"The whole package deal": experiences of overweight/obese women living with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive disorder with multiple manifestations. There are relatively few qualitative studies exploring the nature of living with PCOS despite its high prevalence. Qualitative research can enhance clinical practice via the provision of patient insights into the experience of living with their condition.

Feasibility and acceptability of a proposed trial of acupuncture as an adjunct to lifestyle interventions for weight loss in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a qualitative study.

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive disorder with multiple manifestations. Weight management is a key therapeutic goal. Acupuncture is a potential adjunctive weight loss treatment in non-PCOS populations.

Does stress increase risk of breast cancer? A 15-year prospective study.

Objective: The possible impact of stress on cancer incidence remains controversial. We prospectively evaluated associations between life event stressors, social support, personality characteristics (optimism, anger control, antiemotionality), and risk of developing primary breast cancer (BCa), in women at increased familial risk of BCa.

Methods: A prospective cohort, repeated measures design was used.

Scalp cooling: a qualitative study to assess the perceptions and experiences of Australian patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is a common and distressing side effect. Scalp cooling is increasingly being used to reduce this hair loss. The purpose of this study was to explore patients' perceptions and experience of scalp cooling.

The characteristics of oncology social work in Australia: Implications for workforce planning in integrated cancer care.

Aims: To describe the demographics, professional characteristics, self-reported professional development needs and research involvement of oncology social workers in Australia and to describe perceived barriers to provision of quality psychosocial care.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to social workers working in the oncology field who were contacted through three professional organizations; the Australian Association of Social Workers, Oncology Social Work Australia and the Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group, the University of Sydney. A snowball recruitment method was adopted to maximize the sample size.

Long-term outcomes of risk-reducing surgery in unaffected women at increased familial risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer.

This study prospectively investigated long-term psychosocial outcomes for women who opted for risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) and/or risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Unaffected women from high-risk breast cancer families who had completed baseline questionnaires for an existing study and subsequently underwent RRM and/or RRSO, completed measures of perceived breast and ovarian cancer risk, anxiety, depression, cancer-related anxiety, body image, sexual functioning, menopausal symptoms, use of hormone replacement therapy and decision regret 3 years post-surgery. Outcomes were compared to age- and risk-matched controls.

Psychosocial factors and uptake of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in women at high risk for ovarian cancer.

Bilateral risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. This study assessed factors predicting uptake of RRSO. Women participating in a large multiple-case breast cancer family cohort study who were at increased risk for ovarian and fallopian tube cancer (i.

Looking different, feeling different: women's reactions to risk-reducing breast and ovarian surgery.

Most studies of quality of life following risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and mastectomy (RRM) for inherited breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility were conducted before counseling protocols were established and included women at varying times since surgery. This study aimed to overcome these deficiencies and to provide current data on outcomes for this growing group of women. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the experiences of an Australian cohort of 40 high-risk women 3 years after they underwent RRM and/or RRSO.