Age at first full-term pregnancy and other reproductive factors are associated with mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women: a study in Flanders, Belgium.

This study evaluated the association between age at first full-term pregnancy (FFTP) and mammographic breast density (MBD) in postmenopausal women. 1,034 women, age 50-69y, were recruited from the Flemish (Belgium) population-based breast cancer screening program. Participants completed a questionnaire on lifestyle and reproductive factors.

Food Insecurity and Dietary Quality in African American Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancers: An Exploratory Study.

African American (AA) individuals experience food insecurity at twice the rate of the general population. However, few patients are screened for these measures in the oncology setting. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate associations between food insecurity and dietary quality in AA patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.

Increases in Psychological Stress Are Associated With Higher Fasting Glucose in US Chinese Immigrants.

Background: The majority of Chinese Americans is foreign-born, and it is well-documented that immigration to the United States (US) leads to increased risk for chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes. Increased disease risk has been attributed to changes in lifestyle behaviors following immigration, but few studies have considered the psychosocial impact of immigration upon biomarkers of disease risk.

Purpose: To examine associations of psychological stress and social isolation with markers of type 2 diabetes risk over time among US Chinese immigrants.

Evaluating human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling among Latinas in the United States: A systematic review.

Background: Latinas experience the greatest cervical cancer incidence compared with other ethnic/racial groups in the United States (US) due in part to significant disparities in screening uptake. Social and structural conditions that impede access to and participation in screening include language barriers, concerns about documentation status, logistical issues (e.g.

An exploratory analysis of the impact of area-level exposome on geographic disparities in aggressive prostate cancer.

Numbers of aggressive prostate cancer (aPC) cases are rising, but only a few risk factors have been identified. In this study, we introduce a systematic approach to integrate geospatial data into external exposome research using aPC cases from Pennsylvania. We demonstrate the association between several area-level exposome measures across five Social Determinants of Health domains (SDOH) and geographic areas identified as having elevated odds of aPC.

Pandemic effects on social capital in residents and non-residents of Chinese immigrant enclaves in Philadelphia.

The COVID-19 pandemic's effect on established Chinese ethnic enclaves, which faced socio-economic disruptions as well as anti-Asian sentiment, is unknown. We compared the pandemic's effect on social capital among residents and non-residents of Chinese ethnic enclaves in Philadelphia. Despite declines in group participation and citizenship activity (joining with others or speaking with local officials to address a neighborhood problem), the pandemic increased support received from other individuals and cognitive social capital (e.

"Cancer's a demon": a qualitative study of fear and multilevel factors contributing to cancer treatment delays.

Purpose: Delays initiating cancer therapy are increasingly common, impact outcomes, and have implications for health equity. However, it remains unclear (1) whether patients' beliefs regarding acceptable diagnostic to treatment intervals align with current guidelines, and (2) to what degree psychological factors contribute to longer intervals. We conducted a qualitative study with patients and cancer care team members ("providers").

Patient-Caregiver Portal System in Palliative Oncology: Assessment of Usability and Perceived Benefit.

Background: The engagement of family caregivers in oncology is not universal or systematic.

Objective: We implemented a process intervention (ie, patient-caregiver portal system) with an existing patient portal system to (1) allow a patient to specify their caregiver and communication preferences with that caregiver, (2) connect the caregiver to a unique caregiver-specific portal page to indicate their needs, and (3) provide an electronic notification of the dyad's responses to the care team to inform clinicians and connect the caregiver to resources as needed.

Methods: We assessed usability and satisfaction with this patient-caregiver portal system among patients with cancer receiving palliative care, their caregivers, and clinicians.

Educating the next generation of cancer researchers: Evaluation of a cancer research partnership training program.

African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Hispanic (or Latinx), Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander groups are underrepresented in the biomedical workforce, which is one of the barriers to addressing cancer disparities among minority populations. The creation of a more inclusive biomedical workforce dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer health disparities requires structured, mentored research and cancer-related research exposure during the earlier stages of training. The Summer Cancer Research Institute (SCRI) is a multicomponent 8-week intensive summer program funded under the Partnership between a Minority Serving Institute and a National Institutes of Health-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Neighborhood gentrification, wealth, and co-ethnic density associations with acculturation stressors among Chinese immigrants.

Objective: This study examined the cross-sectional relationships between neighborhood social composition and gentrification, and acculturation stressors.

Methods: Person-level data came from first-generation Chinese immigrants enrolled in the Immigrant Enclaves Study (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, baseline 2018-2020, N = 512). A validated scale was used to assess 22 stressors associated with migration or acculturation.

Educating the Next Generation of Cancer Researchers: Evaluation of A Cancer Research Partnership Training Program.

African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Hispanic (or Latinx), Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander groups are underrepresented in the biomedical workforce, which is one of the barriers to addressing cancer disparities among minority populations. The creation of a more inclusive biomedical workforce dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer health disparities requires structured, mentored research and cancer-related research exposure during the earlier stages of training. The Summer Cancer Research Institute (SCRI), a multicomponent 8-week intensive summer program funded under the Partnership between a Minority Serving Institute and a National Institutes of Health-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Using Pointwise Mutual Information for Breast Cancer Health Disparities Research With SEER-Medicare Claims.

Identification of procedures using International Classification of Diseases or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes is challenging when conducting medical claims research. We demonstrate how Pointwise Mutual Information can be used to find associated codes. We apply the method to an investigation of racial differences in breast cancer outcomes.

Benefits versus drawbacks of delaying surgery due to additional consultations in older patients with breast cancer.

Background: Additional evaluations, including second opinions, before breast cancer surgery may improve care, but may cause detrimental treatment delays that could allow disease progression.

Aims: We investigate the timing of surgical delays that are associated with survival benefits conferred by preoperative encounters versus the timing that are associated with potential harm.

Methods And Results: We investigated survival outcomes of SEER Medicare patients with stage 1-3 breast cancer using propensity score-based weighting.

The psychometric properties of a caregiving-related strain scale in oncology.

Background: Caregivers are rarely assessed for caregiving-related strain. This study explored the psychometric properties of the caregiving-related physical, emotional, and financial strain questions in the National Alliance for Caregiving's (NAC) survey and a new total score (NAC-3).

Methods: Comparisons were made to existing caregiver quality of life, distress, and burden instruments through an online, cross-sectional survey of U.

Palliative Care Clinicians' Perspectives of an Integrated Caregiver Patient-Portal System in Oncology.

Background: Despite recommendations and policies to integrate family caregivers into U.S. healthcare settings, caregivers are not systematically involved.

Empowering Low-Income Asian American Women to Conduct Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling Test: A Community-Engaged and Culturally Tailored Intervention.

Background: Asian American women face disproportionate burden of cervical cancer (CC) than non-Hispanic white women in the U.S. The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility and impact of a culturally tailored intervention to promote Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling test among hard-to-reach Asian American women.

Systematic review of neighborhood socioeconomic indices studied across the cancer control continuum.

Background: There is extensive interest in understanding how neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) may affect cancer incidence or survival. However, variability regarding items included and approaches used to form a composite nSES index presents challenges in summarizing overall associations with cancer. Given recent calls for standardized measures of neighborhood sociodemographic effects in cancer disparity research, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and compare existing nSES indices studied across the cancer continuum (incidence, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survival/mortality) and summarize associations by race/ethnicity and cancer site to inform future cancer disparity studies.

Adverse Events Reported by Patients With Cancer After Administration of a 2-Dose mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

Background: Most safety and efficacy trials of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines excluded patients with cancer, yet these patients are more likely than healthy individuals to contract SARS-CoV-2 and more likely to become seriously ill after infection. Our objective was to record short-term adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with cancer, to compare the magnitude and duration of these reactions with those of patients without cancer, and to determine whether adverse reactions are related to active cancer therapy.

Patients And Methods: A prospective, single-institution observational study was performed at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

A Telephone-Adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program: Preliminary Effects among Healthcare Employees.

Healthcare employees often experience high stress and may benefit from accessible psychosocial interventions. In this pilot study, we explored preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and psychological effects of a telephone-based adaption of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for healthcare employees. Eleven participants (M age = 49.