"Uncovering the unspoken": a narrative analysis of patients' experiences with testicular cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of young men with a diagnosis of testicular cancer (TC) using a narrative approach, with the intention of informing models of care and support in clinical services.

Methods: TC patients were recruited to participate in one of four focus groups examining their lived experiences from diagnosis. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed and analyzed using a narrative approach.

End-of-Life Symptom Burden among Patients with Cancer Who Were Provided Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID): A Longitudinal Propensity-Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Cancer is the primary underlying condition for most Canadians who are provided Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). However, it is unknown whether cancer patients who are provided MAID experience disproportionally higher symptom burden compared to those who are not provided MAID. Thus, we used a propensity-score-matched cohort design to evaluate longitudinal symptom trajectories over the last 12 months of patients' lives, comparing cancer patients in Alberta who were and were not provided MAID.

Psycho-Oncology and the Relevance of a Biopsychosocial Screening Program.

A 40-year-old unmarried Brazilian woman, Ms A, received a diagnosis of papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in February 2020; she underwent nephrectomy the following month. In August, she began to experience generalized pain with subsequent scans revealing metastatic disease to the supraclavicular lymph node, liver, and vagina. In October 2020, Ms A started first-line systemic combination treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo; 3 mg/kg) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy; 1 mg/kg) every 3 weeks for 4 doses, followed by nivolumab (3 mg/kg) every 2 weeks, to be taken for 2 years.

Symptom Burden and Complexity in the Last 12 Months of Life among Cancer Patients Choosing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Alberta, Canada.

Background: In 2019, cancer patients comprised over 65% of all individuals who requested and received Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada. This descriptive study sought to understand the self-reported symptom burden and complexity of cancer patients in the 12 months prior to receiving MAID in Alberta.

Methods: Between July 2017 and January 2019, 337 cancer patients received MAID in Alberta.

Psychosocial risk, symptom burden, and concerns in families affected by childhood cancer.

Purpose: The revised Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PATrev) is a common family-level risk-based screening tool for pediatric oncology that has gained support for its ability to predict, at diagnosis, the degree of psychosocial support a family may require throughout the treatment trajectory. However, ongoing screening for symptoms and concerns (e.g.

Lessons learned about virtual cancer care and distress screening in the time of COVID-19.

Purpose: Cancer-related biopsychosocial distress is highly prevalent across the cancer care continuum. The implementation of screening patients for biopsychosocial distress has become a standard of practice in cancer care. With the presence of COVID-19, clinical care has shifted from in-person care to virtual care in many instances.

The effectiveness of a men-only supportive expressive group therapy intervention for psychosocial health outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients: a 6-month longitudinal study.

Background: An increasing number of gastrointestinal cancer (GI) patients suffer from side effects of cancer treatment that can affect their mood states and quality of life. Despite its demonstrated effectiveness in female cancer patients, Supportive Expressive Group Therapy (SEGT) has not been tested in male cancer patients. The current study sought to examine the longitudinal effects of a professionally-led, men-only SEGT on mood states, coping, and quality of life (QoL) in male GI cancer patients.

The Psycho-Oncologist-A Critical Role in a Cancer Center Survivorship Program.

Integration of psychosocial oncology services into urological practice can reduce the distress associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Programmatic thinking can expand the services available to patients, moving beyond the psychiatry model of psychotherapy and medication management for mental health issues to programs of care that can support which improve the quality of life and wellbeing of cancer patients across their disease trajectory.

"In the same boat"-a mixed-methods exploration of reasons why male gastrointestinal cancer patients joined a professionally led men-only cancer support group.

Purpose: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients often suffer high rates of distress and social isolation, partially due to symptoms that are embarrassing or difficult to discuss with family or friends. Group support therapies mitigate illness-related stigma and standardization; however, men, in particular, are more averse to joining. Through an ongoing men-only GI cancer support group, this study sought to understand who joined the groups, what facilitated group uptake, and explore men's reasons for enrolling in the group.

Ethical considerations in screening head and neck cancer patients for psychosocial distress.

Rationale: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and survivors are a particularly vulnerable group with disproportionately high levels of psychosocial distress. Untreated psychosocial distress among HNC patients has consistently been associated with poorer health and psychosocial outcomes. Screening for distress (SFD) allows health care providers to identify and monitor patient's distress, and when needed, to subsequently provide appropriate psychosocial supports that aim to reduce suffering and improve patients' overall well-being.

Outcomes From a Patient-Centered, Interprofessional, Palliative Consult Team in Oncology.

Palliative care aims to improve suffering and quality of life for patients with life-limiting disease. This study evaluated an interdisciplinary palliative consultation team for outpatients with advanced cancer at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. This team traditionally offered palliative medicine and recently integrated a specialized psychosocial clinician.

Distress levels in patients with oropharyngeal vs. non-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck over 1 year after diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers have been associated with different demographic profiles and disease characteristics than HPV-unrelated cancers in head and neck patients, but distress and other symptoms have not been compared. The aim of this study was to assess whether distress levels, fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and common psychological and practical problems differ between head and neck cancer patients with HPV-related vs. HPV-unrelated carcinomas (using oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and non-OPC cancers as surrogates for HPV status).

2016 President's Plenary International Psycho-Oncology Society: challenges and opportunities for growing and developing psychosocial oncology programmes worldwide.

Consistent with the International Psycho-Oncology Society's (IPOS) vision and goals, we are committed to improving quality cancer care and cancer policies through psychosocial care globally. As part of IPOS's mission, upon entering "Official Relations" for a second term with the World Health Organization (WHO), IPOS has dedicated much attention to reaching out to countries, which lack formalized psychosocial care programmes. One of IPOS's strategies to accomplish this goal has been to bring psycho-oncology training programmes to low- and middle-income countries and regions.

Lessons learned from the science of caring: Extending the reach of psychosocial oncology: The International Psycho-Oncology Society 2016 Sutherland Award Lecture.

In medicine, referral to a medical oncology specialty is based on recent history, physical examination, pathology, surgery reports, imaging, blood work, and the patient's vital signs. By contrast, referral to a psychosocial specialist has typically been based on the patients expressed request for psychosocial support or the health care team's observation of the patient's limited adjustment or poor coping with the diagnosis, treatment, or end-of-life distress. These observations are usually based on clinical acumen not on metrics.

Examining the sustainability of Screening for Distress, the sixth vital sign, in two outpatient oncology clinics: A mixed-methods study.

Background: Research indicates that cancer patients experience significant multifactorial distress during their journey. To address this, cancer centers are implementing Screening for Distress programs; however, little is known about the sustainability of these programs. This study sought to examine the sustainability of a Screening for Distress program in 2 cancer clinics 6 months post implementation.

Brief supportive-expressive group therapy for partners of men with early stage prostate cancer: lessons learned from a negative randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a negative randomized controlled trial, which piloted brief supportive-expressive therapy (SET) for partners of men with prostate cancer, and to discuss lessons learned for future clinical trials.

Methods: Partners of men with newly diagnosed, non-metastatic prostate cancer were randomized to SET (n = 45) or usual care (n = 32). SET involved six weekly group sessions emphasizing emotional expression, social support, and finding meaning in the cancer experience.

Evaluating the Impact of Provincial Implementation of Screening for Distress on Quality of Life, Symptom Reports, and Psychosocial Well-Being in Patients With Cancer.

Background: Although a number of accreditation agencies and professional societies recommend routine screening for distress (SFD) for patients with cancer, it has been integrated very slowly into clinical practice.

Objectives: This evaluation investigated the impact of a large-scale SFD intervention on patients' quality of life, symptom reports, and psychosocial well-being. The SFD intervention involved (1) completion of the SFD tool by patients, (2) discussion between patient and provider about the concerns indicated, and (3) provision of appropriate assessments/interventions based on priority concerns.

2014 President's plenary international psycho-oncology society: moving toward cancer care for the whole patient.

The International Psycho-oncology Society (IPOS) has just celebrated its 30th anniversary. The growth of psychosocial oncology has been exponential, and this relatively new field is becoming a core service that focuses on prevention, reducing the burden of cancer, and enhancing the quality of life from time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, and palliative care. Looking back over the past 30 years, we see that cancer care globally has evolved to a new and higher standard.

Implementing routine screening for distress, the sixth vital sign, for patients with head and neck and neurologic cancers.

This study examined the benefits of incorporating screening for distress as a routine part of care for patients with head and neck and neurologic cancers in a tertiary cancer center. Using a comparative 2-cohort pre-post implementation sequential design, consecutive outpatients with head and neck and neurologic cancers were recruited into 2 separate cohorts. Cohort 1 included patients attending clinics during April 2010, before the implementation of the screening program.

A longitudinal analysis of symptom clusters in cancer patients and their sociodemographic predictors.

Context: Exploring the relationships between concurrent symptoms or "symptom clusters" (SCs) longitudinally may complement the knowledge gained from the traditional approach of examining individual symptoms or SCs crosssectionally.

Objectives: To identify consistent SCs over the course of one year and determine the possible associations between SCs and demographic and medical characteristics, and between SCs and emotional distress.

Methods: This study was an exploratory longitudinal analysis of SCs in a large sample of newly diagnosed cancer patients.

Risk factors for continuous distress over a 12-month period in newly diagnosed cancer outpatients.

This analysis examined demographic and medical factors associated with continuous distress in the year following cancer diagnosis. Patients completed the Distress Thermometer, Fatigue and Pain Thermometers, and anxiety and depression measures, at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12 months. A total of 480 patients were grouped into three trajectories for distress, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Screening for distress, the sixth vital sign, in lung cancer patients: effects on pain, fatigue, and common problems--secondary outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This randomized controlled trial examined the impact of an online routine screening for distress program on physical symptoms and common psychosocial and practical problems in lung cancer outpatients.

Method: Patients were randomly assigned to either the minimal screening group (the Distress Thermometer plus usual care); full screening group (Distress Thermometer, Canadian Problem Checklist (CPC), Pain Thermometer, Fatigue Thermometer, and the Psychological Screen for Cancer Part C, with a personalized report summarizing concerns); or triage (full screening plus option of personalized phone triage). Outcomes included pain, fatigue and psychosocial, practical and physical problems.