Development of a survivorship screening tool in survivors of hematopoietic cell transplant.

Purpose: This study describes the development of a screening measure focused on the potential needs of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) survivors at least 1-year post-transplant.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team met regularly to develop a screening measure to better understand the ongoing medical and clinical symptoms experienced by survivors of HCT. This measure was given to 299 patients presenting to an HCT survivorship clinic, with referrals offered for any issues reaching clinical threshold.

Experiences and Needs of African American Children and Adolescents in Supportive Care Roles for a Relative With Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To explore the experiences and needs of African American (AA) children and adolescents who were identified by a cancer survivor in their family as providing substantial supportive care during diagnosis and treatment.

Participants & Setting: 5 AA young adults who provided care and support to a family member with cancer when they were aged 7-19 years and 4 cancer survivors from a northeastern U.S.

CaringGuidance™ after breast cancer diagnosis eHealth psychoeducational intervention to reduce early post-diagnosis distress.

Purpose: Significant cancer-related distress affects 30-60% of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Fewer than 30% of distressed patients receive psychosocial care. Unaddressed distress is associated with poor treatment adherence, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs.

Survivorship needs of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a concept mapping analysis.

Purpose: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are known to have complex medical and psychosocial needs throughout treatment; however, information is lacking about the challenges AYA survivors face after treatment has ended. Focus groups were conducted using a concept mapping framework to better understand the most important issues these patients face in transitioning to survivorship and how prepared they felt to face them.

Methods: AYAs diagnosed between 18 and 39 years old and at least 2 years post-treatment participated in one of six focus groups based on age group and follow-up status.

A Roadmap to Survivorship: Optimizing Survivorship Care Plans for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

Young adult cancer patients have complex medical and psychosocial needs throughout treatment. Once treatment ends, few young adult cancer survivors (YACS) receive adequate survivorship care. Many YACS do not continue with oncology care after treatment ends.

Identifying the unmet needs of breast cancer patients post-primary treatment: the Cancer Survivor Profile (CSPro).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a brief measure of problem areas experienced by patients following primary treatment for breast cancer.

Method: Systematic reviews of the quantitative and qualitative literature were used to inform selection of scale items using (1) valid and reliable items from a national item bank (patient reported outcomes measurement information system [PROMIS]), (2) existing scales from prior breast cancer survivorship research, or (3) items developed by the investigators.

Results: Participants (n = 400) were on average 51 years old, highly educated, Caucasian, diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer, and a median of 1.

Improving the integration of palliative care in a comprehensive oncology center: increasing primary care referrals to palliative care.

Confronted with the complexities inherent in delivering palliative care, effective collaboration with referring staff becomes vital. Based on the evaluation of the physical and psychosocial concerns of patients, the goal of palliative care is to craft interventions that maintain quality of life in the face of increasing symptoms and deteriorating functional status. The project's goal was to increase the appropriateness of referrals to palliative care by the primary services in the hospital.

Unsupportive social interactions in the weeks immediately following breast cancer diagnosis.

Unsupportive social interactions (USIs) experienced by people with cancer negatively affect psychological well-being. Forty-five interviews with 26 women were analyzed using directed content analysis to explore USIs experienced during the stressful pretreatment and early postsurgical periods after early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to USIs were also explored.

Exploring the first days of adjustment to cancer: a modification of acclimating to breast cancer theory.

Background: Psychological adjustment may not be achieved by some women even years after breast cancer diagnosis. Although level of adjustment to diagnosis in the earliest (pretreatment) period is associated with future adjustment, limited research has explored this early period. Greater knowledge of women's thoughts and behaviors as adjustment is initiated is needed to target interventions for women at risk for future adjustment problems.