integration and meta-inferences.

Of 54 patients, 25 patients who were distressed were more likely to have low resilience, exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression, report difficulty paying their bills, and identify as Hispanic.

A patient-centered approach to cancer care in which clinicians assess psychological, social, and economic resources and make referrals to supportive care services is warranted.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and pruritic skin disorders are increasingly recognized in cancer patients. The management of these conditions in patients with a history or with concomitant cancer presents unique challenges, as traditional systemic therapies may pose risks due to their immunosuppressive effects. In recent years, biologic agents such as dupilumab and tralokinumab have emerged as promising treatments for AD, offering targeted modulation of the immune response with potentially fewer systemic side effects. This article aims to review the current evidence on the safety and efficacy of dupilumab and tralokinumab in treating AD and pruritus among cancer survivors, addressing the potential benefits and considerations for this unique patient population.

A comprehensive analysis of the current medical literature was performed on the PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until December 15, 2024. In conducting this narrative review, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and medical terminology related to clinical trials and real-life studies were employed, focusing on the pharmacological agents dupilumab, and tralokinumab.

Patients with active or past cancer are typically excluded from clinical trials of new medications, complicating the evaluation of cancer progression or recurrence risks in these patients setting. The potential use of biologic drugs like dupilumab and tralokinumab in oncological patients marks a significant breakthrough for treating conditions such as eczema and pruritus, which are common in this patient group. Although there are no explicit contraindications for using dupilumab and tralokinumab in patients with active cancer or a history of malignancy, there is no definitive guidance on their use in such cases. Real-world data is emerging, facilitated by collaboration between dermatologists and oncologists, supporting the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab and tralokinumab for managing AD in cancer patients. Nonetheless, larger studies with longer follow-up periods and dedicated pharmacovigilance programs are needed to substantiate these findings.

A recent article reported that cancer patients with subthreshold depression are more likely to develop major depression within a year. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that regular exercise was a protective factor against cancer-related fatigue, whereas advanced age, radiotherapy, pain, and low hemoglobin were risk factors for cancer-related fatigue. A limitation of this study was the lack of methodological details about leukemia patients receiving depressive treatment at a specific hospital. Professional assessment, behavioral modification plans, communication, destressing techniques, and educational plans may help chemotherapy patients manage emotional issues and reduce anxiety. Furthermore, these strategies can inspire patients to create, facilitate their treatment, and help them to remain healthy.

Although many studies have explored the correlation between quality of life and survival, none have reported this relationship for specific cancers assessed at distinct time points. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of pretreatment Global Quality of Life (QOL) and functioning QOL, including physical, social, role, emotional, and cognitive QOLs, on mortality risk in patients with lung cancer.

A literature search was conducted across the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and PubMed databases for articles published between their inception and December 2022. Subsequently, 11 studies were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria to investigate the relationship between pretreatment QOLs and mortality risk in patients with lung cancer.

Pretreatment global, physical, social, role, and emotional QOLs were significantly associated with mortality risk as follows: Global QOL (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.13); Physical QOL (HR = 1.04 95% CI = 1.02-1.05); Social QOL (HR = 1.02 95% CI = 1.01-1.03; Role QOL (HR = 1.01 95% CI = 1.01-1.02); Emotional QOL (HR = 1.01 95% CI = 1.00-1.03).

These findings underscore the importance of early QOL assessment after diagnosis as well as early provision of physical, social, and psychological support accommodating each patient's demands.

The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number CRD42023398206, Registered on February 20, 2023.

This study aims to investigate the variations in fatigue and sleep disturbances among female patients with advanced lung cancer (ALC) and advanced breast cancer (ABC) during chemotherapy.

A total of 36 female patients with ALC and 36 with ABC, all of whom had completed their first cycle of chemotherapy, were included. Fatigue was assessed using the General Fatigue Scale (GFS), and sleep disturbances were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at designated time points throughout the chemotherapy process.

Linear regression analysis indicated that variables such as age, education level, employment status, cancer type, clinical stage, and symptom distress had no significant correlation with either fatigue or sleep disturbances. The GFS significantly discriminated fatigue among the ALC, ABC, and combined groups, while the PSQI demonstrated a significant distinction in sleep disturbance only within the ALC and combined groups.

In summary, when considering the findings of both assessments in this study, the GFS score exhibited greater sensitivity in detecting fatigue than the PSQI score did for identifying sleep disturbances in advanced cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and the impact of baseline and changes in anxiety on cognitive functioning following exercise and mind-body prehabilitation interventions.

The sample consisted of 49 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer (stages I-III) who planned to undergo breast cancer surgery at two academic cancer centers. Participants were randomized to receive an exercise or mind-body prehabilitation intervention between the time of diagnosis and breast cancer surgery. Participants completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression (HADS), perceived stress, and cognitive functioning (EORTC-QLQ-C30) at study enrollment and prior to surgery (post-intervention). The relationships between change in cognitive functioning and change in anxiety among all participants were estimated using linear regression modeling.

A significant proportion of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer had clinically significant anxiety (34.0%). Greater anxiety was moderately associated with worse cognitive functioning (r = -0.33) at baseline. Linear modeling found that changes in cognitive functioning and anxiety were inversely related: Each one-unit decrease in anxiety was associated with a two-unit improvement in cognitive function (p = .06).

Anxiety was common in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer and was related to worse cognitive functioning. Assessment of anxiety at the time of diagnosis may allow for earlier anxiety management and subsequent improvement in cognitive functioning.