Cancer Coping Research Articles

The predictive power of coping strategies of pediatric oncology patients on their quality of life and their attitudes toward diseases.

Pediatric oncology patients face several physical and psychological challenges that can significantly impact their quality of life (QoL) and attitudes toward their illness. Coping strategies are pivotal in managing the emotional and physical burdens of disease. This study aimed to examine the impact of coping strategies of pediatric oncology patients on their QoL and attitudes towards their illness. The descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted with 112 pediatric oncology patients aged 10-18 years. The Sociodemographic Form, Pediatric Cancer Coping Scale (PCCS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Child Attitude Towards Illness Scale (CATIS) were used for data collection. Significant correlations were identified between cognitive coping, defensive coping, and CATIS (p<.001). The PCCS and subdimensions significantly predicted CATIS (p<.001), accounting for 15.3% of the cognitive and defensive coping variation. However, there was no relationship between PCCS total and subdimension scores on PedsQL (p=.534). The PedsQL and subdimensions significantly predicted CATIS (p<.001) and accounted for 27.2% of the variation in physical health summary score, emotional functioning, psychosocial health summary score, and total PedsQL score. The study reveals that cognitive coping strategies positively predict attitudes toward illness, whereas defensive coping strategies have an inverse effect. The study proposes that comprehensive care models in pediatric oncology support effective coping mechanisms and enhance the QoL of those who receive them.

Cancer Coping, Family Support, and Post-traumatic Growth in Female Genital Cancer Patients––A Secondary Publication

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between cancer coping, family support and degree of post-traumatic growth in female genital cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and provide evidence for nursing intervention to enhance post-traumatic growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 114 participants. The cancer coping, family support and post-traumatic growth were measured using a self-reported questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed with independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation using the SPSS/win 28.0 statistical programs. Results: The mean score of cancer coping was 62.65 ± 13.53, that of intrapersonal coping 38.32 ± 8.34, and that of interpersonal coping was 24.32 ± 6.56. The mean score of family support was 49.06 ± 7.32 and post-traumatic growth was 59.66 ± 17.92. Post-traumatic growth showed a statistically significant positive correlation among intrapersonal coping (r = 0.80), interpersonal coping (r = 0.61), and family support (r = 0.42, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: To increase post-traumatic growth, it is necessary to develop coping interventions so that cancer patients can effectively and positively cope with various difficulties and problems in the process of chemotherapy.

Quality of life, adherence to voice rehabilitation therapy and psychological variables in patients with head and neck cancer

Introduction: Voice problems can affect quality of life (QoL), other psychological aspects, and the adequate adherence to voice rehabilitation therapy. Objective: To determine the association between QoL and treatment adherence (TA) to voice rehabilitation with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and coping strategies. Method: A longitudinal study was conducted with 97 participants with head and neck cancer (H&amp;N) who were attending voice rehabilitation therapy. Instruments: EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&amp;N35, Treatment Adherence Checklist, Cancer Coping Questionnaire and HADS. Results: The mean overall QoL was 83.33, and mean TA was 8.80. Lower overall QoL and emotional functioning scores, as well as higher dry mouth scores were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Greater problems with social contact and lower TA were associated to higher depression scores. Conclusion: Consistent with the literature, TA and QoL were associated to depression and QoL was also correlated to anxiety. These results are among the first to explore such aspects in Latino patients and emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary care for H&amp;N cancer patients in voice rehabilitation therapy, given that during their treatment they may encounter psychological barriers that could hinder their progress in voice quality and QoL.

Experiences of patients with advanced cancer coping with chronic pain: a qualitative analysis

ObjectivesTo gain insight into the perceptions, and beliefs of patients with advanced cancer coping with chronic pain and to identify their attitudes and demands on pain management.MethodsFrom July to September 2022, 17 patients with advanced cancer living with chronic pain were recruited from a tertiary cancer hospital in Hunan Province, China. Qualitative and semi-structured interviews were conducted individually, with 30-45 minutes for each. The Colaizzi 7-step analysis method in phenomenological research was used for data analysis.ResultsThe experience of pain acceptance by advanced cancer patients with chronic pain was summarized into four themes: pain catastrophizing (unable to ignore the pain, try various methods to relieve the pain, exaggerating pain perception, and lack of knowledge about proper pain management), rumination (compulsive rumination and worrying rumination), avoidance coping (situational avoidance and repressive avoidance) and constructive action (setting clear value goal and taking reciprocal action).ConclusionMost patients with advanced cancer had low pain acceptance and negative attitudes. Feeling helpless in the face of pain and suffering alone were their norm. Long-term negative emotions could lead to gradual depression and loss of hope for treatment, resulting in pain catastrophizing and persistent rumination. Nevertheless, a few patients accepted pain with positive attitudes. Medical professionals should pay more attention to the psychological status of advanced cancer patients with chronic pain, and employ alternative therapies, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy. More efforts are needed to reduce patients’ pain catastrophizing, and promote their pain acceptance by a better understanding of pain through health education.

'Only to reconcile with it'. The coping experience amongst middle-aged and older cancer survivors: A qualitative study.

Cancer threat is relevant to age, and the threat of a foreshortened life coupled with a lengthy treatment process negatively affects middle-aged and older adults. Understanding the coping throughout the cancer experience in middle-aged and older cancer survivors will help develop supportive care to promote their physiological and psychological coping effects. To explore the cancer coping experiences of middle-aged adults aged 40-59 and older adults over 60. A descriptive phenomenological study was employed. Face-to-face, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 oncology patients in a tertiary university hospital aged 40 or above from August to October 2023. The interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis procedures. Five themes and 13 subthemes were formed through analysis: acceptance of cancer (considering cancer as chronic, believing in fate andattributing cancer to karma); having different information needs (desired to be truthfully informed, information-seeking behaviour, information avoidance behaviour); getting families involved (developing dependent behaviours, feeling emotional support, family members suffering worse); striving to maintain positive psychological state (positive thinking, seeking peer support) and negative experience (undesirable, low self-esteem). Our study reveals that cancer survivors' attitudes towards having cancer have changed from a death sentence to a more positive perception of a chronic disease. Supportive programmes for developing coping strategies should consider the cultural traditions and religious beliefs, different information needs, involvement of familyand promoting a positive psychological state while avoiding negative factors. Participants with experience of coping with cancer were involved in the semistructured interview.

Efficiency of the Technology-Based “HomeCARE-Family EmPow” for Children with Cancer and Their Parents: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesHome-based pediatric cancer care requires addressing both physical and psychosocial care needs for children and their parents Currently, there is a notable gap in intervention programs that evaluate technology-based psychosocial empowerment for children and parents in home-based pediatric cancer care. The study protocol was to assess the efficiency of a technology-based psychosocial empowerment intervention for home-based care for children with cancer and their parents. MethodsThis study was planned as a single-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled experimental design. The study was intended to include sixty-four children and parents in the research sample. The HomeCare-Family EmPow is a technology-based intervention based on the Psychological Empowerment Theory. This 4-week program, delivered via the website, consists of four modules for parents and two for children. The descriptive form, Self-Efficacy Scale- for children and adolescents with cancer, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Pediatric Cancer Coping Scale will be used in the data collection for children. The descriptive form, Self-Efficacy Scale, Problem-Solving Inventory, and Psychological Resilience Scale will be used for parents. Repeated measures analysis of variance and linear mixed-effects models will be applied for intra-group and inter-group comparisons. Outcome measures will be assessed before randomization, one week after the intervention, and one month after. ResultsThe possible differences between the intervention and control groups will be evaluated after the implementation of the intervention. Our proposed hypotheses will report the findings. ConclusionsThis research may provide a more comprehensive and evidence-based approach to pediatric cancer management at home-based pediatric cancer management by improving children's and parents' self-efficacy and coping by providing feasible, accessible, and innovative support. Implications for Nursing PracticeThe study outcomes are expected to enrich the understanding and management of the psychosocial well-being of children and their parents and empower them to cope with the treatment process more effectively during home-based care.

Mental Adjustment to Cancer and its Effect on the Quality of Life of Women with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer has been recognized as the most common malignancy in women during the last 10-15 years. Quality of life is the result of several physical and psychosocial effects. The result of this study was conducted to investigate the strategies of mental adjustment to cancer and its impact on the quality of life of breast cancer patients.&#x0D; Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 240 breast cancer patients using simple random sampling who were referred in Shahid Ramezanzadeh Radiotherapy Center, Yazd, Iran, from April to October 2021. Data collection tools were standard quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Mini-Comparison of Mental Adaptation to Cancer (Mini-MAC). Data were analyzed using t-test, correlation and regression in SPSS version 16 software.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of patients was 44.77(±11.00) years. There was a significant and negative correlation between quality of life and Helplessness hopelessness (r= -.795, p&lt;0.001) and anxious preoccupation (r= -.705, p&lt;0.001). Quality of life was significantly and positively correlated with fighting spirit (r= .368, p&lt;0.001) and cognitive avoidance (r= .364, p&lt;0.001) and Fatefulness(r= .155, p&lt;0.05). In general, cancer coping strategies explained 59% of the quality of life variation in breast cancer patients.&#x0D; Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of life of patients, it is necessary to teach them adaptive strategies to adjust with cancer, such as fighting spirit and cognitive avoidance.

‘Hit me like a brick wall’: women’s accounts of balancing cancer survivorship with fertility concerns while dealing with gynaecological cancer

Objective This study explored the impact of gynaecological cancer on women’s expectations for motherhood, their concerns regarding their fertility, and how they negotiated these concerns in the survivorship context. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42 Australian women with gynaecological cancer, aged between 27 to 53 years, who were on average five years post-diagnosis (range 1–10 years). Thematic discourse analysis, from a material-discursive-intrapsychic approach, was used to explore how women narrated their fertility-related concerns in the broader social and healthcare contexts. Results While narrating their experiences of having gynaecological cancer, the women in our study negotiated their accounts within two competing discourses – the pronatalist discourse and the survivorship discourse. Women’s talk appeared conflicted by the social expectation to become a ‘good’ mother and focus on ensuring their fertility, while also managing the ‘survivorship’ imperative to focus exclusively on ‘fighting’ and beating cancer. Many women struggled to negotiate their fertility concerns and treatment decisions because of these two competing discourses. Conclusion Dominant discourses around survival and prioritising motherhood create enormous conflict for women with gynaecological cancer coping with fertility concerns. Helping women to develop meaningful narratives is needed, particularly for women with ovarian cancer.

Influences of cancer coping and family support on posttraumatic growth in female genital cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Influences of cancer coping and family support on posttraumatic growth in female genital cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Protective Factors against Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Breast Cancer Patients: A Latent Growth Model.

The current study aimed to examine the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) trajectory and protective predictors in women coping with breast cancer (BC). The study's model investigated whether a higher coping self-efficacy and positive cognitive-emotion regulation at the time of the BC diagnosis would lead to reduced levels of FCR at six months and in later stages (12 and 18 months) post-diagnosis. The sample included 494 women with stages I to III BC from Finland, Italy, Portugal, and Israel. They completed self-report questionnaires, including the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI-SF), the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version (CBI-B), the Cognitive-Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ short), and medical-social-demographic data. Findings revealed that a higher coping self-efficacy at diagnosis predicted lower FCR levels after six months but did not impact the FCR trajectory over time. Surprisingly, positive cognitive-emotion regulation did not predict FCR levels or changes over 18 months. FCR levels remained stable from six to 18 months post-diagnosis. This study emphasizes the importance of developing specific cancer coping skills, such as coping self-efficacy. Enhancing coping self-efficacy in the first six months after BC diagnosis may lead to lower FCR levels later, as FCR tends to persist in the following year.

Prevalence of Depression and Coping Strategies Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Hospital-Based Study.

Background The burden of cancer is increasing in all countries and so is inIndia. Among Indian males, lung, mouth, and tongue are very common cancers. Cancer is a life-threatening stressful condition, and cancer survivors report negative effects which decrease the quality of life because of long-term post-treatment effects. When cancer treatment is ongoing, patients express mixed emotion which is happiness and relief. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of depression and assess the coping strategies among the same head and neck cancer patients. Material and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient level in the Department of Radiotherapy, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College (SDUMC), Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar, for a period of three years. The sample size was calculated based on the previous study. Head and Neck cancer patientswho are more than 18 years old and histologically diagnosed with cancer were included in the study, and head and neck cancer patients with previously diagnosed mental illness or patients with mental health medications or chronically debilitated cancer were excluded. For sociodemographic details, a pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used. To assess depression Zung Depression Scale was used. To assess coping strategy the Cancer Coping Questionnaire was used. All data collected by interview technique which will last not less than 20 minutes. All data were entered in a Microsoft Excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS version 22 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). To compare between groups, t-test and ANOVA were used with a statistically significant p<0.05. Results Of 188 head and neck cancer patients, 117 (62.2%) aged 31-60 years, 136 (72.3%) were females, 121 (64.4%) belonged to rural background, 143 (76.1%) were illiterates,105 (55.9%) belonged to joint family, and 110 (58.5%) belonged to class IV modified BG Prasad classification. This study showed 16% of head and neck cancer patients had depression according to the Zung Depression Scale. With respect to the coping domain, cancer patients from rural backgrounds had higher coping scores, and illiterate had higher scores. With respect to the positive focus coping subdomain, male cancer patients had higher scores compared, to rural cancer patients, who had higher scores, and illiterate had higher scores. With respect to the diversion domain, rural cancer patients had higher scores, illiterate patients had higher scores, and this difference was statistically significant. With respect to the interpersonal scale domain, rural patients, patients belonging to joint families, patients aged more than 60 years, and illiterate patients had higher scores compared with literates, and these were statistically significant with p<0.05. This study demonstrated that the presence of depression had no impact on coping domains, and there was no significant correlation between depression and coping scores. Conclusion Mental health must be thoughtfully considered among cancer patients as cancer with depression may have a negative impact on their experience with cancer. Cancer keeps growing as a public health problem and all cancer-treating hospitals should work on various preventable measuresfor reducing the future burden ofvarious health dimensions affected by cancer.The very intention of treating cancer should be improving the survival of the diagnosed case and this needs targeted mental health intervention.

Cancer coping self-efficacy, symptoms and their relationship with quality of life among cancer survivors

PurposeCancer coping self-efficacy refers to an individual's confidence in dealing with challenges from cancer-related events, and a positive association with quality of life (QoL) has been demonstrated. Considering unresolved physical and psychological symptoms at the survivorship phase, which are known to worsen QoL, the association between cancer coping self-efficacy and QoL needs to be evaluated controlling for known contributing factors of QoL. This study aimed to describe cancer survivors' cancer coping self-efficacy, symptoms and their relationship with QoL. MethodsA descriptive correlational study was conducted. Participants were cancer survivors who completed intended treatment except for hormone therapy (N = 240). Cancer coping self-efficacy, symptoms, and QoL were measured. To evaluate the association of cancer survivors’ cancer coping self-efficacy with QoL, correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted. ResultsCancer coping self-efficacy demonstrated a significant positive association with QoL. Symptoms had a significant negative association with QoL. Fully active cancer survivors demonstrated significantly better QoL than those with functional deterioration. Self-efficacy for using spiritual coping had a significant positive association with QoL, along with symptoms and functional status, which explained 37.5% of QoL. ConclusionsCancer survivors' QoL was related to spiritual coping self-efficacy, symptoms and functional status. Improving spiritual coping self-efficacy and managing symptoms reflecting survivors’ functional status need to be integrated into survivorship care.

A couple-based dyadic coping intervention for couples coping with colorectal cancer: A pilot feasibility study.

Compared to individual coping, dyadic coping has significant impact on cancer adaptation in cancer couples. Few intervention studies have focused on dyadic coping in colorectal cancer couples. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a Systemic Transactional Model-guided, couples-based dyadic coping intervention program for colorectal cancer couples. A pre-/post-test single-group pilot study was conducted among Chinese colorectal cancer couples. Couples received six intervention sessions delivered by researchers via face-to-face or telephone. Recruitment and retention rates were calculated to assess program feasibility. Quantitative and qualitative post-intervention program evaluation were evaluated to assess acceptability. Additionally, effect sizes were calculated using Dyadic Coping Inventory, Dyadic Adjustments Scale, Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form, Benefit-Finding Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess preliminary program efficacy. Of the 31 eligible couples approached, 21 dyads completed the baseline questionnaire, with 16 dyads completing the intervention and post-intervention assessments. Recruitment (67.7%) and retention (76.2%) rates supported the feasibility of the intervention program. Program acceptability was supported by participant satisfaction with the program. The intervention had small-to-medium effect sizes (Cohen's d=0.19-0.48) in improving dyadic coping and most cancer adaptation outcomes for both patients and their spousal caregivers, validating the preliminary efficacy of the program. The couples-based dyadic coping intervention is feasible, acceptable, and effective for improving dyadic coping levels and cancer adaptation in colorectal cancer couples. Further examination of this intervention program in a large-scale randomized controlled trial is required.

Quality of self-report coping measures for children and adolescents with cancer: A systematic review.

Cancer and its treatments cause significant stress in children and adolescents. This stress is associated with risks of emotional and behavioral problem development and interfering with adherence to treatment regimens. Instruments enabling the precise evaluation of the coping behaviors of pediatric patients with cancer in clinical practice are needed. The study aimed to identify existing self-report measures of pediatric coping patterns and to evaluate their psychometric properties, to aid the selection of tools for application to pediatric patients with cancer. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement and registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42021279441). Nine international databases were searched from their inception to September 2021. Studies with the main goal of developing and psychometrically validating pediatric coping measures with populations aged <20 years, not specific to any disease or situation, and published in English, Mandarin, or Indonesian were included. The Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was applied. Of 2527 studies initially identified, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Five scales had positive internal consistency ratings and adequate reliability (α > .7). Construct validity ratings were positive for five scales (41.6%), intermediate for three (25%), and poor for three (25%). No information was available for one (8.3%) scale. The Coping Scale for Children and Youth (CSCY) and Pediatric Cancer Coping Scale (PCCS) had the largest numbers of positive ratings. Only the PCCS was developed for pediatric patients with cancer and showed acceptable reliability and validity. The findings of this review highlight the need to increase the validation of existing coping measures in clinical and research settings. Some instruments seem to be specific to adolescent's cancer coping assessment and knowledge of these validity and reliability of the instruments may improve the quality of clinical interventions.

Cancer Coping, Family Support, and Posttraumatic Growth in Female Genital Cancer Patients

Cancer Coping, Family Support, and Posttraumatic Growth in Female Genital Cancer Patients

“Like pouring salt in a wound”: A qualitative exploration of the consequences of unmet housing needs for cancer patients and survivors in New York City

Objective To identify consequences of unmet housing needs in the period following cancer diagnosis. Design Qualitative descriptive design. Participants New York City-based cancer patients and survivors (n = 21) who reported experience of unmet housing needs while receiving cancer treatment. Key informants (n = 9) with relevant expertise (e.g. oncology social workers). Methods One-time semi-structured telephone or in-person interviews were conducted with all participants. Inductive thematic coding was conducted using a pragmatic paradigm. Findings Four categories of consequences emerged: 1) cancer management and health (rest and recovery, illness/injury risk, medical care); 2) psychological (stress and anxiety, lack of control and independence, self-esteem/pride, sadness/depression, cancer coping); 3) social (relationships, consequences for others, isolation); and 4) standard of functional living. Conclusion The simultaneous experience of cancer and unmet housing needs is broadly burdensome. Implications for Psychosocial Providers Screening and resources for addressing unmet housing needs must be prioritized to holistically care for patients.

The Mediating Effect of Uncertainty in Illness on Cancer Coping in Patients With Primary Malignant Brain Tumors.

Patients with primary malignant brain tumors (PMBTs) experience uncertainty in illness (UI) because of the high recurrence rate and symptoms that occur during treatment. To develop and test a model based on the Uncertainty in Illness Theory to predict the UI and cancer coping experienced by PMBT patients. This was a cross-sectional study using path analysis. The participants were adults diagnosed with PMBT who completed a questionnaire about demographic and disease-related characteristics, UI, cancer coping, brain tumor symptoms, and social support. Clinical data (eg, the diagnosis, tumor location, and grade) were obtained from electronic health records. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and the MVN , psych , and lavaan packages in R 4.1.0. This study included 203 PMBT patients. The hypothesized model satisfied all statistical criteria (comparative fit index = 0.998, root mean square error of approximation = 0.044, standardized root mean square residual = 0.016). The indirect and direct associations of UI in the path from social support to cancer coping were all significant with a 95% bootstrapping confidence interval. Although the indirect and direct associations of UI in the path of brain tumor symptoms and cancer coping did not have direct or total effects, the indirect effect was statistically significant. Uncertainty in illness mediated brain tumor symptoms and social support to predict cancer coping. A nurse-led intervention for cancer coping among PMBT patients can be developed by considering symptoms and social support and UI as a mediator.

Cervical cancer survivors: The experiences of the journey.

Cervical cancer affects survivors' overall coping. Yet, specifically emotional and behavioral expression patterns among cervical cancer survivors have barely been examined. In addition, no study has focused on survivors' experiences of sequences related to coping. Understanding these perceptions can help provide a tailored response and improve psycho-social interventions. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the emotional and behavioral motives involved in coping with cervical cancer recovery. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 survivors of cervical cancer (stages I and II), using a semi-structured in-depth questionnaire. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by three researchers using thematic analysis. Six main themes emerged: (i) Reasons and benefits for keeping the disease a secret or sharing it with others; (ii) "When you get used to despair, there's also room for hope": Despair alongside hope; (iii) Self-guilt following the disease, but also knowing how to forgive yourself; (iv) Deep loneliness alongside a significant need for support; (v) Finding the way from passivity to activity; and (vi) When meaning in life is missing, and the importance of meaning when it is present. There was a balance between negative emotions and behaviors (despair, confidentiality, guilt, loneliness, passivity, lack of meaning) and positive emotions and behaviors (hope, openness, forgiveness, significant support, activity, meaning). The study revealed that in some cases cervical cancer coping during the recovery period moves across sequences. The women's narratives portray past difficulties as the reason for present psychological health, and their experience of a healthy present is intensified by their past difficulties. Implications for practice are discussed.

A Tale of Two Pandemics: Cancer Coping and Care Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic (RP402)

Outcomes1. Understand how to prepare cancer and palliative care delivery systems for future COVID-related surges or pandemics that necessitate changes in delivery of cancer and palliative care services2. Understand cancer and palliative care clinician burnoutImportanceThe COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted cancer and palliative care delivery.ObjectivesUse mixed methods to explore the impact of the pandemic on cancer and palliative care delivery among cancer patients, family caregivers, and cancer and palliative care clinicians.MethodsQuality-of-life and COVID-specific surveys were distributed to cancer patients and family caregivers in four US geographic areas. In-depth interviews were conducted with cancer patients, family caregivers, and cancer and palliative care clinicians.ResultsFrom August 2020 through July 2021, data were collected in Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Albuquerque, NM; and Stanford, CA and include 499 surveys from 188 cancer patients and 26 family caregivers and 71 interviews from 48 cancer patients, 4 family caregivers, and 19 cancer and palliative care clinicians. Participants included patients who were recently diagnosed, those who were undergoing active anticancer treatment or had completed treatment, and those receiving end-of-life care. Three patients contracted COVID, with all having mild disease. There were no associations between quality-of-life and/or mood scores and regional COVID surges. Both cancer patients and family caregivers reported good COVID and cancer coping and noted more concern about cancer. Telehealth was widely used and well received. 58% of surveys documented the respondent receiving a recent cancer treatment, but only 5.3% reported knowledge of any COVID-related treatment change. These data contrast with reports from cancer and palliative care clinicians who noted widespread pandemic-related changes in treatment and experienced severe personal anxiety, fatigue, burnout, and moral distress.ConclusionsIn a large and geographically diverse sample, cancer patients and family caregivers coped well with the pandemic and were generally unaware of pandemic-related cancer care changes. In contrast, cancer and palliative care clinicians reported widespread cancer care delivery changes and significant personal pandemic-related anxiety, fatigue, burnout, and moral distress.ImpactAlthough cancer and palliative care delivery systems sufficiently supported patients and family caregivers during the pandemic with both groups noting good coping, cancer and palliative care clinicians reported significant pandemic-related anxiety, fatigue, burnout, and moral distress.

Memories of adult survivors of childhood cancer: Diagnosis, coping, and long-term influence of cancer

Purpose: This study examines adult childhood cancer survivors’ memories about diagnosis, coping, and life effects of cancer. Research approach: This qualitative study used inductive content analysis to analyze open-ended responses completed in a survey conducted in 2018. Participants: 27 adult survivors (15 male, 12 female) of childhood cancer, ranging in age from 20–39, who were at least 5 years post treatment. Methods: Participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk responded to a survey which included open-ended questions about experiencing childhood cancer to examine their: (1) memories of initial reactions to cancer; (2) memories of coping during cancer; and (3) reflections of the cancer experience on who they are today. Findings: Inductive content analysis was performed to reveal categories related to the stories shared by participants regarding their memories of childhood cancer experiences. Participants’ memories of diagnosis reflected categories such as psychological reactions and family support. Memories of coping reflected themes of family support and distraction. Participants’ reported strength and resilience as impacts of cancer on their present lives. Implications for Psychosocial Providers: These findings indicate that survivors of childhood cancer have strong, specific memories about diagnosis and coping during cancer and highlight the potential long-term implications of having cancer. The findings also illustrate the importance of appropriate psychosocial support for childhood cancer patients and survivors.