Patient reported fatigue after proton therapy for malignant brain tumours - Is there a relation between radiation dose and brain structures?

Background: Fatigue may significantly effect everyday- and working life for radiotherapy patients. Some studies indicate a correlation between radiation dose and irradiated volume of the brain and the presence of fatigue. Our hypothesis was that patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) can improve our understanding of the patients' symptoms following proton beam therapy (PBT) and optimize PBT for future patients.

Symptom experience and symptom distress in patients with malignant brain tumor treated with proton therapy: A five-year follow-up study.

Background And Purpose: Since patients with primary brain tumor are expected to become long-term survivors, the prevention of long-term treatment-induced side effects is particularly important. This study aimed to explore whether symptom experience and symptom distress change over five years in adults with primary brain tumors treated with proton therapy. An additional aim was to explore whether symptom experience and symptom distress correlate.

Cost-effectiveness of proton beam therapy vs. conventional radiotherapy for patients with brain tumors in Sweden: results from a non-randomized prospective multicenter study.

Background: This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of proton beam therapy (PBT) compared to conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for treating patients with brain tumors in Sweden.

Methods: Data from a longitudinal non-randomized study performed between 2015 and 2020 was used, and included adult patients with brain tumors, followed during treatment and through a one-year follow-up. Clinical and demographic data were sourced from the longitudinal study and linked to Swedish national registers to get information on healthcare resource use.

The Role of Long-Term Physical Activity in Relation to Cancer-Related Health Outcomes: A 12-Month Follow-up of the Phys-Can RCT.

Purpose: While moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is associated with various health improvements shortly after completion of exercise interventions, it remains unclear which health benefits can be expected when MVPA levels are maintained in the long term in cancer survivors. We aimed to assess the associations of (1) MVPA level at 12-month follow-up and (2) long-term MVPA patterns (from immediately post-intervention to 12-month follow-up) with different cancer-related health outcomes.

Methods: In the Physical training and Cancer (Phys-Can) RCT, 577 participants diagnosed with breast (78%), prostate (19%), or colorectal (3%) cancer were randomized to 6 months of exercise during curative cancer treatment.

Cost-effectiveness of different exercise intensities during oncological treatment in the Phys-Can RCT.

Background: Cost-effectiveness is important in the prioritisation between interventions in health care. Exercise is cost-effective compared to usual care during oncological treatment; however, the significance of exercise intensity to the cost-effectiveness is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the randomised controlled trial Phys-Can, a six-month exercise programme of high (HI) or low-to-moderate intensity (LMI) during (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment.

Reallocating sedentary time to physical activity: effects on fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer in the Phys-Can project.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the effects of reallocating sedentary time to an equal amount of light (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) on cancer-related fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast cancer. We also aimed to determine the daily amount of sedentary time needed to be reallocated to LPA or MVPA to produce minimal clinically important changes in these outcomes.

Methods: Pooled baseline data from three studies were used, including women with breast cancer who participated in the Phys-Can project.

Does inflammation markers or treatment type moderate exercise intensity effects on changes in muscle strength in cancer survivors participating in a 6-month combined resistance- and endurance exercise program? Results from the Phys-Can trial.

Background: Resistance exercise has a beneficial impact on physical function for patients receiving oncological treatment. However, there is an inter-individual variation in the response to exercise and the tolerability to high-intensity exercise. Identifying potential moderating factors, such as inflammation and treatment type, for changes in muscle strength is important to improve the effectiveness of exercise programs.

Immediate increase in perceived energy after exercise during the course of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

Purpose: Exercise during chemotherapy has beneficial long-term effects on women with breast cancer, but short-term beneficial changes have been less investigated. Though short-term changes may be important as a encouraging factor, this study aimed to investigate immediate changes in self-reported energy, stress, nausea and pain following a single exercise session during chemotherapy.

Methods: Forty-six women who were exercising while undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer were included between October 2016 and April 2018.

Long-term resource utilisation and associated costs of exercise during (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment: the Phys-Can project.

Background: Exercise during oncological treatment is beneficial to patient health and can counteract the side effects of treatment. Knowledge of the societal costs associated with an exercise intervention, however, is limited. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the long-term resource utilisation and societal costs of an exercise intervention conducted during (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment in a randomised control trial (RCT) versus usual care (UC), and to compare high-intensity (HI) versus low-to-moderate intensity (LMI) exercise in the RCT.

Who makes it all the way? Participants vs. decliners, and completers vs. drop-outs, in a 6-month exercise trial during cancer treatment. Results from the Phys-Can RCT.

Purpose: To compare sociodemographic, health- and exercise-related characteristics of participants vs. decliners, and completers vs. drop-outs, in an exercise intervention trial during cancer treatment.

Evaluation of skin reactions during proton beam radiotherapy - Patient-reported versus clinician-reported.

Background: Skin reaction is a common side-effect of radiotherapy and often only assessed as clinician-reported outcome (CRO). The aim was to examine and compare patient-reported outcome (PRO) of skin reactions with CRO for signs of acute skin reactions for patients with primary brain tumour receiving proton beam radiotherapy (PBT). A further aim was to explore patients' experiences of the skin reactions.

Health-related quality of life in patients with primary brain tumors during and three months after treatment with proton beam therapy.

Background: Proton beam therapy (PBT) is increasingly administered to patients with primary brain tumors. Benefits of new treatments must be weighed against side effects and possible deterioration in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to describe and compare HRQoL, including acute symptom experiences and associated factors, in patients with malignant and benign brain tumors treated with PBT.

Does exercise intensity matter for fatigue during (neo-)adjuvant cancer treatment? The Phys-Can randomized clinical trial.

Exercise during cancer treatment improves cancer-related fatigue (CRF), but the importance of exercise intensity for CRF is unclear. We compared the effects of high- vs low-to-moderate-intensity exercise with or without additional behavior change support (BCS) on CRF in patients undergoing (neo-)adjuvant cancer treatment. This was a multicenter, 2x2 factorial design randomized controlled trial (Clinical Trials NCT02473003) in Sweden.

Development and initial psychometric evaluation of a radiotherapy-related symptom assessment tool, based on data from patients with brain tumours undergoing proton beam therapy.

Background: Currently, no available tool easily and effectively measures both the frequency, intensity and distress of symptoms among patients receiving radiotherapy. A core symptom set (fatigue, insomnia, pain, appetite loss, cognitive problems, anxiety, nausea, depression, constipation, diarrhoea and skin reaction) has been identified and assessed across oncology research to better understand the pattern of symptoms and treatment side effects.

Aim: The aim was to develop a tool measuring the multiple-symptom experience in patients undergoing radiotherapy and evaluate its psychometric properties (validity, reliability and responsiveness).

Managing an altered social context-Patients experiences of staying away from home while undergoing proton beam therapy.

Aim: To illuminate the experience of an altered social context for patients with primary brain tumours living away from home while undergoing proton beam therapy.

Design: A descriptive, qualitative cross-sectional interview study.

Methods: Nineteen patients were interviewed between December 2015-August 2016, either during ( = 7) or before and after ( = 12) their proton beam therapy.

Patients' perspective in the context of proton beam therapy: summary of a Nordic workshop.

Introduction: On 15-16 November 2019, the Skandion Clinic in Sweden hosted the first Nordic workshop on 'Patients' perspective in proton beam therapy'. The workshop was conducted to describe and compare the patient care in PBT clinics in the Nordic countries and to initiate a collaboration, with the target to ensure patient participation and reduce the risk of inequity of access by lowering the barriers for accepting PBT in a distant clinic. The overarching aim of this workshop was to describe and compare the use of patients' perspectives in the Nordic PBT clinics.

Barriers and facilitators for individualized rehabilitation during breast cancer treatment - a focus group study exploring health care professionals' experiences.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) and related treatment are associated with the risk of developing a wide range of persistent disabling impairments. Despite extensive research in the field and an enhanced focus on BC rehabilitation, up to 34-43% of these patients are at risk of developing chronic distress. In addition, it is known that these patients repeatedly report unmet needs, which are strongly associated with reduced quality of life.

A single exercise session improves side-effects of chemotherapy in women with breast cancer: an observational study.

Background: To measure changes in four common chemotherapy related side-effects (low energy, stress, nausea and pain) immediately after a single exercise session within the first week after treatment.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with chemotherapy-treated breast cancer, participating in a multi-centre randomised controlled study, the Physical Training and Cancer study (Phys-Can) were included in this sub-study. The Phys-Can intervention included endurance and resistance training.

Symptom Clusters in Patients With Brain Tumors Undergoing Proton Beam Therapy.

Objectives: To explore symptom clusters during proton beam therapy in patients with primary brain tumors and investigate associations among symptom clusters, demographic variables, and comorbidity in this patient population.

Sample & Setting: Data were collected from 187 adult patients with primary brain tumors during their treatment periods in the Skandion Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. Symptoms were assessed with the Radiotherapy-Related Symptoms Assessment Scale, and comorbidity was evaluated with the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire.

The Art of Living With Symptoms: A Qualitative Study Among Patients With Primary Brain Tumors Receiving Proton Beam Therapy.

Background: Symptom management in conjunction with proton beam therapy (PBT) from patient's perspective has not been explored. Such knowledge is essential to optimize the care in this relatively new treatment modality.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the process of symptom management in patients with brain tumor receiving PBT.

Evaluation of quality of care in relation to health-related quality of life of patients diagnosed with brain tumor: a novel clinic for proton beam therapy.

Purpose: Patients with brain tumors constitute a vulnerable group, and it is important that they receive the highest quality of care (QoC). The study aim was to describe the perceptions of QoC and its association with health-related quality of life in brain tumor patients undergoing proton beam therapy in a newly established clinic.

Method: Data were collected at the start of treatment and after 3 and 6 weeks.

Cancer patients' perceptions of quality-of-care attributes-Associations with age, perceived health status, gender and education.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the associations between patients' gender, education, health status in relation to assessments of patient-centred quality and individuality in care and trust in nurses for those <65 (working age) and ≥65 years (older people).

Background: Patients' assessments of the quality of care they receive are essential for the development of the provision of patient care and services. Previous studies have revealed age of the patient is associated with their assessment of care quality attributes.

Improving outcomes of short peripheral vascular access in oncology and chemotherapy administration.

A short peripheral intravenous catheter or cannula (PIVC) is frequently used to deliver chemotherapy in oncology practice. Although safe and easy to insert, PIVCs do fail, leading to personal discomfort for patients and adding substantially to treatment costs. As the procedure of peripheral catheterization is invasive, there is a need for greater consistency in the choice, insertion and management of short PIVCs, particularly in the oncology setting where there is a growing trend for patients to receive many different courses of IV treatment over a number of years, sometimes with only short remissions.

Measuring trust in nurses - Psychometric properties of the Trust in Nurses Scale in four countries.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of three translated versions of the Trust in Nurses Scale (TNS) and cancer patients' perceptions of trust in nurses in a sample of cancer patients from four European countries.

Methods: A cross-sectional, cross-cultural, multi-site survey design was used. The data were collected with the Trust in Nurses Scale from patients with different types of malignancies in 17 units within five clinical sites (n = 599) between 09/2012 and 06/2014.