Publications by authors named "Bijlsma R"

Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) malignant brain tumour (BT) survivors are at risk of adverse health outcomes, which may impact their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate the (1) prevalence of physical and psychological adverse health outcomes, (2) the HRQoL, and (3) the association of adverse health outcomes and HRQoL among long-term AYA-BT survivors. Adverse health outcomes and HRQoL were compared to other AYA cancer (AYAC) survivors.

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Purpose: To evaluate the cost utility of a 9-month supervised exercise program for patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), compared with control (usual care, supplemented with general activity advice and an activity tracker). Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of exercise for patients with mBC is essential for implementation in clinical practice and is currently lacking.

Methods: A cost-utility analysis was performed alongside the multinational PREFERABLE-EFFECT randomized controlled trial, conducted in 8 centers across Europe and Australia.

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Background: Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OP-BCS) is becoming increasingly popular to avoid mastectomy or optimize cosmetic outcomes of breast conserving surgery (BCS). Few studies have compared clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of OP-BCS to conventional BCS (C-BCS). This study aims to compare clinical outcomes and short and long-term PROs after OP-BCS and C-BCS in a large prospective breast cancer cohort.

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Physical exercise both during and after curative cancer treatment has been shown to reduce side effects. Evidence in the metastatic cancer setting is scarce, and interventions that improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are much needed for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The multinational randomized controlled PREFERABLE-EFFECT trial assessed the effects of exercise on fatigue and HRQOL in patients with MBC.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights that over half (58.5%) of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors experience health-related conditions after diagnosis, with many having multiple issues.
  • The analysis included 3,776 AYA cancer survivors, revealing common health problems related to vision, digestion, endocrine systems, and mental health.
  • Understanding the risk factors and mechanisms behind these conditions is crucial for improving the long-term health and support of cancer survivors.
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Background: In the absence of prognostic biomarkers, most patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) are treated with combination chemotherapy. The identification of biomarkers to select patients for whom treatment de-escalation or escalation could be considered remains an unmet need. We evaluated the prognostic value of histopathologic traits in a unique cohort of young, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy-naïve patients with early-stage (stage I or II), node-negative TNBC and long-term follow-up, in relation to stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) for which the prognostic value was recently reported.

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Purpose: To describe recall of fertility-related consultations and cryopreservation and to examine reproductive goals and reproduction post-treatment in long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) (age, 18-39 years) cancer.

Methods: This study included n = 1457 male and n = 2112 female long-term survivors (M = 43-45 years; 5-22 years from diagnosis) who provided self-report. Clinical data were supplied by the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

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Background: With increasing survival rates of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with breast cancer, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) becomes more important. An important aspect of HRQoL is sexual QoL. This study examined long-term sexual QoL of AYA breast cancer survivors, compared sexual QoL scores with that of other AYA cancer survivors, and identified factors associated with long-term sexual QoL of AYA breast cancer survivors.

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Purpose: For adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors with a good prognosis, having a healthy lifestyle prevents morbidity and mortality after treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of (un)healthy lifestyle behaviors and related determinants in AYA cancer survivors.

Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was performed among long-term (5-20 years) AYA cancer survivors (18-39 years old at diagnosis) registered within the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

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Purpose: Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs) are at increased risk of long-term and late effects, and experience unmet needs, impacting their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In order to provide and optimize supportive care and targeted interventions for this unique population, it is important to study HRQoL factors' interconnectedness on a population level. Therefore, this network analysis was performed with the aim to explore the interconnectedness between HRQoL factors, in the analysis described as nodes, among long-term AYAs.

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Background: Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYAs, aged 18-39 years at first diagnosis) have a higher second cancer risk. Accelerated aging is hypothesized as underlying mechanism and has been described clinically by 6 indicators; fatigue, low quality of sleep, low mood, lack of motivation, subjective memory complaints, and poor exercise tolerance. Using patient-reported outcomes, we aimed to identify clusters of accelerated aging among AYA cancer survivors and to investigate their association with second cancer development.

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Purpose: This observational study aims to assess the feasibility of calculating indicators developed by the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC) for the Dutch breast cancer population.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with invasive or in situ breast cancer between 2012 and 2018 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Outcomes of the quality indicators (QI) were presented as mean scores and were compared to a stated norm.

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Background: Cholecystectomy in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP) is controversial. A randomized trial found cholecystectomy to reduce the recurrence rate of IAP but did not include preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). As EUS is effective in detecting gallstone disease, cholecystectomy may be indicated only in patients with gallstone disease.

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The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYACS) and an age- and sex-matched normative population was examined. Although the HRQoL of AYACS was worse compared to the normative population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scores of AYACS improved over time in contrast to the normative population. Presumably, AYACS are used to adjusting their lives to stressful life events.

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Background: Despite growing (inter)national awareness and appreciation, age-specific care is still not always self-evident and accepted as standard of care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. It is unknown whether long-term AYA cancer survivors have missed age-specific care, and if so, which survivors missed it and regarding which topics.

Methods: The Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) identified all long-term AYA cancer survivors (aged 18-39 years at initial cancer diagnosis, 5-20 years past diagnosis) in the Netherlands, who were invited to participate in a population-based, observational, cross-sectional questionnaire study (SURVAYA study), including questions on care needs.

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A 71-year-old female was treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel for an endometrial carcinosarcoma. The patient demonstrated an unusual type 1 allergic reaction on carboplatin, which started with an erythematous urticarial venous pattern proximal from the venous catheter with carboplatin.

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Article Synopsis
  • During the second wave of SARS-CoV-2, a study assessed the quality of life (QoL), physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being in breast cancer patients, following an observed decline during the first wave.
  • Results indicated that patient-reported QoL and well-being remained stable or improved, with a notable decrease in emotional loneliness.
  • The analysis involved comparing data from breast cancer patients across both waves and a similar non-cancer population, highlighting the resilience of patients during the pandemic.
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Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the prevalence of patient-reported symptoms of local late toxicity in patients with irradiated breast cancer and determine the association between late toxicity and quality of life.

Methods: Within the prospective Utrecht cohort for Multiple BReast cancer intErvention studies and Long-term evaluation cohort, a survey on self-reported late toxicity was sent to all patients with breast cancer with ≥12 months interval since radiation therapy treated with curative intent. Patients were treated with hypofractionated radiation therapy of 40 Gy/15 fractions or 42.

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Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (18-39 years at diagnosis) often experience negative body changes such as scars, amputation, and disfigurement. Understanding which factors influence body image among AYA survivors can improve age-specific care in the future. Therefore, we aim to examine the prevalence, and association of a negative body image with sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors, among AYA cancer survivors (5-20 years after diagnosis).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on understanding the participation of adolescents and young adults with cancer (AYAs) in patient-reported outcome research, as their long-term health outcomes are not well understood.
  • A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted with 4,010 AYAs, showing a 36% participation rate; factors like gender, socio-economic status, and type of cancer affected participation levels.
  • Effective recruitment strategies, such as including a paper questionnaire and sending reminders, increased response rates, highlighting the need to engage AYAs in research to improve representativeness in future studies.
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Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer fulfill their cancer-related information needs often via the Internet. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have a crucial role in guiding patients in finding appropriate online information and eHealth sources, a role that is often overlooked. Misperceptions of AYAs' needs by HCPs may lead to suboptimal guidance.

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Background: Distancing measures enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic impose a restriction on the number of patients simultaneously present in hospital waiting areas.

Objective: Evaluate waiting area occupancy of an intervention that designs clinic blueprint schedules, in which all appointments of the pre-COVID-19 case mix are scheduled either digitally or in person under COVID-19 distancing measures, whereby the number of in-person appointments is maximised.

Methods: Preintervention analysis and prospective assessment of intervention outcomes were used to evaluate the outcomes on waiting area occupancy and number of in-person consultations (postintervention only) using descriptive statistics, for two settings in the Rheumatology Clinic of Sint Maartenskliniek (SMK) and Medical Oncology & Haematology Outpatient Clinic of University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU).

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Purpose: Guidelines recommend endocrine treatment for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers for up to 10 years. Earlier data suggest that the 70-gene signature (MammaPrint) has potential to select patients that have an excellent survival without chemotherapy and limited or no tamoxifen treatment. The aim was to validate the 70-gene signature ultralow-risk classification for endocrine therapy decision making.

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Background: Our aim was to evaluate differences in cancer-related internet patterns between AYAs (adolescents and young adults; 18-39 years at time of diagnosis) and older adult cancer patients (40+ years).

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were distributed among AYA and older adult cancer patients regarding cancer-related internet use and eHealth needs.

Results: 299 AYAs (mean age 31.

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Purpose: To evaluate perceived access to health care and preferences for health care provision among patients (being) treated for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Longitudinal study within the prospective, multicenter UMBRELLA cohort of patients (being) treated for breast cancer. All cohort participants enrolled in UMBRELLA between October 2013 and November 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.

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