Excess Mortality in Persons with Concurrent HIV and Cancer Diagnoses: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: With extended lifespans for people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), there is a corresponding increased burden of chronic illnesses, including cancer. Our objective was to estimate the excess mortality among PWH with cancer compared with people without HIV (PWoH), accounting for the higher background mortality in the general PWH population.

Methods: We identified 39,000 PWH and 387,767 demographically matched PWoH in three integrated healthcare systems from 2000 to 2016.

Association of Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality of Life With Physician-Reported Toxicities in Adolescents and Young Adults Receiving Radiation Therapy for Cancer.

Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) may cause toxicities in adolescents and young adults (AYAs, age 15-39 years) with cancer. However, the range of RT-related toxicities in AYAs and the affect on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been well studied. We performed a cross-sectional study in AYAs with cancer who received RT to identify RT-related toxicities and examine their impact on HRQOL.

Patient-reported quality of life in adolescents and young adults with cancer who received radiation therapy.

Background: Radiation therapy (RT) is a common treatment for adolescents and young adults (AYAs, 15-39 years old) with cancer; however, it may cause toxicities that affect health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL). Thus, we assessed HRQOL in AYAs before, during, and after RT.

Methods: We identified 265 AYAs who completed HRQOL PROMIS® surveys before (n = 87), during (n = 84), or after (n = 94) RT.

Treatment decisions and employment of breast cancer patients: Results of a population-based survey.

Background: Many patients with breast cancer work for pay at the time of their diagnosis, and the treatment plan may threaten their livelihood. Understanding work experiences in a contemporary population-based sample is necessary to inform initiatives to reduce the burden of cancer care.

Methods: Women who were 20 to 79 years old and had been diagnosed with stage 0 to II breast cancer, as reported to the Georgia and Los Angeles Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries in 2014-2015, were surveyed.

What Factors Influence Women's Perceptions of their Systemic Recurrence Risk after Breast Cancer Treatment?

Background: Breast cancer patients' misunderstanding of their systemic cancer recurrence risk has consequences on decision-making and quality of life. Little is known about how women derive their risk estimates.

Methods: Using Los Angeles and Georgia's SEER registries (2014-2015), a random sample of early-stage breast cancer patients was sent surveys about 2 to 3 months after surgery ( N = 3930; RR, 68%).

The impact of doctor-patient communication on patients' perceptions of their risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Purpose: Doctor-patient communication is the primary way for women diagnosed with breast cancer to learn about their risk of distant recurrence. Yet little is known about how doctors approach these discussions.

Methods: A weighted random sample of newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer patients identified through SEER registries of Los Angeles and Georgia (2013-2015) was sent surveys about ~2 months after surgery (Phase 2, N = 3930, RR 68%).