Peer-Support in Oncology: A Qualitative Study of Caregivers Perception in a Cancer Center

This study aimed to gather healthcare professionals’expectations and reluctance toward peer support in a cancer center.Semistructured interviews were conducted among 12 professionals,recruited in different professions.The interviews were fully transcribed,and a thematic analysis was then conducted.Of the data analysis,three main themes about professionals’expectations emerged:the need for the strongest support of the patients,to break the isolation in the sickness,and to enhance the care system.Three main themes also emerged from the data analysis about professionals’reluctances:the limitations related to the intervention of the peer-workers,the psychological issues of the relationship,and institutional barriers to the implementation of peer-support interventions.Our study shows that peer support could be a response to the expectations of healthcare professionals’,but its implementation should consider their reluctance.

Advancement of Nursing Education in Psychosocial Oncology Care:Perspectives and Experiences of Nurses

Introduction:The main objective of this study was to fill the gap between the knowledge nurses have about psychosocial care and what they do about cancer patients’needs.It also aimed to devise ways to improve nursing education for nurses who could provide enhanced psychosocial support in such areas.Methods:This qualitative study relied on 18 in-depth interviews with nurses,with a focus on the difference between their understanding of psychosocial care and its application in helping cancer patients.This involved analyzing the transcribed interviews using thematic analysis.Data were collected from February to March 2024.Results:The verbal accounts of 18 participants were analyzed.These include theme 1“holistic approach to cancer care”with the subtheme“navigating resource constraints:”theme 2“nurses well-being and emotional input”with the subtheme“positive impact of psychosocial care:”theme 3“Care for patients’well-being”with subtheme“resourcefulness and resilience in psychosocial care:”theme 4“adapting care and building connections:”theme 5“ideal and reality in psychosocial care”with subtheme“challenges in delivering comprehensive cancer care:”and theme 6“empowering nurses for effective psychosocial care”with subtheme“building a strong foundation for psychosocial care.”Conclusion:From the nurses’perspective,this study indicates a need for more inclusive cancer treatment.Therefore,in addition to physical interventions,emotions and social welfare must also be addressed.Although emotionally invested,health workers may offer assistance along psychosocial lines,thus aiding both patients and caretakers.Although individualized care with personal connections is crucial for effective services,this approach can make it difficult to ensure that all clients receive adequate psychological assistance.Hence,there has been a call to enhance the training to produce nurses who offer high-quality services.This study emphasizes a more holistic approach toward the emotional needs of patients while supporting those responsible for them in their sickness journey.

Personalized medicine:Clinical oncology on molecular view of treatment

Cancer,the second leading global cause of death,impacts both physically and emotionally.Conventional treatments such as surgeries,chemotherapy,and radiotherapy have adverse effects,driving the need for more precise approaches.Precision medicine enables more targeted treatments.Genetic mapping,alongside other molecular biology approaches,identifies specific genes,contributing to accurate prognoses.The review addresses,in clinical use,a molecular perspective on treatment.Biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein,beta-human chorionic gonadotropin,5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid,programmed death-1,and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 are explored,providing valuable information.Bioinformatics,with an emphasis on artificial intelligence,revolutionizes the analysis of biological data,offering more accurate diagnoses.Techniques like liquid biopsy are emphasized for early detection.Precision medicine guides therapeutic strategies based on the molecular characteristics of the tumor,as evidenced in the molecular subtypes of breast cancer.Classifications allow personalized treatments,highlighting the role of trastuzumab and endocrine therapies.Despite the benefits,challenges persist,including high costs,tumor heterogeneity,and ethical issues.Overcoming obstacles requires collaboration,ensuring that advances in molecular biology translate into accessible benefits for all.

Chronic hepatitis B and occult infection in chemotherapy patients-evaluation in oncology and hemato-oncology settings:The CHOICE study

BACKGROUND Reactivation of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is a well-known risk that can occur spontaneously or following immunosuppressive therapies,including cancer chemotherapy.HBV reactivation can cause significant morbidity and even mortality,which are preventable if at-risk individuals are identified through screening and started on antiviral prophylaxis.AIM To determine the prevalence of chronic HBV(CHB)and occult HBV infection(OBI)among oncology and hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemo-therapy.METHODS In this observational study,the prevalence of CHB and OBI was assessed among patients receiving chemotherapy.Serological markers of HBV infection[hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)/anti-hepatitis B core antigen(HBc)]were evaluated for all patients.HBV DNA levels were assessed in those who tested negative for HBsAg but positive for total anti-HBc.RESULTS The prevalence of CHB in the study cohort was determined to be 2.3%[95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.0-4.2].Additionally,the prevalence of OBI among the study participants was found to be 0.8%(95%CI:0.2-2.3).CONCLUSION The findings of this study highlight the importance of screening for hepatitis B infection in oncology and hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy.Identifying individuals with CHB and OBI is crucial for implementing appropriate antiviral prophylaxis to prevent the reactivation of HBV infection,which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends of Exercise in Oncology During the Past Three Decades

Recently, studies have found that exercise can promote recovery in cancer patients. Based on bibliometric analysis, this paper discusses the trends and hot spots of exercise oncology research in the past 30 years. The Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was searched to obtain information on publications and records published between 1993 to 2023.VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to conduct bibliometric and visual analyanalysis on the overall distribution of keywords and highly cited papers, and a total of 1775 articles were retrieved. Harvard University was the institution with the highest number of publications and Fearon ranked first in 2013 with a total of 605 citations.

How to properly evaluate cardiac vagal tone in oncology studies:a state-of-the-art review

Heart rate variability(HRV)analysis provides an assessment of cardiac vagal tone and consequently global cardiac health as well as systemic condition.In systemic diseases such as cancer and during treatments that affect the whole body,like chemotherapy,the vagus nerve activity is low and deregulated.Some studies focus on using HRV to predict mortality in oncology.However,in cancer patients,systemic alterations substantially increase artifacts during HRV measurement,especially atrial ectopic beats.Moreover,HRV may be altered by various factors(duration and time of measurement,breathing,drugs,and other confounding factors)that alter each metric in different ways.The Standard Deviation of all Normal to Normal intervals(SDNN)is the most commonly used metric to evaluate HRV in oncology,but it does not appear to be specific to the cardiac vagal tone.Thus,cardiac vagal activity diagnosis and vital prognosis of cancer patients can be biased.Our review presents the main HRV metrics that can be currently used in oncology studies and their links with vagus nerve and cancer.We present the influence of external factors and the required duration and time of measurement.Considering all these parameters,this review proposes seven key points for an assessment of HRV and cardiac vagal tone in patients with cancer.

Analysis of the Necessity and Modalities of Imparting Death Education to Medical Students Undergoing Training in Oncology Departments

Patients with advanced-stage tumors may experience various psychological problems that can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of cancer treatment and the quality of their survival.Therefore,it is crucial for oncologists to prioritize addressing the psychological issues that patients encounter throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.As future frontline healthcare professionals,oncology medical students should receive education on end-of-life care early on in their training.This will enable them to develop a profound appreciation for the value of life,deliver improved medical services,and contribute to the humanization of medicine.Furthermore,they will be able to provide terminal patients and their families with effective professional guidance,assisting patients in finding peaceful endings with minimal pain and helping families come to terms with the inevitable realities they face.Moreover,this education can effectively enhance their sense of responsibility toward life and cultivate a positive and optimistic attitude toward their own lives.

Community-Based Oncology Nursing:Current Status and Prospects-A Secondary Publication

Objective:Currently,it is difficult to determine whether a comprehensive and systematic community-based cancer care project is properly implemented.The purpose of this article is to present the current status and prospects of community-based oncology nursing by reviewing related literature.Methods:A new cancer care model was established through the analysis of existing models and a literature review of community-based cancer prevention,cancer screening,cancer survivor care,and cancer patient hospice care.Results:The Comprehensive Cancer Care Model(CCCM)was esrablished.The CCCM organizes the stages of cancer treatment and the cancer journey on the horizontal axis.On the vertical axis,public health centers,oncology hospitals,cancer convalescent hospitals,primary care physicians,and prayer centers were involved.The levels of participation of human resources among institutions and the degree of interconnection between organizations was observed.Conclusion:It is expected that CCCM will be used for holistic,sustainable,and cost-effective cancer management.In community-based oncology nursing,the team of health promotion nurses in public health centers is in charge of population-based cancer prevention and early detection programs,while the visiting health management team of nurses is in charge of individual-based cancer survivor and hospice programs.

Survey and Analysis of Postoperative Quality of Life in Gynaecological Oncology Patients

Goal:To investigate the current status of quality of life of postoperative patients with gynaecological tumours,and to analyse the relevant factors affecting the quality of life of postoperative patients with gynaecological tumours.Method:One hundred and fifty-three postoperative gynecological oncology patients who attended the gynaecology and oncology departments of three tertiary hospitals in Henan Province from June 2023 to March 2024 were investigated by convenience sampling method.The patients’postoperative survival quality was investigated through the General Information Survey Scale and Quality of Life Score Scale.Results:The quality of life measurement scale score of postoperative gynaecological oncology patients in this study was(121.27±10.87),in which there was a difference in the quality of life of postoperative gynaecological oncology patients of different age,education level,marital status,and per capita monthly income of the family,p<0.05.Conclude:The quality of life level of postoperative gynaecological oncology patients is generally good,and age,literacy,marital status,and per capita monthly family income are important factors in the postoperative quality of life of gynaecological oncology patients.Healthcare professionals should focus on patients with older age,lower education level,unstable marital status,and poor economic status,and provide personalised targeted interventions to improve their quality of life.

Exercise and oncology:The role of physical activity in disease prevention and health promotion

The field of exercise-oncology has evolved significantly over the past 30 years.Numerous studies have examined the role of structured exercise interventions—often incorporating aerobic or resistance training at moderate-to-vigorous intensities,sometimes in conjunction with multi-modal strategies—for individuals living with and beyond cancer.

Intelligent oncology:The convergence of artificial intelligence and oncology

With increasingly explored ideologies and technologies for potential applications of artificial intelligence(AI)in oncology,we here describe a holistic and structured concept termed intelligent oncology.Intelligent oncology is defined as a cross-disciplinary specialty which integrates oncology,radiology,pathology,molecular biology,multi-omics and computer sciences,aiming to promote cancer prevention,screening,early diagnosis and precision treatment.The development of intelligent oncology has been facilitated by fast AI technology development such as natural language processing,machine/deep learning,computer vision,and robotic process automation.While the concept and applications of intelligent oncology is still in its infancy,and there are still many hurdles and challenges,we are optimistic that it will play a pivotal role for the future of basic,translational and clinical oncology.

Application of evidence-based medicine methods in integrative oncology research

To present the advances of evidence-based medicine and clinical research methodology in integrative oncology,we conducted a literature review of real-world studies of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in cancer care and summarized the available evidence.Pragmatic randomized controlled trials(pRCTs)and clinical registry studies are becoming more popular as they could compensate for the limitations of RCTs.Many RCTs of TCM for cancer treatment as well as systematic reviews have been published.The most investigated therapies are based on acupuncture,Chinese herbal compounds,and Chinese patent medicines.Acupuncture has a significant advantage in relieving cancer-related symptoms.Published studies focus more on improving clinical symptoms and laboratory indicators.However,the patient's quality of life deserves more attention.

Clinical infections in neurosurgical oncology:An overview

Central nervous system(CNS)infections are urgent conditions with high morbidity and mortality.Bacteria,viruses,parasites or fungi can cause them.Intracranial infections after craniotomies are an important complication of treatment,especially in oncological patients that are already immunologically compromised due to the disease and treatment.The consequence of CNS infections in oncological patients includes longer treatment with antibiotics,additional surgical procedures,higher treatment costs and poorer treatment outcomes.Additionally,the management of primary pathology may be prolonged or postponed as a result of the active infection.By introducing new and improved protocols,tightening controls on their implementation,constantly educating the entire team involved in patient treatment and educating both patients and relatives,the incidence of infections can be reduced effectively.

L’hypnose en oncologie pédiatrique Hypnosis in Pediatric Oncology

Hypnosis is a modified state of consciousness which showed its benefits to decrease different symptoms,mainly pain.During the last decade,this technique has also been proposed to adults with cancer to improve other symptoms,such as emotional distress,fatigue,or sleep difficulties.In pediatric oncology,hypnosis is also used to decrease disease-,treatment-,and procedure-related pain and anxiety.The learning of self-hypnosis and self-care techniques also improves the well-being of adults or children with cancer,their parents,and their siblings.Through several clinical cases,we will illustrate how hypnosis and self-care techniques have been implemented in the pediatric haemato-oncology department of the CHC MontLégia(Liège,Belgium)and will describe their benefits.

The Psychological Experience of the Nursing Staff of the Medical Oncology Department in Cameroon: Case of the YaoundéGeneral Hospital

Background: The world of cancer care is an emotional place, given the severity of the disease being treated, the heavy workload, the suffering of patients, and the high number of deaths. The nursing staff who work there may be exposed to constant stress from these factors. This study aimed to explore the psychological experience of the nursing staff of the Medical Oncology Department of the Yaoundé General Hospital. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study, in June 2017, involving the nursing staff of the Medical Oncology Department of the Yaoundé General Hospital. Results: Sixteen out of 18 nurses were interviewed. All had worked in at least one other department prior to Oncology. The number of years of experience in Oncology ranged from less than one year to 13 years. The choice of the Oncology department was involuntary for 100% of the staff;of these, 62% had intentions of changing departments. Twenty-five percent had applied for a change of department, which was unsuccessful. Stress was expressed by 94% of the staff;93% thought that there was a solution to the stress experienced on a daily basis in the Oncology department. The main solutions proposed to manage this stress were: support for the staff, provision of work materials, and staff training. Conclusion: The nursing staff of the Medical Oncology Department of the Yaoundé General Hospital experiences a high level of stress and are in need of solutions.

Nursing Care in Patient with Advanced Cancer: The Experience of the Adult Oncology Unit of Lomé

Background: Cancer patients suffer physical, psychological, spiritual, and social pains, especially in the advanced stage. Nurses spend more time with patients than any other healthcare team member. This study aimed to assess nurses’ behavior and care experiences in patients with advanced cancer and explore patients’ perceptions of nursing care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with eight nurses and thirty patients with advanced cancer hospitalized in the oncology unit at Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of Lomé from July to August 2020. Results: The mean age of nurses was 34.3 years ranging from 23 to 48 years. There were five men (62.5%) and three women (37.5%). The mean duration of working in oncology nursing of all was less than two years. Only one nurse has training in palliative care. Stress (100%), sadness (100%), and fear (50%) were the most frequently expressed feeling of nurses. The frequently expressed difficulties were the lack of training in palliative care (87.5%), insufficiency of nursing staff (75%), and helplessness in front of the patient’s distress (75%). Among the thirty patients, were 22 women (72.7%) and 8 men (27.3%). The needs expressed by the patients were psychological support (n = 11;36.7%), pain relief (n = 10;33.3%), and moral support (n = 9;30%). Most of the patients (73.3%) affirmed that nurses did not inform them well about their disease. Three (10%) were very satisfied with the care provided, 23 patients (76.7%) were satisfied and 4 (13.3%) were unsatisfied. Conclusion: This study revealed that nursing care in Togolese patients with cancer faces many difficulties and there is a need for providing specialized oncology nursing.

Analysis of Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Patients Undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging for Oncology

Background: The PET/CT imaging studies have two doses components the dose from the PET radiopharmaceutical and the other from the low dose CT used for PET images attenuation correction. We have one PET/CT scanner at our institution a Philips Time of Flight scanner. Our local patient’s radiation protection rules requires continuous assessment of radiation doses delivered to our patients. Purposes: The objectives of this study are to develop a weight- based facility DRLs for paediatric F-18-FDG PET-CT imaging for oncology in a large tertiary hospital and to determine whether the calculated DRLs compares with internationally published DRLs. Materials & Methods: Radiation dose data and patient demographics of two-hundreds and sixteen paediatric PET-CT oncology patients imaging procedures from one large tertiary hospital were selected and analysed in order to establish a facility paediatric DRLs. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The PET dose reference levels ranged between [62 - 525] MBq of injected activity for a range of pediatric age groups. The CTDIvol values were between 3.5 and 16.5 mGy for all age groups. Comparison with current EANM and SNMMI recommendations of patient’s dose are discussed. Conclusion: Our pediatric PET/CT reference levels are higher than the ones reported internationally with notable variations. .

Ex vivo liver resection and auto-transplantation as an alternative for the treatment of liver malignancies: Progress and challenges

Hepatectomy is still the major curative treatment for patients with liver malignancies.However,it is still a big challenge to remove the tumors in the central posterior area,especially if their location involves the retrohepatic inferior vena cava and hepatic veins.Ex vivo liver resection and auto-transplantation(ELRA),a hybrid technique of the traditional liver resection and transplantation,has brought new hope to these patients and therefore becomes a valid alternative to liver transplantation.Due to its technical difficulty,ELRA is still concentrated in a few hepatobiliary centers that have experienced surgeons in both liver resection and liver transplantation.The efficacy and safety of this technique has already been demonstrated in the treatment of benign liver diseases,especially in the advanced alveolar echinococcosis.Recently,the application of ELRA for liver malignances has gained more attention.However,standardization of clinical practice norms and international consensus are still lacking.The prognostic impact in these oncologic patients also needs further evaluation.In this review,we summarized the principles and recent progresses on ELRA.

Colorectal cancer screening:A review of current knowledge and progress in research

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide,being the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.Despite the progress in screening,early diagnosis,and treatment,approximately 20%-25%of CRC patients still present with metastatic disease at the time of their initial diagnosis.Furthermore,the burden of disease is still expected to increase,especially in individuals younger than 50 years old,among whom early-onset CRC incidence has been increasing.Screening and early detection are pivotal to improve CRC-related outcomes.It is well established that CRC screening not only reduces incidence,but also decreases deaths from CRC.Diverse screening strategies have proven effective in decreasing both CRC incidence and mortality,though variations in efficacy have been reported across the literature.However,uncertainties persist regarding the optimal screening method,age intervals and periodicity.Moreover,adherence to CRC screening remains globally low.In recent years,emerging technologies,notably artificial intelligence,and non-invasive biomarkers,have been developed to overcome these barriers.However,controversy exists over the actual impact of some of the new discoveries on CRC-related outcomes and how to effectively integrate them into daily practice.In this review,we aim to cover the current evidence surrounding CRC screening.We will further critically assess novel approaches under investigation,in an effort to differentiate promising inno-vations from mere novelties.

Liver transplantation as an alternative for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Past, present, and future directions

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(iCCA)is a rare biliary tract cancer with high mortality rate.Complete resection of the iCCA lesion is the first choice of treatment,with good prognosis after margin-negative resection.Unfortunately,only 12%-40% of patients are eligible for resection at presentation due to cirrhosis,portal hypertension,or large tumor size.Liver transplantation(LT)offers margin-negative iCCA extirpation for patients with unresectable tumors.Initially,iCCA was a contraindication for LT until size-based selection criteria were introduced to identify patients with satisfied post-LT outcomes.Recent studies have shown that tumor biology-based selection can yield high post-LT survival in patients with locally advanced iCCA.Another selection criterion is the tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy.Patients with response to neoadjuvant therapy have better outcomes after LT compared with those without tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy.Another index that helps predict the treatment outcome is the biomarker.Improved survival outcomes have also opened the door for living donor LT for iCCA.Patients undergoing LT for iCCA now have statistically similar survival rates as patients undergoing resection.The combination of surgery and locoregional and systemic therapies improves the prognosis of iCCA patients.