scholarly journals An Updated Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies Assessing Anxiety, Depression, Fear of Cancer Recurrence or Psychological Distress in Testicular Cancer Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol Volume 13 ◽  
pp. 3803-3816
Author(s):  
Orlando Rincones ◽  
Allan 'Ben' Smith ◽  
Sayeda Naher ◽  
Rebecca Mercieca-Bebber ◽  
Martin Stockler
2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Simard ◽  
Belinda Thewes ◽  
Gerry Humphris ◽  
Mélanie Dixon ◽  
Ceara Hayden ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1129-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan “Ben” Smith ◽  
Claudia Rutherford ◽  
Phyllis Butow ◽  
Ian Olver ◽  
Tim Luckett ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Anderson ◽  
Allan ‘Ben' Smith ◽  
Abbey Diaz ◽  
Joanne Shaw ◽  
Phyllis Butow ◽  
...  

While cancer survivors commonly experience fear and anxiety, a substantial minority experience an enduring and debilitating fear that their cancer will return; a condition commonly referred to as fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Despite recent advances in this area, little is known about FCR among people from Indigenous or other ethnic and racial minority populations. Given the high prevalence and poor outcomes of cancer among people from these populations, a robust understanding of FCR among people from these groups is critical. The current review identified and aggregated existing literature on FCR amongst adult cancer survivors from Indigenous and minority populations. The protocol of this review was registered with PROSPERO in July 2020 (Registration number: CRD42020161655). A systematic search of bibliographic databases was conducted for relevant articles published from 1997 to November 2019. Data from eligible articles were extracted and appraised for quality by two independent reviewers. Nineteen articles from four countries (United States of America, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom) met the inclusion criteria, including 14 quantitative, 4 qualitative and 1 mixed-methods study. Only one article reported on an Indigenous population. Few studies reported on FCR prevalence (n = 3) or severity (n = 9). While the variation in tools used to measure FCR hindered a robust estimate of severity, results suggested some differences in FCR severity between minority and dominant populations, although these may have been due to study metholodological differences. Few factors were reported as being associated with FCR in minorities across multiple studies. The qualitative synthesis found five themes associated with the lived experience of FCR: (i) variations in the lived experience of FCR; (ii) spirituality and worldview impacting on FCR; (iii) the importance of staying positive; (iv) complexities around support; and (v) increasing cancer knowledge. The findings of this review highlight differences in FCR across cultures and contexts, which reinforces the need for culturally-specific approaches to this condition. The dearth of research in this area is of concern given the significant burden of cancer in these populations. A deeper understanding of this condition among Indigenous and minority populations is critical to developing and delivering appropriate and effective psychosocial care for cancer survivors from these groups. Systematic Review Registration: identifier [CRD42020161655].


10.2196/15178 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e15178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Utkarsh B Subnis ◽  
Norman AS Farb ◽  
Katherine-Ann Laura Piedalue ◽  
Michael Speca ◽  
Sasha Lupichuk ◽  
...  

Background Cancer patients transitioning to survivorship after completing cancer treatments need psychosocial interventions to manage stressors such as anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer recurrence. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective for treating these symptoms; however, cancer survivors are often unable to participate in face-to-face interventions because of difficulties such as work and family commitments, treatment-related side-effects, scheduling conflicts, and geography. Smartphone app–based MBIs are an innovative way to deliver psychosocial cancer care and can overcome several such difficulties, since patients can participate at their own convenience. Objective The SEAMLESS (Smartphone App–Based Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Survivors) study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a tailored app-based mindfulness intervention for cancer survivors (the Am Mindfulness-Based Cancer Survivorship—MBCS—Journey) for treating (1) symptoms of stress (primary outcome), as well as (2) fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and overall physical functioning (secondary outcomes). This is the first Canadian efficacy trial of a tailored mindfulness app intervention in cancer survivors. Methods This is a randomized waitlist-controlled trial, which will evaluate the effectiveness of Am MBCS for impacting the primary and secondary outcomes in cancer survivors who have completed all their cancer treatments. Outcomes will be assessed using web-based surveys with validated psychometric instruments at (1) baseline, (2) mid-intervention (2 weeks later), (3) immediately postintervention (4 weeks), (4) 3 months postbaseline, (5) 6 months postbaseline, and (6) 12 months postbaseline. The waitlist group will complete all assessments and will cross over to the intervention condition after the 3-month assessment. In addition, data will be obtained by the smartphone app itself, which includes users’ engagement with the app-based intervention, their emotional state (eg, angry and elated) from a user-inputted digital emotion-mapping board, and psychobiometric data using photoplethysmography technology. Results The study received ethics approval in September 2018 and recruitment commenced in January 2019. Participants are being recruited through a provincial cancer registry, and the majority of participants currently enrolled are breast (44/83, 53%) or colorectal (17/83, 20%) cancer survivors, although some survivors of other cancer are also present. Data collection for analysis of the primary outcome time-point will be complete by September 2019, and the follow-up data will be collected and analyzed by September 2020. Data will be analyzed to determine group differences using linear mixed modelling statistical techniques. Conclusions Cancer care providers are uncertain about the efficacy of app-based mindfulness interventions for patients, which are available in great supply in today’s digital world. This study will provide rigorously evaluated efficacy data for an app-based mindfulness intervention for cancer survivors, which if helpful, could be made available for psychosocial care at cancer centers worldwide. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03484000; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03484000 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/15178


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Utkarsh B Subnis ◽  
Norman AS Farb ◽  
Katherine-Ann Laura Piedalue ◽  
Michael Speca ◽  
Sasha Lupichuk ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Cancer patients transitioning to survivorship after completing cancer treatments need psychosocial interventions to manage stressors such as anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer recurrence. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective for treating these symptoms; however, cancer survivors are often unable to participate in face-to-face interventions because of difficulties such as work and family commitments, treatment-related side-effects, scheduling conflicts, and geography. Smartphone app–based MBIs are an innovative way to deliver psychosocial cancer care and can overcome several such difficulties, since patients can participate at their own convenience. OBJECTIVE The SEAMLESS (Smartphone App–Based Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Survivors) study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a tailored app-based mindfulness intervention for cancer survivors (the <i>Am</i> Mindfulness-Based Cancer Survivorship—MBCS—Journey) for treating (1) symptoms of stress (primary outcome), as well as (2) fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and overall physical functioning (secondary outcomes). This is the first Canadian efficacy trial of a tailored mindfulness app intervention in cancer survivors. METHODS This is a randomized waitlist-controlled trial, which will evaluate the effectiveness of <i>Am</i> MBCS for impacting the primary and secondary outcomes in cancer survivors who have completed all their cancer treatments. Outcomes will be assessed using web-based surveys with validated psychometric instruments at (1) baseline, (2) mid-intervention (2 weeks later), (3) immediately postintervention (4 weeks), (4) 3 months postbaseline, (5) 6 months postbaseline, and (6) 12 months postbaseline. The waitlist group will complete all assessments and will cross over to the intervention condition after the 3-month assessment. In addition, data will be obtained by the smartphone app itself, which includes users’ engagement with the app-based intervention, their emotional state (eg, angry and elated) from a user-inputted digital emotion-mapping board, and psychobiometric data using photoplethysmography technology. RESULTS The study received ethics approval in September 2018 and recruitment commenced in January 2019. Participants are being recruited through a provincial cancer registry, and the majority of participants currently enrolled are breast (44/83, 53%) or colorectal (17/83, 20%) cancer survivors, although some survivors of other cancer are also present. Data collection for analysis of the primary outcome time-point will be complete by September 2019, and the follow-up data will be collected and analyzed by September 2020. Data will be analyzed to determine group differences using linear mixed modelling statistical techniques. CONCLUSIONS Cancer care providers are uncertain about the efficacy of app-based mindfulness interventions for patients, which are available in great supply in today’s digital world. This study will provide rigorously evaluated efficacy data for an app-based mindfulness intervention for cancer survivors, which if helpful, could be made available for psychosocial care at cancer centers worldwide. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03484000; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03484000 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/15178


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise O'Rourke ◽  
Peter L. Fisher ◽  
Sophie Campbell ◽  
Amelia Wright ◽  
Mary Gemma Cherry

Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a significant concern for family caregivers of cancer survivors and is associated with many adverse outcomes, including increased emotional distress and poorer quality of life. Although several theoretical models have been proposed to account for FCR in cancer survivors, their applicability to caregivers is unknown. The aim of this review was to identify clinical, demographic and psychological factors that are associated with, and predict, FCR in caregivers of cancer survivors.Method: AMED, CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, and Scopus were systematically searched for relevant studies reporting quantitative data on factors associated with FCR or similar constructs (e.g., worry or anxiety about cancer recurrence) in family caregivers of adult cancer survivors. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality using a standardized checklist adapted from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Results: Sixteen studies, half of which were cross-sectional, were included and summarized narratively. Non-modifiable factors, including age (n = 6) and treatment modality (n = 4), were found to be associated with increased FCR. Significant positive associations were also reported between illness perceptions and FCR (n = 3). However, there was heterogeneity across included studies with regards to factors examined and most were conducted in the USA. There were also several methodological limitations to the included studies.Conclusions: Research examining FCR in caregivers of cancer survivors has predominantly focused on demographic and clinical factors. Given the paucity of research exploring the psychological mechanisms underpinning FCR, future research should investigate theoretical underpinnings of FCR in caregivers of cancer survivors to support the development of psychological interventions for this population.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier [CRD42019119729].


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Yohei Sasaki ◽  
Mina Honyashiki ◽  
Takayuki Kinoshita ◽  
Akira Matsui ◽  
Ayako Nakashoji ◽  
...  

The fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is the most common and most severe unmet need among cancer survivors. Safe treatments for the FCR that are easily disseminated are greatly needed. Our primary aim is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and effect size of perilla oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and Bifidobacterium, a probiotic, on FCR in breast cancer survivors after the completion of chemotherapy. This study has been planned as an exploratory clinical study (phase II) and will be conducted as a three-arm, 12-week parallel group, masked-rater randomized controlled trial. Fifteen participants will be randomized with 1:1:1 allocation to receive Bifidobacterium plus perilla oil, Bifidobacterium alone, or no intervention (control). Interventions will end within 12 weeks after the random allocation of each participant. The participants will be outpatients with invasive breast cancer aged 20 years or older whose chemotherapy was completed at least 6 months before registration; hormone therapy may be ongoing. The primary outcome will be severity of FCR at 12 weeks assessed by masked raters using the 4-item Concerns about Recurrence Scale concerning overall fear of recurrence. The study protocol for the current study is registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031200029).


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