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Objectives: Depression and suicide rates are high among cancer sufferers. Women with breast and gynecological cancer show high levels of distress, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and anxiety. Understanding suicide rates and risk factors in this population would represent a viable tool in planning tailored, prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to estimate suicide rate and identify the determinants of suicide risk in women with breast and other gynecologic cancer. Methods: A systematic research was performed in PubMed and PsycINFO from anytime to September 26, 2023. The following search strategy was used: (Gynaecol* OR Gynecolog*) AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumor OR neoplas* OR malignan*) AND suicid*. In this review, we adhered to PRISMA statement. Results: Nine papers met inclusion criteria. Women with breast or gynecological cancers showed higher suicide rates compared to the general population. Ovarian cancer was associated with higher suicide risk and suicidal ideation compared to other gynecological cancers. The extent of surgical demolition was positively associated with both. Psychological factors, such as self‐perceived burden and alexithymia, might also influence suicidal thinking. Conclusions: Women with breast and gynecological cancer are at high risk of suicide. Intervention aimed to reduce burden related to psychological factors might help reducing such risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of cervical cancer patients treated by Concurrent Chemoradiation (CCRT) in Morocco is influenced by multiple concomitant factors that affect patients’ post-treatment physical and psychosocial well-being. Therefore, the assessment of post-treatment health related quality of life may help identify groups of patients and risk factors for future interventions for improving post-treatment quality of life. Method: This study aimed at assessing HRQoL and its association to psychological distress of 103 cervical cancer patients treated with CCRT in Morocco. The assessment was performed using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and the HADS questionnaires. Results: Cervical cancer patients had diminished HRQoL for functional dimensions (''emotional functioning'', “physical functioning” and “role functioning” with averages of 51.78, 54.17, and 58.74, respectively) and high level for symptomatic dimensions with mean scores of 58.90 for “Appetite loss’, 38.83 for “financial difficulties”, 45.31 for “insomnia”, 45.42 for “fatigue”, and 46.28 for “pain”. The assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms showed that the majority of patients had high level of anxiety (62.1%), and depression (61.2%). Emotional functioning, fatigue and insomnia were the main predictors of anxiety disorders in women with cervical cancer. Lower emotional functioning and greater fatigue and insomnia contributed significantly to higher anxiety level. Conclusions: HRQoL and psychological status of Moroccan cervical cancer patients undergoing CCRT were negatively affected. These findings suggest that future patient care policies should include strategies for improving HRQoL, mainly through psychological support and patient education as well as prevention or reduction treatment complications.

Background: There are growing discussions regarding the term "cancer survivor," particularly how patients with cancer relate to it. Objective: To assess how individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) perceive the term "cancer survivor." Methods: We conducted an international cross-sectional study and, using social media, invited individuals who were ≥18 years; received a diagnosis for CRC; and can communicate in English. We administered an online survey comprising both quantitative (e.g., multiple choice) and qualitative (e.g., open-ended) questions. We used logistic regression to assess determinants of participants' perspectives towards the term "cancer survivor." Qualitative responses were analyzed using content analysis. Results: In all, 539 participants with CRC completed the survey, including 122 (22.6%) undergoing treatment and 417 (77.4%) who completed treatment. Participants who had completed treatment were four times more likely to relate with term "cancer survivor" compared to those undergoing treatment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 4.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4 to 6.7). Participants diagnosed with CRC ≥50 years were also more likely to relate with the term compared to those diagnosed < 50 years (aOR, 1.88; 95% (CI) 1.2 to 3.0). Analysis of open-ended survey responses revealed aversion, discomfort, indifference, reluctance, and acceptance as themes which capture the spectrum of feelings towards the term "cancer survivor." Conclusion: Perspectives of individuals with CRC towards the term "cancer survivor" differ according to treatment status and age of diagnosis. Implication of Cancer Survivors: Our study amplifies voices of the CRC community towards reconsideration of the term "cancer survivor", considering the implications of treatment status and age in highlighting the importance of language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial distress is highly prevalent in cancer patients, approaching rates around 40% across various cancer sites according to multicenter studies. As such, distress screening procedures have been developed and implemented to identify and respond to cancer patients' psychosocial distress and concerns. However, many cancer patients continue to report unmet psychosocial needs suggesting gaps in connecting patients with psychosocial services. Presently, there is a paucity of research examining sex-based disparities in referral rates to behavioral oncology services, particularly for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. Informed by gender role conflict and empirical literature documenting disparities in cancer care and treatment based on a variety of sociocultural variables, this study aimed to examine the presence of sex disparities in referral rates to behavioral oncology services for AYA cancer patients. Data for this study consisted of 1,700 AYA cancer patients (age 18–39) who completed a distress screening at a large cancer center of a teaching hospital in the Midwestern United. Results indicated that patient sex significantly predicted the odds of behavioral oncology referral (γ50 = −0.95, Odds ratio = 2.60, p < 0.001). This finding indicates that female AYA cancer patients are 2.5 times more likely to be referred to behavioral oncology services compared to male AYA cancer patients after controlling for psychosocial distress and emotional, family, and practical problems. Additionally, we found that emotional problems significantly moderated the odds of referral for males and females (γ60 = 0.37, Odds ratio = 1.44, p < 0.001), however the odds of referral for males who endorsed emotional problems were lower than males who did not endorse emotional problems. This contrasted with female AYA cancer patients where the endorsement of emotional problems increased the odds of referral to behavioral oncology services. Findings are discussed with particular focus on how to enhance equitable care and reduce sex and other sociocultural-based disparities in AYA psychosocial oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial distress is highly prevalent in cancer patients, approaching rates around 40% across various cancer sites according to multicenter studies. As such, distress screening procedures have been developed and implemented to identify and respond to cancer patients' psychosocial distress and concerns. However, many cancer patients continue to report unmet psychosocial needs suggesting gaps in connecting patients with psychosocial services. Presently, there is a paucity of research examining sex-based disparities in referral rates to behavioral oncology services, particularly for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. Informed by gender role conflict and empirical literature documenting disparities in cancer care and treatment based on a variety of sociocultural variables, this study aimed to examine the presence of sex disparities in referral rates to behavioral oncology services for AYA cancer patients. Data for this study consisted of 1,700 AYA cancer patients (age 18–39) who completed a distress screening at a large cancer center of a teaching hospital in the Midwestern United. Results indicated that patient sex significantly predicted the odds of behavioral oncology referral (γ50 = −0.95, Odds ratio = 2.60, p < 0.001). This finding indicates that female AYA cancer patients are 2.5 times more likely to be referred to behavioral oncology services compared to male AYA cancer patients after controlling for psychosocial distress and emotional, family, and practical problems. Additionally, we found that emotional problems significantly moderated the odds of referral for males and females (γ60 = 0.37, Odds ratio = 1.44, p < 0.001), however the odds of referral for males who endorsed emotional problems were lower than males who did not endorse emotional problems. This contrasted with female AYA cancer patients where the endorsement of emotional problems increased the odds of referral to behavioral oncology services. Findings are discussed with particular focus on how to enhance equitable care and reduce sex and other sociocultural-based disparities in AYA psychosocial oncology.

Pain is a common symptom in cancer patients, restricts daily life activities and reduces survival time. Identification of sociodemographic, medical and psychological correlates of pain among cancer patients in Germany could help identify subgroups most in need of pain management. In this multicenter, epidemiologic cross-sectional study, we assessed pain prevalence and severity, quality of life (QoL) and psychological distress in a sample of 3,745 cancer patients across all tumor entities. In total, 37.9% patients suffered from cancer-related pain and 56.1% suffered from non-specific pain. Younger, female, less educated and unemployed patients reported pain more frequently and more severe pain (p < 0.001). Pain was associated with distress, depression, anxiety, QoL, tumor stage (p < 0.001), and time since diagnosis (p = 0.012). Pain assessment and pain management should be a routine part of cancer treatment and cancer survivorship care plans.

Objective: To examine current financial status, changes before and after bereavement, and their effects on possible major depressive disorder (MDD) and complicated grief (CG) among bereaved family members of patients with cancer. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional questionnaire survey on 787 bereaved family members of patients with cancer in 71 palliative care institutions in Japan from May to July 2016. The survey assessed perceived level of concern regarding current financial status and whether it changed after bereavement. We also collected information on demographic factors and assessed the possible MDD and CG using the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 and Brief Grief Questionnaire, respectively. We then conducted bivariate analysis to examine the relationship between these factors and financial status. Results: A total of 491 (62%) questionnaires were returned. The majority of the participants (n = 382, 78%) reported having no or mild concerns about their livelihood, whereas 19% (n = 95) had moderate to severe concerns. Regarding the change in financial status after bereavement, 7% (n = 35) reported improvement, 28% (n = 131) reported worsening, and 65% (n = 308) reported no change. The prevalences of possible MDD and CG were 22% (n = 108) and 9% (n = 41), respectively, and were significantly lower among participants with less concern regarding their livelihood and whose financial status had not changed after bereavement (both p < 0.05). Conclusions: About one‐fifth of the bereaved family members reported financial difficulties to some extent; these were significantly associated with MDD and CG. These findings provide evidence of the need for psychosocial support including financial consultation for bereaved family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psycho oncologist knows that his technical decisions have an ethical component, though only it is because "to know" generates "power"; of there the necessary mediation of the "duty". To be a professional of excellence the psycho oncologist has to handle thoroughly the clinical aspects, the therapeutic communication and the moral analysis, having to be this one sufficiently well based on rational criteria and with analytical and deliberative solidly founded methodology. There are not facts without values and in psychooncology some facts turn into challenge from the ethical perspective: the decision taking process, the team work, the role of autonomy of the patient, the dialectics between reason and feeling, the experience of fragility and the obligations of responsibility, the link between the therapeutic communication and the moral deliberation and – above all - the moral imperative of response that supposes the experience of suffering of the patient of cancer and his family. The moral category of a society measures up for its capacity in offering alternatives to their more fragile and helplessness members; in this respect, the presence of psychooncologists in the Services of Oncology and / or Palliative Care turns, in west, in a question of justice, that not of beneficence; this is based not only for the effectiveness of his offers, but also for his efficiency.

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Copyright of Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte is the property of Revista Virtual Universidad Catolica del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)