Stefanie Fischer, Malte von Bonin, Martin Bornhäuser, Christian Beste, Tjalf Ziemssen
{"title":"Neurological complications in oncology and their monitoring and management in clinical practice: a narrative review.","authors":"Stefanie Fischer, Malte von Bonin, Martin Bornhäuser, Christian Beste, Tjalf Ziemssen","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08894-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08894-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Importance: </strong>New anti-tumor treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy, are associated with an increasing number of neurological issues linked to tumors not arising from nervous system such as neurological and neuropsychological side effects that can significantly impair quality of life in the short or long term. The science of pathomechanisms, therapeutic approaches, and preventive measures is still in its early stages, and the progress is hampered by the lack of studied connection between neurological and oncological disciplines.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This work aimed to provide an overview of the questions raised in the field of clinical neuroscience that concern the outcomes of oncological diseases and their treatment. Furthermore, we give an outline of how a collaborative approach between neurology and oncology, with the implementation of neuroscience techniques including up-to-date diagnostics and therapy, can help to improve the quality of oncological patients' lives.</p><p><strong>Evidence review: </strong>The covered areas of investigation in the evaluated articles primarily encompassed the review of known neurological complications of oncological diseases caused by neurotoxic mechanisms of performed therapies or those linked to concurrent pathological conditions. Similarly, the methods of their diagnostics were assessed.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Our literature review of 65 articles, including clinical trials, cohort studies, reviews, and theoretically based in vitro studies published between 1998 and 2023, outlines the broad spectrum of neurological complications primarily associated with malignant diseases and the anti-tumor therapies employed. Notably, immune-mediated complications, whose incidence is increasing due to the expanding use of new immunotherapies, require early detection and targeted treatment to prevent severe progression. In this context, neurological complications mediated by immune checkpoint inhibitors are often associated with significant impairments and high mortality, necessitating specialist consultation for early detection and differentiation from other phenotypically similar syndromes. Current data on the pathophysiology of these neurological complications are not reliable due to the limited number of studies. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence regarding the appropriate oncological approach in the event of therapy-related complications. Initial study results suggest that the establishment of interdisciplinary treatment interfaces for the management of oncology patients could improve the safety of these therapies and enhance the patients' quality of life.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and relevance: </strong>The accumulated knowledge on neurotoxicity caused by oncological diseases shows that the challenges in diagnosing and managing this condition are expanding in tandem with the growing array of therapies being employed. Therefore, it requires i","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11422253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142354193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Olivia Kuszaj, Marley Day, Liying Zhang, Henry Wong, Shing Fung Lee, Jennifer Y Y Kwan, Alyssa J Wang, Sarah Bayrakdarian, Irene Karam, William Tran, Edward Chow
{"title":"Validation of the Skin Symptom Assessment (SSA) questionnaire for the evaluation of radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients.","authors":"Olivia Kuszaj, Marley Day, Liying Zhang, Henry Wong, Shing Fung Lee, Jennifer Y Y Kwan, Alyssa J Wang, Sarah Bayrakdarian, Irene Karam, William Tran, Edward Chow","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08890-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08890-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a painful side effect of radiation therapy (RT). The objective of this analysis was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Skin Symptom Assessment (SSA) questionnaire in evaluating the severity of patient- and clinician-reported outcomes for RD in breast cancer patients by comparing it to a validated assessment tool, the Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale (RISRAS) questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study compared patient and clinician-reported outcomes for RD from previous clinical trials conducted in a Canadian cancer centre. The analysis included 376 and 38 patients in the two trials using Mepitel Film (doi.org/10.1200) and StrataXRT (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05594498), respectively. Patients in both studies completed the SSA and RISRAS questionnaires at baseline, 2-weeks post-RT, and 3 months after completion of RT. Clinician SSA and RISRAS assessments were collected at baseline and 2-weeks post-RT. These time points were analyzed longitudinally to investigate the SSA's validity in RD symptom assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The majority of patient-reported items on the SSA and RISRAS assessments demonstrated positive significant associations between symptoms of itchiness, between pain/soreness and pain/discomfort, and between blistering or erythema with burning sensation items. All items in the clinician-reported SSA and clinician component of RISRAS showed positive statistical significance between items measuring erythema, pigmentation or edema with dry desquamation, and blistering/peeling with moist desquamation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The SSA has been validated for assessing patient- and clinician-reported symptoms of RD accurately as outcomes correlate well with the previously validated RISRAS assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ayo S Falade, Mary C Boulanger, Kelly Hsu, Roshni Sarathy, Riley Fadden, Kerry L Reynolds, Lara Traeger, Jennifer S Temel, Joseph A Greer, Laura A Petrillo
{"title":"Learning about and living with toxicity: a qualitative study of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma or lung cancer and their caregivers.","authors":"Ayo S Falade, Mary C Boulanger, Kelly Hsu, Roshni Sarathy, Riley Fadden, Kerry L Reynolds, Lara Traeger, Jennifer S Temel, Joseph A Greer, Laura A Petrillo","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08868-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08868-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objective: </strong>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized treatment for melanoma and lung cancer and are in widespread use. This study aims to describe how patients and caregivers learn about ICI toxicities and their perceptions and experiences of toxicity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a qualitative study of 42 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; n = 16) or melanoma (n = 26) who were initiating or discontinuing an ICI and their caregivers (n = 9). We conducted in-depth interviews to explore patients' and caregivers' experiences learning about and living with ICI side effects. We audio-recorded the first oncology visit after enrollment. We used a framework approach to code interview and visit transcripts and synthesized codes into themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age of patients was 67; 68% were male. Themes of participant interviews and clinician-patient dialogue included: (i) Patients initiating an ICI received extensive information about side effects, which some patients found overwhelming or scary and difficult to absorb; (ii) patients who were deterred by fear of toxicity ultimately proceeded with treatment because of oncologist encouragement or the sense of no alternative; (iii) participants found hope in the association between toxicity and ICI efficacy; (iv) caregivers helped patients navigate the deluge of information and uncertainty related to ICIs. Participants suggested ways to improve ICI side effect education, such as incorporating patient stories.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients perceived that ICI toxicity counseling was overwhelming yet were encouraged by oncologists' reassurance that serious side effects were manageable and by the framing of toxicity as a sign of efficacy. We identified opportunities to improve communication of ICI risks and benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142354191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madeleine M Hardt, Madison K Pavao, Sosi E Korian, Charlotte D LaPlante, Paul K Maciejewski, Holly G Prigerson
{"title":"Associations between perceived interpersonal support and aggressiveness of care in the last month of life among patients with advanced cancer.","authors":"Madeleine M Hardt, Madison K Pavao, Sosi E Korian, Charlotte D LaPlante, Paul K Maciejewski, Holly G Prigerson","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08892-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08892-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To determine quality of life (QoL) domains in the months leading up to death associated with the receipt of aggressive care in the last month of life among patients with advanced cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multisite, prospective cohort study conducted from January 2010 to May 2015 of 59 patients with advanced cancer (distant metastases and/or progression of disease following at least first-line chemotherapy) and poor prognosis (≤ 6 months) followed through death. At baseline, a median of 4 months from death, the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire measured overall QoL and four QoL domains (i.e., interpersonal support, physical well-being, psychological, and existential). Postmortem data were collected via medical chart review and nurse/caregiver report and combined to capture the aggressiveness of end-of-life (EoL) care in patients' last month of life. Aggressive EoL care was defined as any receipt of care in an intensive care unit, being on a ventilator, or chemotherapy in the last month of life.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with higher interpersonal support domain scores (i.e., rating the world as more \"caring and responsive\" to their needs and their felt support as more complete) received significantly less aggressive care in their last month of life (odds ratio = 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.75, p = 0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Perceived interpersonal support is the only QoL domain assessed that was associated with aggressiveness of care in the last month of life for patients with advanced cancer. Prioritizing caring and responsive relationships for patients may decrease receipt of aggressive EoL care.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11466437/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
María Torres-Lacomba, Virginia Prieto-Gómez, Beatriz Arranz-Martín, Beatriz Navarro-Brazález, Helena Romay-Barrero
{"title":"Concerns about the article González-Rubino JB, Vinolo-Gil MJ, Martín-Valero R. Effectiveness of physical therapy in axillary web syndrome after breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Apr 12;31(5):257.","authors":"María Torres-Lacomba, Virginia Prieto-Gómez, Beatriz Arranz-Martín, Beatriz Navarro-Brazález, Helena Romay-Barrero","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08862-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08862-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marianne Zoghbi, Kathryn J Burk, Elio Haroun, Maria Saade, Maria Teresa Cruz Carreras
{"title":"Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diarrhea and colitis: an overview.","authors":"Marianne Zoghbi, Kathryn J Burk, Elio Haroun, Maria Saade, Maria Teresa Cruz Carreras","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08889-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08889-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as an integral component of the management of various cancers and have contributed to significant improvements in overall survival. Most available ICIs target anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA4), and anti-programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD1/PDL1). Gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events remain a common complication of ICIs. The predominant manifestations include diarrhea and colitis, which often manifest concurrently as immune-mediated diarrhea and colitis (IMDC). Risk factors for developing these side effects include baseline gut microbiota, preexisting autoimmune disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and type of neoplasm. The hallmark symptom of colitis is diarrhea which may be accompanied by mucus or blood in stools. Patients may also experience abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and nausea. If not treated rapidly, ICI-induced colitis can lead to serious life-threatening complications. Current management is based on corticosteroids as first-line, and immunosuppressants like infliximab or vedolizumab for refractory cases. Microbiota transplantation and specific cytokines and lymphocyte replication inhibitors are being investigated. Optimal patient care requires maintaining a balance between treatment toxicity and efficacy, hence the aim of this review is to enhance readers' comprehension of the gastrointestinal adverse events associated with ICIs, particularly IMDC. In addition to identifying the risk factors, we discuss the incidence, clinical presentation, workup, and management options of IMDC.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11420271/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ian R Kleckner, Thushini Manuweera, Po-Ju Lin, Kaitlin H Chung, Amber S Kleckner, Jennifer S Gewandter, Eva Culakova, Madalina E Tivarus, Richard F Dunne, Kah Poh Loh, Nimish A Mohile, Shelli R Kesler, Karen M Mustian
{"title":"Pilot trial testing the effects of exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) and the interoceptive brain system.","authors":"Ian R Kleckner, Thushini Manuweera, Po-Ju Lin, Kaitlin H Chung, Amber S Kleckner, Jennifer S Gewandter, Eva Culakova, Madalina E Tivarus, Richard F Dunne, Kah Poh Loh, Nimish A Mohile, Shelli R Kesler, Karen M Mustian","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08855-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08855-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a prevalent, dose-limiting, tough-to-treat toxicity involving numbness, tingling, and pain in the extremities with enigmatic pathophysiology. This randomized controlled pilot study explored the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of exercise during chemotherapy on CIPN and the role of the interoceptive brain system, which processes bodily sensations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nineteen patients (65 ± 11 years old, 52% women; cancer type: breast, gastrointestinal, multiple myeloma) starting neurotoxic chemotherapy were randomized to 12 weeks of exercise (home-based, individually tailored, moderate intensity, progressive walking, and resistance training) or active control (nutrition education). At pre-, mid-, and post-intervention, we assessed CIPN symptoms (primary clinical outcome: CIPN-20), CIPN signs (tactile sensitivity using monofilaments), and physical function (leg strength). At pre- and post-intervention, we used task-free (\"resting\") fMRI to assess functional connectivity in the interoceptive brain system, involving the salience and default mode networks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study was feasible (74-89% complete data across measures) and acceptable (95% retention). We observed moderate/large beneficial effects of exercise on CIPN symptoms (CIPN-20, 0-100 scale: - 7.9 ± 5.7, effect size [ES] = - 0.9 at mid-intervention; - 4.8 ± 7.3, ES = - 0.5 at post-intervention), CIPN signs (ES = - 1.0 and - 0.1), and physical function (ES = 0.4 and 0.3). Patients with worse CIPN after neurotoxic chemotherapy had lower functional connectivity within the default mode network (R<sup>2</sup> = 40-60%) and higher functional connectivity within the salience network (R<sup>2</sup> = 20-40%). Exercise tended to increase hypoconnectivity and decrease hyperconnectivity seen in CIPN (R<sup>2</sup> = 12%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Exercise during neurotoxic chemotherapy is feasible and may attenuate CIPN symptoms and signs, perhaps via changes in interoceptive brain circuitry. Future work should test for replication with larger samples.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Registered Jan 2017 on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03021174.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deniz Kocamaz, Elif Dinler, Dilek Yamak, Kardelen Hatimoğulları, Kezban Bayramlar, Mustafa Yıldırım
{"title":"The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and functional capacity after chemotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer.","authors":"Deniz Kocamaz, Elif Dinler, Dilek Yamak, Kardelen Hatimoğulları, Kezban Bayramlar, Mustafa Yıldırım","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08880-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08880-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life during the survival period in individuals with small cell lung cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-six patients with a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), who completed chemotherapy treatment and were in the survival period, were included in the study. A pulmonary rehabilitation program was applied to individuals at 40-70% of submaximal heart rate, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The pulmonary rehabilitation program will consist of warm up, breathing exercises, gait training, aerobic exercises, and cool down exercises. Demographic information, walking distance, and presence of dyspnea were questioned. Inspiration/expiration difference was evaluated. Vital signs were evaluated before each session. Quality of life was assessed with the Cancer-Specific Developed Quality of Life Scale (EORTC-QLQ-C30).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the patients, 80% (36 people) completed the entire 8-week program. The mean age of the individuals was 51.78 ± 10.23. In the evaluation made at the end of the rehabilitation program, it was observed that the walking distance of the individuals increased significantly. Inspiration of individuals' expiratory difference increased by an average of 2.01 ± 0.40 cm. Improvement was found in the sub-parameters of quality of life (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Significance of results: </strong>The participants with small cell lung cancer had decreased quality of life due to long-term immobilization, surgery, hospitalization times, side effects of chemotherapy treatment, and other problems. Regular exercise programs can provide an increase in the individual's pulmonary functions. Individual-specific pulmonary rehabilitation programs have important contributions to the quality of life in SCLC on the survival period, and it has shown that this study can guide physiotherapists and physicians working in oncological rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sharon Carey, Sophie Hogan, Jennifer Vu, Daniel Steffens
{"title":"Nutrition interventions in prehabilitation randomised controlled trials for patients undergoing cancer surgery: too heterogeneous to digest?","authors":"Sharon Carey, Sophie Hogan, Jennifer Vu, Daniel Steffens","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08863-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08863-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danique W Bos-van den Hoek, Loïs F van de Water, Pieter G Vos, Meeke Hoedjes, Ruud Roodbeen, Bastiaan R Klarenbeek, Debby Geijsen, Ellen M A Smets, Hanneke W M van Laarhoven, Inge Henselmans
{"title":"Oncologists' communication about tobacco and alcohol use during treatment for esophagogastric cancer: a qualitative observational study of simulated consultations.","authors":"Danique W Bos-van den Hoek, Loïs F van de Water, Pieter G Vos, Meeke Hoedjes, Ruud Roodbeen, Bastiaan R Klarenbeek, Debby Geijsen, Ellen M A Smets, Hanneke W M van Laarhoven, Inge Henselmans","doi":"10.1007/s00520-024-08847-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00520-024-08847-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Tobacco and alcohol use influence cancer risk as well as treatment outcomes, specifically for esophageal and gastric cancer patients. Therefore, it is an important topic to discuss during consultations. This study aims to uncover medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists' communication about substance use, i.e., tobacco and alcohol use, in simulated consultations about curative and palliative esophagogastric cancer treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Secondary analyses were performed on n = 40 standardized patient assessments (SPAs) collected in three Dutch clinical studies. Simulated patients with esophagogastric cancer were instructed to ask about smoking or alcohol use during treatment. The responses of the 40 medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was performed in MAXQDA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Oncologists consistently advocated smoking cessation during curative treatment. There was more variation in their recommendations and arguments in the palliative compared to the curative setting and when addressing alcohol use instead of smoking. Overall, oncologists were less stringent regarding behavior change in the palliative than in the curative setting. Few oncologists actively inquired about the patient's perspective on the substance use behavior, the recommended substance use change, or the support offered.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Clear guidelines for oncologists on when and how to provide unequivocal recommendations about substance use behavior change and support to patients are needed. Oncologists might benefit from education on how to engage in a conversation about smoking or alcohol.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11415438/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142295985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}