Psychiatric disorders in older adults with cancer referred to psycho-oncology service in a tertiary care cancer centre: a 7-year real world experience from India.

Background: Cancer affects mental health in older adults with cancer (OAC), affecting almost 50% of the patients. There are only a few studies on psychiatric disorders in OAC, especially in low resource settings. We report on our real-world experience of prevalence of and factors associated with psychiatric disorders in OAC referred to a psycho-oncology service in an Indian tertiary care cancer institute.

Validation of the hospital anxiety depression scale - Marathi version in detecting anxiety and depression in cancer patients and caregivers.

Background: ">The Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) is useful for screening depression and anxiety in cancer. It has not been validated in the Marathi language, which is the third most common language in India. We aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Marathi-translated version of HADS in cancer patients and their caregivers.

Long-Term Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A 30-Year Experience From India.

Purpose: Despite an increasing number of survivors of childhood cancer (CCS) in low- and middle-income countries, survivorship care is in its nascent stages. We describe the spectrum of late effects seen, challenges faced, and lessons learnt over three decades of a late effects program in India.

Methods: We describe the demographics and profile of late effects of all CCS survivors enrolled in our After Completion of Treatment Clinic from February 5, 1991 (inception) to February 4, 2021.

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.

Neurocognitive function and survival in children with average-risk medulloblastoma treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy alone: Long-term mature outcomes of a prospective study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report long-term neurocognitive and clinical outcomes in children treated for average-risk medulloblastoma with hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) alone.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2010, 20 children with rigorously staged average-risk medulloblastoma were treated on a prospective study with HFRT without upfront adjuvant systemic chemotherapy after written informed consent. HFRT was delivered as twice-daily fractions (1 Gy/fraction, 6-8 hours apart, 5 days/week) to craniospinal axis (36 Gy/36 fractions) plus conformal tumor-bed boost (32 Gy/32 fractions).

Impact of the COVID pandemic on survivors of childhood cancer and survivorship care: lessons for the future.

Purpose: The COVID pandemic has greatly impacted cancer care, with survivorship care being accorded low priority. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID pandemic on survivorship services at our centre, as well as on survivors of childhood cancer (CCS).

Methods: We analyzed the trends in survivorship care at our centre from March 2020 to June 2021 compared to previous years.

Psychological distress in primary caregivers of children with cancer during COVID-19 pandemic-A single tertiary care center experience.

Objective: Families of children with cancer undergoing treatment during COVID-19 pandemic represent a vulnerable population for psychological distress and early identification and remedial measures are imperative for wellbeing of both the children and the caregivers. This article reports the results of assessment of psychological distress in primary caregivers of children with cancer undergoing treatment at a tertiary care center.

Methods: Primary caregivers of children with cancer (≤15 years) taking treatment at our institute during the period of July 2020 to August 2020 were prospectively evaluated for psychological distress using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tools over a telephonic call.

Efficacy of ready-to-use therapeutic food in malnourished children with cancer: Results of a randomized, open-label phase 3 trial.

Background: The adverse influence of undernutrition in children with cancer may be remediated by early nutritional intervention. This study assessed the efficacy of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in improving nutritional status and reducing treatment-related toxicities (TRTs) in such children.

Methods: In a randomized controlled phase-3 open-label trial, severely and moderately undernourished children with cancer were randomized 1:1 to receive standard nutritional therapy (SNT) or SNT+RUTF for 6 weeks.

Multinational Study to Assess Stress Levels Among the Health Care Workers of Radiation Oncology Community at the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: To evaluate stress levels among the health care workers (HCWs) of the radiation oncology community in Asian countries.

Methods: HCWs of the radiation oncology departments from 29 tertiary cancer care centers of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Nepal were studied from May 2020 to July 2020. A total of 758 eligible HCWs were identified.

Hippocampal radiotherapy dose constraints for predicting long-term neurocognitive outcomes: mature data from a prospective trial in young patients with brain tumors.

Background: Hippocampus is considered to be the seat for neurocognitive functions. Avoidance of hippocampus during radiotherapy to brain may serve to preserve various domains of neurocognition. We aimed to derive radiotherapy dose constraints to hippocampi for preserving neurocognition in young patients with brain tumors by measuring various neurocognitive parameters.

Distress Management in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Before Start of Palliative Chemotherapy: A Practical Approach.

Purpose: This study reports the incidence of distress, the factors associated with distress, and a practical strategy to resolve distress in patients with head and neck cancer who are starting palliative chemotherapy.

Methods: Adult patients with head and neck cancer planned for palliative chemotherapy underwent distress screening before the start of treatment as part of this single-arm prospective study. Patients who had a distress score > 3 on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress thermometer were counseled initially by the clinician.

Structure, process, and impact of a staff support group in an oncology setting in a developing country.

Background: Health-care staff working in oncology setting experience excessive stress, which if unrelieved can lead to burnout. Staff support groups have been found beneficial.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the structure, process, and impact of a staff support group conducted for field workers involved in cancer screening in an urban tertiary cancer center in a developing country.

Efficacy of Stereotactic Conformal Radiotherapy vs Conventional Radiotherapy on Benign and Low-Grade Brain Tumors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence for application of stereotactic and other conformal radiotherapy techniques in treating brain tumors is largely based on data derived from dosimetric, retrospective, or small prospective studies. Therefore, we conducted a randomized clinical trial of stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (SCRT) compared with conventional radiotherapy (ConvRT) evaluating clinically meaningful end points.

Objective: To compare neurocognitive and endocrine functional outcomes and survival at 5 years in young patients with residual and/or progressive benign or low-grade brain tumors treated with SCRT and ConvRT techniques.

Predictors of quitting tobacco--results of a worksite tobacco cessation service program among factory workers in Mumbai, India.

Background: Tobacco cessation would provide the most immediate benefits of tobacco control to prevent tobacco related disease morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A tobacco cessation program involving individual and group behavior therapy was implemented in three stages at a worksite. Tobacco quit rates were assessed at the end of each contact session.

An integrated approach to worksite tobacco use prevention and oral cancer screening among factory workers in Mumbai, India.

Background: Tobacco control and cessation interventions are among the most cost effective medical interventions but health systems in low resource countries lack the infrastructure to promote prevention and cessation among tobacco users. Workplace settings have the potential to provide opportunities and access for tobacco prevention interventions.

Methods: This is a single group study evaluating tobacco use prevention and cessation through a structured three stage intervention program for tobacco users comprising education on harmful effects of tobacco, oral cancer screening and behavior therapy for tobacco cessation at the worksite.

Early clinical outcomes demonstrate preserved cognitive function in children with average-risk medulloblastoma when treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Purpose: To report on acute toxicity, longitudinal cognitive function, and early clinical outcomes in children with average-risk medulloblastoma.

Methods And Materials: Twenty children ≥ 5 years of age classified as having average-risk medulloblastoma were accrued on a prospective protocol of hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) alone. Radiotherapy was delivered with two daily fractions (1 Gy/fraction, 6 to 8 hours apart, 5 days/week), initially to the neuraxis (36 Gy/36 fractions), followed by conformal tumor bed boost (32 Gy/32 fractions) for a total tumor bed dose of 68 Gy/68 fractions over 6 to 7 weeks.

Paediatric palliative care: theory to practice.

Paediatric palliative care is a holistic approach aimed at addressing the complex issues related to the care of children and families facing chronic life limiting illnesses. The needs of children are unique and often quite different from those of adults receiving palliative care. This review article outlines some of the salient features of paediatric palliative care which are relevant to all professionals caring for children with life limiting illnesses in their practice.

Factors influencing neurocognitive outcomes in young patients with benign and low-grade brain tumors treated with stereotactic conformal radiotherapy.

Purpose: To present the effect of radiotherapy doses to different volumes of normal structures on neurocognitive outcomes in young patients with benign and low-grade brain tumors treated prospectively with stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (SCRT).

Methods And Materials: Twenty-eight patients (median age, 13 years) with residual/progressive brain tumors (10 craniopharyngioma, 8 cerebellar astrocytoma, 6 optic pathway glioma and 4 cerebral low-grade glioma) were treated with SCRT to a dose of 54 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. Prospective neuropsychological assessments were done at baseline before RT and at subsequent follow-up examinations.