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Survivorship
Issues in Oncology

New Report Says Cancer and Its Therapies May Impair Survivors' Ability to Work

Although cancer survivors are living longer, cancer and its treatment can result in long-lasting or late-onset impairments that may affect their ability to work, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled Diagnosing and Treating Adult...

Breast Cancer
Supportive Care
Survivorship

Expert Point of View: Shoshana Rosenberg, ScD, MPH

Shoshana Rosenberg, ScD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, weighed in on the implications of these findings. “The study underscores the importance of addressing psychosocial health in survivorship. it targeted a particularly...

Breast Cancer
Supportive Care
Survivorship

Meditation and Education Interventions May Improve Depressive Symptoms in Young Breast Cancer Survivors

A diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent treatment may increase the risk of depression, especially among younger women with breast cancer. A new study showed that behavioral interventions—specifically mindfulness meditation and survivorship education classes—may reduce depressive symptoms, as...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Study Examines Pregnancy Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer survivors of child-bearing age appear to have a more difficult time becoming pregnant than the general population, and when they do become pregnant, they have a higher risk of preterm labor and need for cesarean section. Fortunately, most women deliver healthy babies, but they are...

COVID-19
Survivorship

Mental Health–Related Symptoms Among Cancer Survivors During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

In an analysis from the COVID-19 Impact Survey reported in JCO Oncology Practice, Islam et al found that U.S. adult cancer survivors were more likely to report mental health–related symptoms vs adults without cancer during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Details Data for the analysis ...

Survivorship
COVID-19

Study Finds More Than Half of U.S. Cancer Survivors Have Underlying Medical Conditions Associated With Severe COVID-19 Illness

A recent study has found that more than half (56.4%) of cancer survivors in the United States reported having additional underlying medical conditions associated with severe COVID-19 illness. The report, published by Jiang et al in JNCI: The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggested that...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship
Supportive Care

Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors Are at Increased Risk for Adverse Mental Health Outcomes

According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2020, 89,500 adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15 to 39 were diagnosed with cancer, and of these, 84.6% are expected to survive their cancer for 5 years after diagnosis. However, the results from a study by De et al published in the Journal of...

Survivorship

New NCCN Resource Offers Practical Suggestions for Cancer Survivors

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has announced the publication of new, free informational resources on health and wellness for cancer survivors. These two new NCCN Guidelines for Patients® are focused on healthy living and managing late and long-term side effects, and they include...

COVID-19
Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Italian Study of Electronic Medical Record–Assisted Telephone Follow-up of Breast Cancer Survivors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In an Italian single-institution study reported in JCO Oncology Practice, Merz et al evaluated the use of electronic medical record–assisted telephone follow-up (E-TFU) of breast cancer survivors to minimize hospital exposure over a 3-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy was...

Survivorship

Do Adult-Onset Cancer Survivors Have a Higher Risk of Developing a Subsequent Malignancy?

A study published by Hyuna Sung, PhD, and colleagues in JAMA found that adult-onset cancer survivors may have a greater risk of developing and dying from subsequent primary cancers than the general population. Cancers associated with smoking or obesity accounted for a majority of subsequent primary ...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

SABCS 2020: Can Mindfulness Meditation and Survivorship Education Help to Reduce Depression in Young Breast Cancer Survivors?

New research showed that behavioral interventions—mindfulness meditation and survivorship education classes—may be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in younger breast cancer survivors. This patient population often experiences the highest levels of depression, stress, and fatigue, which may ...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

SABCS 2020: Meta-analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors

A large meta-analysis of breast cancer survivors of childbearing age indicated that they are less likely than the general public to become pregnant and may face a higher risk of certain complications, such as preterm labor. However, most survivors who do become pregnant deliver healthy babies and...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Social Needs May Be Linked to Low Health-Related Quality of Life Among Black Cancer Survivors

Social needs—such as food and economic insecurity, poor housing and neighborhood conditions, and lack of access to transportation—were common in a group of Black cancer survivors in Detroit. These factors were associated with lower health-related quality of life, according to findings published by...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship
Issues in Oncology

Effect of Fertility Preservation on Reproductive Outcomes in Patients After Breast Cancer

In a Swedish nationwide cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Marklund et al found that women who had undergone fertility preservation had a higher live birth rate, were more likely to use assisted reproductive technology, and had better overall survival after breast cancer than women who had not ...

Survivorship

Sexual Health Often Overlooked in Cancer Survivorship Care

A new study points to a need for oncologists to ask their patients about sexual health after chemotherapy, radiation, and other cancer treatments. In a survey of nearly 400 cancer survivors, 87% said they experienced sexual side effects, but most also said their oncologist had not formally asked...

Survivorship

Impact of Prior Insurance Coverage Disruptions on Health-Care Access and Affordability for Currently Insured Cancer Survivors

A new study from the American Cancer Society has found health insurance coverage disruptions in the prior year led to issues with health-care access and affordability for currently insured cancer survivors. The study was published by Zhao et al in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention....

Cost of Care
Survivorship

Cost-Effectiveness of Screening Guidelines to Prevent Heart Failure in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Ehrhardt et al identified intervals of screening for heart failure that were cost-effective among survivors of childhood cancer, according to heart failure risk defined by International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization ...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Breast Cancer Survival Is Significantly Decreased Among Premenopausal Women Previously Treated With Radiation for Childhood or AYA Cancer

Although radiotherapy is integral to the multidisciplinary therapy used in the treatment of common childhood and adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers, including Hodgkin lymphomas, sarcomas, and breast cancer, the treatment is a strong risk factor for a secondary breast malignancy, especially...

Survivorship

Study Finds Radiotherapy May Be Associated With Long-Term Impact on the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health of Childhood Cancer Survivors

A study by Wilson et al investigating the impact of radiation therapy on adult survivors of pediatric abdominal and pelvic tumors has found that these survivors were significantly more likely to have insulin resistance, high levels of triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoproteins...

Survivorship

Severe Hearing Impairment Associated With Neurocognitive Deficits in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Findings from a report published by Bass et al in JAMA Oncology show that childhood cancer survivors with severe hearing loss are at a significant increased risk for neurocognitive deficits, independent of what type of therapy they receive. This study is the first to objectively measure hearing and ...

Leukemia
Survivorship

Late Morbidity and Mortality in Survivors of Childhood ALL Receiving Contemporary Risk-Stratified Therapy

In an analysis from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dixon et al found that 5-year survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) diagnosed and treated with risk-stratified therapy in the 1990s had reduced morbidity and health-related late ...

Breast Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Survivorship

Impact of Pregnancy After Breast Cancer in Women With Deleterious Germline BRCA Mutations

In a retrospective cohort study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Matteo Lambertini, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that pregnancy after breast cancer in women harboring deleterious germline BRCA mutations did not appear to be associated with worsened maternal prognosis or fetal...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Risk of Chronic Comorbidities Among Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer

In a retrospective cohort study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Chao et al found that survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer were at increased risk of numerous chronic comorbidities vs the general population.   Study Details The study involved data from 6,778 ≥ 2-year...

COVID-19
Survivorship

Cancer Survivors Are Adhering to COVID-19–Related Preventive Behaviors, but Continuity of Care May Be Impacted

People of any age with serious underlying health conditions are at greater risk for contracting the coronavirus, and cancer survivors are particularly vulnerable to becoming infected with COVID-19, since many cancer therapies can lead to immunosuppression. To reduce exposure to the virus, the...

survivorship

Eric Zhou, PhD, on Insomnia in Young Cancer Survivors: Online Program May Improve Quality of Life

Eric Zhou, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses an existing online program called SHUTi (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet), that he and his team adapted to the needs of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. After six online cognitive behavior therapy sessions delivered over 8 weeks, the 22 patients in the study reported a significant reduction in insomnia severity, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue as well as an overall improvement in quality of life.

Survivorship

Effects of Exercise Intolerance on Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Hayek et al found that exercise intolerance was more common among adult survivors of childhood cancer than among matched controls and that it was associated with a greater likelihood of emotional distress, poorer attainment of social roles, and poorer...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Early Screening With MRI May Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality in Survivors of Childhood Cancer Treated With Chest Radiation

The early initiation—at age 25 to 30—of annual breast cancer screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with or without mammography may reduce breast cancer mortality by more than half in survivors of childhood cancer who had been previously exposed to chest radiation, according to a study by...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Patient Factors Associated With Lack of Provider Recommendation for HPV Vaccination in Young Cancer Survivors

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, York et al found that perceived lack of insurance coverage for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, male sex, and decreased parent-survivor communication regarding HPV vaccination were among the factors associated with an increased likelihood...

Survivorship

Role of Genetic Mutations and Treatment Exposures in Increased Subsequent Malignancy Risk for Childhood Cancer Survivors

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Qin et al identified combinations of pathogenic germline mutations in DNA repair genes and cancer treatment exposures that increased risk of subsequent neoplasms in long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Study Details The study involved...

Survivorship

Physical Activity and Neurocognitive Function in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancers

In a Childhood Cancer Survivor Study analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Barlow-Krelina et al found that consistent physical activity vs consistent inactivity was associated with reduced neurocognitive problems and greater improvement in neurocognitive domains during long-term...

head and neck cancer
survivorship

Pam Baker DeGuzman, PhD, on Assessing Distress During Telemedicine Visits With Rural Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer

Pam Baker DeGuzman, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Nursing, discusses her study findings on the use of the NCCN Distress Thermometer, which identified and addressed distress in patients treated for head and neck cancer who were then referred to speech pathologists, lymphedema specialists, and social workers (Abstract HSR20-082).

Head and Neck Cancer
Supportive Care
Survivorship

Better Mental Health Screening Needed for Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer

The threat posed by head and neck cancer extends well beyond the physical disease, according to research presented at the 2020 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium.1,2 The pair of studies underscored the high costs of survivorship, including elevated rates of chronic pain, substance...

Survivorship

Factors Associated With Small Adult Height in Childhood Cancer Survivors

In an analysis from the French Childhood Cancer Survivors (CCS) Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Demoor-Goldschmidt et al found that receipt of pituitary irradiation, busulfan, and higher doses of lomustine were risk factors for small adult height in survivors of childhood...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

How Exercise Oncology Can Improve Cancer Outcome and Survivorship

Researchers from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recently reviewed hundreds of epidemiologic studies on the link between physical activity and both cancer risk and cancer mortality. A subsequent analysis of the findings by a panel of experts representing 17 partner organizations,...

Survivorship

Surveillance for Second Malignant Neoplasms and Cardiac Dysfunction in Childhood Cancer Survivors

An analysis of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Yan et al found that adherence to Children’s Oncology Group (COG) recommended surveillance for second malignant neoplasms and cardiac dysfunction in high-risk childhood cancer survivors is ...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Cancer Incidence and Survivorship in Transgender Patients

The first-ever population-based study of cancer prevalence in transgender people was recently published by Boehmer et al in the journal Cancer. The authors of the report estimate that 62,530 of the nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the United States are transgender. Methods The researchers used ...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Are Younger Cancer Survivors More Susceptible to Financial and Food-Related Anxieties?

New research from the American Cancer Society published by Zheng et al in JNCCN–Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that younger cancer survivors are more likely to experience significant financial strain for daily living necessities—such as food, housing, and monthly...

Survivorship

Five-Year Survival for Cancers in Adolescents and Young Adults: 4-Decade Analysis

The 5-year survival rate for adolescents and young adults with cancer has significantly improved from 1975 to 2005 in the United States overall, but this was not the case for all types of cancer, according to a report published by Anderson et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. “We ...

Survivorship

Building Onco-Primary Care to Close the ‘Black Hole’ in Cancer Survivorship Care

When the landmark report from the Institute of Medicine, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, was published in 2006, there were 10 million cancer survivors in the United States.1 Meant to raise awareness of the medical, functional, and psychosocial consequences of a cancer...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Physical Activity and Quality of Life in African American Cancer Survivors

New research suggests that regular exercise may improve the well-being of African American cancer survivors, but most survivors do not meet current recommendations for physical activity. The findings were published by Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, MPH, PhD, and colleagues in the journal Cancer. Because...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Models for Predicting Acute Ovarian Failure in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

As reported in The Lancet Oncology, Clark et al have developed radiation dosimetric models that can be used to predict the risk of acute ovarian failure in female survivors of childhood cancer. Study Details The cohort study involved 5,886 eligible 5-year survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor ...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Late Mortality and Chronic Health Conditions in Long-Term Survivors of AYA Cancers

A retrospective analysis from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, reported in The Lancet Oncology by Eugene Suh, MD, and colleagues, showed that as with survivors of childhood cancers, survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers are at increased risk of earlier mortality and chronic...

Survivorship

Therapy-Associated Polyposis in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

A report published by Biller et al in Cancer Prevention Research provides new details about a recently discovered condition in which childhood cancer survivors develop numerous colorectal polyps, despite not having a hereditary susceptibility to the condition. The condition—known as...

Survivorship

AYA Cancer Survivors at Greater Risk of Inpatient Hospitalization

A population-based study investigating the risk of inpatient hospitalizations among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors compared with their siblings and those in the general population found that the AYA survivors had nearly double the risk of being hospitalized than the matched...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Emerging Fertoprotective Therapeutic Options for Female Fertility Preservation

The trend toward delayed childbearing has meant that many women who plan to have children may be childless at the time they are diagnosed with cancer. The number of these women is likely to further increase concurrently with the increase in cancer survivors, making “the focus on fertility...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

Does Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Affect Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors?

Proton pump inhibitors, which are sometimes recommended to ease stomach problems during cancer treatment, may have an unintended side effect: impairment of breast cancer survivors' memory and concentration. These findings were published by Madison et al in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship....

Survivorship

Comparing Options for Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation to Preserve Fertility in Pediatric Patients With Cancer

With the pediatric cancer survival rate exceeding 80%, “we can reasonably suspect that most of these children will survive more than 5 years from their diagnosis and then go on to puberty,” when they may have to deal with the consequences of cancer treatment, according to Rebecca Flyckt, MD,...

Issues in Oncology
Cost of Care
Survivorship

Cancer Survivors Face Substantial Medical Financial Hardship

Although advances in cancer treatments have led to huge increases in the number of survivors in the United States—more than 16.9 million in 2019—many of those survivors, particularly those aged 18 to 64, face substantial medical financial hardship due to their diagnosis and treatment, necessitating ...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

Addressing the Obesity Epidemic and Barriers to Implementing Weight Management Programs for Cancer Survivors

Earlier this year, ASCO published the results of its new study on oncologists’ perceptions and practice behaviors regarding obesity, weight management, and related lifestyle factors in their patients both during and after cancer treatment.1 The findings from the online survey of 971 oncology...

Issues in Oncology
Survivorship

ASCO Provides Guidance on Managing Osteoporosis in Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures due to the accelerated loss of bone mineral density as a result of their treatment. Bone loss from cancer therapy is faster and more severe than bone less from aging; rates of bone loss are up to sevenfold higher when they occur...

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