Exercising and immuno-oncology treatment (ExIO): a prospective pilot study for patients with solid tumors.

Purpose: Despite exercise's known benefits for cancer patients, little is understood about combining it with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a personalized physical activity program for cancer patients on ICI treatment and to investigate its effects on quality of life, ICI-related side effects, fatigue, and emotional symptoms.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted across eight cancer practices in a joint network in Brazil.

Enhancing Cancer Supportive Care: Integrating Psychosocial Support, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Using Telehealth Solutions.

This review explores current guidelines for integrating psychosocial support, nutrition, and physical activity into cancer care and examines the resources available to deliver comprehensive care effectively and equitably, with a focus on telehealth solutions. A review of current guidelines related to psychosocial support, nutrition, and exercise in oncology published between the years 2020 and 2024 was conducted. Additionally, relevant articles from the authors' personal archives were included.

Validation of a Biopsychosocial Distress Screening Tool, SupportScreen, in a Brazilian Cancer Center.

Objective: Biopsychosocial distress is a common yet often underestimated complication in cancer care. We sought to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of SupportScreen distress assessment tool in Brazil.

Methods: A cancer cohort study was conducted at a public hospital in Brazil.

Effectiveness of the socioecological informed contextual treatment summary and care plan (TSSCP-P, Brazil) for breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an intervention using the Treatment Summary and Survivorship Care Plan (TSSCP-P) on self-efficacy and quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer survivors.

Method: A clinical study, randomized and controlled, conducted to assess self-efficacy and QOL in breast cancer survivors. The participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.

Impact of smoking status on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer survivors.

Introduction: The Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) often declines among cancer survivors due to many factors. Some cancer patients who smoke before the cancer diagnosis continue this harmful habit, potentially contributing to a more significant decline in their HRQoL. Therefore, this study investigates the association between smoking status and HRQoL in cancer survivors.

Anxiety, Depression, and Coping Strategies during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Comparison of Older and Younger Adults with Advanced Cancer in Brazil.

We sought to examine differences in anxiety, depression and coping strategies among younger (<64-year old) and older (≥65-year old) patients. Patients were assessed at baseline (T1), mid-point (T2) and on the last day of treatment (T3) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Ways of Coping. A linear mixed modeling approach was used.

Racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of germline or somatic DNA sequencing among patients with advanced prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer.

We sought to determine racial and ethnic differences in perceptions (quality of communication, expectations, and concerns) of germline or somatic DNA sequencing (genomic profiling). Patients with prostate, urothelial, or kidney cancer were surveyed using a questionnaire that assessed previous experience, beliefs, expectations, and concerns regarding genomic profiling. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to identify factors associated with patients' perceptions of genomic profiling.

Healthcare providers' perceptions about the unmet needs of their patients with cancer across healthcare systems: results of the International Psycho-Oncology Society survivorship survey.

Objective: Systematic understanding of patients' unmet needs is essential for providing effective supportive care. This study sought to compare the unmet needs of patients with cancer identified by health care providers (HCPs) among four major healthcare systems.

Methods: HCPs (n = 247) participated in the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Survivorship Online Survey, evaluating their patients' unmet needs.

Changes in Perception of Cure Among Patients With Genitourinary Cancers Initiating Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: We explored changes in perceptions of cure among patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers starting Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.

Materials And Methods: This longitudinal study assessed patients before starting therapy and 3-months later with a questionnaire that included patient perceptions of ICIs and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety scale. General linear modeling was used to investigate changes in expectation of cure over time, and chi-square tests were used to determine the association between expectation of cure and perceptions of ICIs and anxiety.

Implementation and evaluation of a remote geriatric assessment and intervention program in Brazil.

Background: This study sought to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a remote geriatric assessment (GA) and implementation (GAIN) program in Brazil. The authors also explored the effect of this program on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) outcomes 3 months after initiating treatment.

Methods: This is a longitudinal study enrolling older adults (65+ years), diagnosed with any type of solid tumor, scheduled to initiate chemotherapy in a networked Brazilian cancer center.

Patients' Perceptions Regarding the Relevance of Items Contained in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19.

Background: There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal method of assessing health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). This study explored the perceived relevance of items that make up the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index-19 (FKSI-19), as judged by patients with mRCC.

Methods: This was a multinational cross-sectional survey.

Impact of a Biopsychosocial Screening Program on Clinical and Hospital-Based Outcomes in Cancer.

Background: The integration of a biopsychosocial screening (BPS) program has been proposed by international agencies to better identify and effectively manage unmet needs among patients with cancer. We sought to evaluate the effect of a BPS program on hospital admissions and length of stay (LOS) among a diverse sample of patients with cancer and receiving treatment in Brazil.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed from March 2020 to December 2021.

Cancer Patients' Unmet Needs in Three Low- to Middle- Income Countries: Perspectives from Health Care Providers.

We sought to determine differences by low- and middle- income countries (Brazil, Romania, and Turkiye) on the degree to which health care providers (HCPs) note unmet needs among patients with cancer ( = 741). HCPs endorsed sexuality/intimacy and financial concerns as the most common. Investigating age differences in unmet needs between Brazil and Turkiye, were that should be targeted by.

Fear of cancer recurrence among Brazilian patients with cancer: Translation and cultural adaptation of FCR4/7 and FCRI-SF measures.

Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence or progression (FCR) is considered one of the most common unmet needs among patients with cancer. This study sought to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence scale (FCR4/7) and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF).

Methods: This study involved three phases: (1) translation and cultural adaptation of the FCR4/7 and FCRI-SF measures, (2) validity and reliability testing of the Portuguese version of these measures, and (3) examining patient's perceptions of these measures.

Global Breast Cancer Initiative: A platform to address the psycho-oncology of cancer in low- and middle-income countries for improving global breast cancer outcomes.

Background: Psycho-oncology is a clinical specialty in which the humanistic aspects of cancer diagnoses and treatment are addressed to reduce the psychological burden for patients and their caregivers to optimize patient participation, cancer outcomes and quality-of-life, which is especially critical in cultures where cancer is perceived as invariably fatal. Psycho-oncology programs face multiple barriers in low- and middle-income countries, including limited resource allocation and lack of training, both of which have been impediments to psycho-oncology programs becoming recognized as core competencies in cancer management and part of a standard medical curriculum.

Purpose: This paper discusses the role of the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in helping to overcome inequities in breast cancer care and improve clinical outcomes from a psycho-oncology perspective as a model for improved cancer care in limited resource settings.

Association of time intervals in cancer screenings and older participants' characteristics, in a nationally representative sample.

Introduction: Health agencies and guidelines have proposed various recommendations regarding breast and prostate cancer screening intervals for older adults. However, there is limited data about factors that could impact older individuals' adherence to these guideline-based intervals. This study emphasized the differences in screening rates between men and women undergoing screening for breast (mammogram) and prostate (prostate-specific antigen [PSA] test) cancer.

mHealth program for patients with advanced cancer receiving treatment in a public health hospital in Brazil.

Objective: Previous studies have suggested the benefit of routine screening for biopsychosocial symptoms among patients with cancer. In recognition of the lack of data from low- and middle-income countries, this study sought to test and determine the effect of a mHealth program to screen biopsychological symptoms among patients with advanced breast or gynecological cancer.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pre-post study conducted in a public hospital located in central western Brazil.

International collaboration for assessing unmet needs of cancer survivors and family caregivers: Lens of healthcare professionals.

Objective: Cancer patients and their family caregivers have reported various needs that are not met. Recognition of the unmet needs by healthcare professionals may be a first step to adequately and systematically addressing them. Thus, the International Psycho-Oncology Society Survivorship Online Survey was developed to measure healthcare professionals' evaluation about the unmet needs of their patients and family caregivers around the globe.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Early Phase Clinical Trials: An Opportunity to Actively Promote Patient-Centered Care.

This commentary highlights the potential relevance of including patient-reported outcomes in early phase trials and the barriers to such inclusion.