Excess heart age in young breast cancer survivors over 2-year follow-up.

Background: Breast cancer survivors are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease due to cardiotoxic cancer treatment. Research on young breast cancer survivors (diagnosed < 45 years old) are limited.

Methods: Young breast cancer survivors diagnosed between age 30 and 44, stage I-III, and treated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital between 2012 and 2015 were included.

Alignment of a PhD program in nursing with the AACN report on the research-focused doctorate in nursing: A descriptive analysis.

Those involved in preparing the next generation of nurse scientists face numerous challenges, including but not limited to: relatively older age at completion of doctoral studies, insufficient funding for full-time PhD students in nursing, inadequate funding for nursing research, and the limited number of well-funded mentors in nursing doctoral programs. These issues have limited the number of students enrolled in PhD nursing programs and graduates to supply the research faculty of the future and generate nursing science. This phenomenon persists despite numerous calls to increase the number of PhD doctoral students and graduates and expedite the PhD process without compromising educational integrity.

A telephone-based education and support intervention for Rural Breast Cancer Survivors: a randomized controlled trial comparing two implementation strategies in rural Florida.

Purpose: To compare two implementation telephone-based strategies of an evidence-based educational and support intervention to Rural Breast Cancer Survivors (RBCS) in which education was delivered early or after the support component.

Methods: Florida RBCS participated in a 12-month randomized clinical trial (RCT) with two arms: Early Education and Support (EE-S) and Support and Delayed Education (S-DE). Arms differed in the timing of 6 support and 3 education sessions.

Life after breast cancer: 'Being' a young African American survivor.

In the United States, 26,534 young women (≤45 years) were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. Young African American (AA) women have higher incidence and mortality rates than Whites and Hispanics. Yet, few published studies describe survivorship (life after breast cancer diagnosis) experiences among this group.

Effects of social constraints and web-based psychoeducation on cancer-related psychological adjustment early-after breast cancer diagnosis.

Social constraints are interactions between individuals that result in preventing one's disclosure of thoughts and emotions needed to facilitate cognitive processing of a traumatic event such as a breast cancer diagnosis. This study explored women's perceived social constraints from spouse/partners (S/P) and family/friends (F/F) in the first months after diagnosis while engaged in a study of CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a web-based, psychoeducational, self-management intervention aimed at women's psychological adjustment. Randomized, controlled, pilot study.

Perspectives on Conversations About Costs of Cancer Care of Breast Cancer Survivors and Cancer Center Staff: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Despite recommendations to discuss the cost of care (CoC) with patients with cancer, little formal guidance is available on how to conduct these sensitive conversations in ways that are acceptable to both patients and providers.

Objective: To explore the perspectives of patients and medical and nonmedical cancer center staff on CoC conversations.

Design: In individual interviews, participants were asked to discuss the content of, timing of, and ideal person to hold CoC conversations.

Cancer-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Intervention Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) experience long-term symptoms of cancer and treatment, which may exacerbate cognitive function and ability to adhere to interventions aimed at improving cognition.

Objective: The intent of this study was to explore the relationship between selected cancer-related symptoms and adherence to the Speed of Processing in Middle Aged and Older BreAst Cancer SuRvivors (SOAR) cognitive training (CT) intervention among BCSs residing in Alabama.

Methods: A sequential quantitative to qualitative (Quan→Qual) mixed-methods design was used.

Effects of a speed of processing training intervention on self-reported health outcomes in breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Cognitive deficits are a concern for breast cancer survivors, as these effects are prevalent and impact daily functioning and quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a speed of processing (SOP) training intervention on secondary, self-reported health outcomes in this population.

Methods: Sixty middle-aged and older adult women breast cancer survivors completed baseline assessments and were randomized to either a no-contact control group or an SOP training group, who completed 10 hrs of computerized SOP training online at home.

Perceptions of a Breast Cancer Survivorship Intervention: Pearls of Wisdom from Young African American Women.

Purpose: African American (AA) women ages 20-44 develop breast cancer at higher rates compared with Caucasian women. These young survivors (<45 years) also have disparate quality of life (QOL). Little is known about survivorship information needs of young AA survivors.

Lay navigation across the cancer continuum for older cancer survivors: Equally beneficial for Black and White survivors?

Objectives: The Patient Care Connect Program (PCCP), through lay navigators' distress assessments and assistance, was shown to lower healthcare utilization and costs in older cancer survivors. PCCP benefits and assistance needs for disadvantaged minorities (e.g.

A Partnership in Health-Related Social Media for Young Breast Cancer Survivors.

In the United States, about 11% (26,393) of those diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 will be young or less than 45 years old. Young breast cancer survivors, compared to older cancer survivors, are a disparate group that experience higher incidence of advanced disease, greater mortality, and poorer quality of life, and are often faced with difficulty locating support that meet the unique needs of young women. The Gulf States Young Breast Cancer Survivor Network, composed of three sister networks, formed a partnership aimed at harnessing the power of social media to reach and impact the lives of young women with breast cancer.

Physical Activity Maintenance Following Home-Based, Individually Tailored Print Interventions for African American Women.

African American women report low participation in physical activity and are disproportionately burdened by related conditions (obesity, breast, and colon cancer). Physical activity interventions have shown promising results among African American women, but most studies in this area have focused on short-term increases. More enduring changes in health behavior will be needed to eliminate existing health disparities.

Telehealth intervention for Latina breast cancer survivors: A pilot.

Aim: This study was a pilot test of the Latina Breast Cancer Survivorship Intervention, a survivorship self-management intervention delivered via telephone.

Materials And Methods: This study used a wait-list control design with random assignment to either (1) support and early education or (2) support and delayed education. Latina breast cancer survivors were recruited through the Florida Cancer Data System Registry.

Cognitive Changes: Educating Breast Cancer Survivors With the Think Well: Healthy Living to Improve Cognitive Function Program.

Cognitive changes may occur after cancer treatment and interfere with day-to-day activities of breast cancer survivors. Current guidelines recommend validating cognitive concerns, increasing patient education, and suggesting appropriate interventions. Educational programs, including Think Well: Healthy Living to Improve Cognitive Function, can increase the awareness of cognitive changes and provide strategies for self-management to breast cancer survivors and their family and friends.

Life after loss: Parent bereavement and coping experiences after infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The death of an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a profound and unexpected loss for parents that results in a complex process of coping with bereavement. A descriptive qualitative approach was used to explore parent bereavement and coping experiences after infant death in the NICU. The dual process model of coping with bereavement was used as a conceptual framework to help understand how parents cope with grief after infant death.

National characteristics of Emergency Department visits by patients with cancer in the United States.

Purpose: The Emergency Department (ED) is an important venue for the care of patients with cancer. We sought to describe the national characteristics of ED visits by patients with cancer in the United States.

Methods: We performed an analysis of 2012-2014 ED visit data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).

Most impactful factors on the health-related quality of life of a geriatric population with cancer.

Background: As the population of older adults with cancer continues to grow, the most important factors contributing to their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remain unclear.

Methods: A total of 1457 older adults (aged ≥65 years) with cancer participated in a telephone survey. Outcomes were measured using the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores of the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) from the Medical Outcomes Study (version 2).

Lessons Learned from the Young Breast Cancer Survivorship Network.

The Young Breast Cancer Survivors Network (Network) is an academic and community-based partnership dedicated to education, support, and networking. The Network used a multi-pronged approach via monthly support and networking, annual education seminars, website networking, and individual survivor consultation. Formative and summative evaluations were conducted using group survey and individual survivor interviews for monthly gatherings, annual education meetings, and individual consultation.

Speed of processing training in middle-aged and older breast cancer survivors (SOAR): results of a randomized controlled pilot.

Purpose: Cognitive changes are common among breast cancer survivors. There is limited evidence to guide management of cognitive changes. This randomized controlled pilot evaluated the preliminary efficacy of a speed of processing (SOP) training among middle-aged and older breast cancer survivors.

Monosialoganglioside-GM1 triggers binding of the amyloid-protein salmon calcitonin to a Langmuir membrane model mimicking the occurrence of lipid-rafts.

GM1 ganglioside is known to be involved in the amyloid-associated diseases and it is a crucial factor for the assembly of amyloid proteins on lipid-rafts, which are lipid structures located on the synaptic plasma membranes. Due to its slow aggregation rate, we employed salmon calcitonin (sCT) as a suitable probe representative of amyloid proteins, to study the interaction between this class of proteins and a membrane model. Here, we prepared a neuronal membrane model by depositing onto mica two Langmuir-Blodgett films in liquid-condensed phase: the outer monolayer was characterized by high content of GM1 (50%) and minority parts of cholesterol and POPC (25-25%), while the inner one by plain POPC.

Healthcare utilization, Medicare spending, and sources of patient distress identified during implementation of a lay navigation program for older patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Despite benefits for patients, sustainability of breast cancer navigation programs is challenging due to the lack of reimbursement for navigators. This analysis describes distress reported by breast cancer patients to navigators and the impact of navigation on healthcare utilization for older adults with breast cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicare administrative claims data and patient-reported distress assessments.

Pilot Trial of a Home-based Physical Activity Program for African American Women.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a Home-based, Individually-tailored Physical activity Print (HIPP) intervention for African American women in the Deep South.

Methods: A pilot randomized trial of the HIPP intervention (N = 43) versus wellness contact control (N = 41) was conducted. Recruitment, retention, and adherence were examined, along with physical activity (7-d physical activity recalls, accelerometers) and related psychosocial variables at baseline and 6 months.

Out-of-pocket costs and burden among rural breast cancer survivors.

Little is known about out-of-pocket (OOP) costs incurred for medical and health needs by rural breast cancer survivors and what factors may be associated with higher OOP costs and the associated economic burden. Data were examined for 432 survivors participating in the Rural Breast Cancer Survivor Intervention trial. OOP costs were collected using the Work and Finances Inventory survey at baseline and four assessments every 3 months.

An Integrative Review of Psychosocial Concerns Among Young African American Breast Cancer Survivors.

Background: African American (AA) women are more likely to be given a diagnosis of breast cancer at an early age, experience morbidity after treatment, and exhibit disparities in survivorship. Although psychosocial well-being is largely studied among breast cancer survivors, data are sparse regarding young AA survivors.

Objective: This integrative review examined psychosocial concerns in survivorship among young AA survivors using a quality-of-life framework.

Resource Use and Medicare Costs During Lay Navigation for Geriatric Patients With Cancer.

Importance: Lay navigators in the Patient Care Connect Program support patients with cancer from diagnosis through survivorship to end of life. They empower patients to engage in their health care and navigate them through the increasingly complex health care system. Navigation programs can improve access to care, enhance coordination of care, and overcome barriers to timely, high-quality health care.