Modifiable Risk Factors Including Self-Perceived Stress for Breast Cancer in Hong Kong: A Case-Control Study of 10 757 Subject.

Background: In Hong Kong, breast cancer is the commonest female cancer. In addition to intrinsic risk factors that cannot be modified, other factors may be potentially modifiable. The objective of this report was to determine modifiable risk factors in association with breast cancer among Chinese women in our locality.

Simultaneous Integrated Boost for Dose Escalation in Node-Positive Cervical Cancer: 5-Year Experience in a Single Institution.

This study retrospectively evaluates clinical outcomes of dose escalation to involved nodes using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) for node-positive locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) at a single institution. Consecutive patients with node-positive LACC (FIGO IIIC1-IVA) who received definitive chemoradiotherapy by VMAT 45 Gy in 25 fractions with SIB to 55-57.5 Gy, followed by magnetic resonance image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) between 2018 and 2022 were identified.

Trajectories of sleep disturbance in cancer survivors during the first 2 years post-treatment.

Study Objectives: To examine the trajectories of sleep disturbance in cancer survivors during the first 2 years post-treatment and to investigate whether psychological, cognitive, and physical factors differentiate trajectories.

Methods: A total of 623 Chinese cancer survivors of diverse cancer types participated in a 2-year-long prospective study after the completion of cancer treatment. Sleep disturbance was measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at 3 (T2), 6 (T3), 12 (T4), 18 (T5), and 24 (T6) months after baseline (within 6-months post-treatment; T1).

Disparities in Access to Systemic Treatment for Breast Cancer in Thailand and Major Asian Territories.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) treatment has shifted from chemotherapy to targeted therapy. Several targeted agents have demonstrated an improvement in survival. Given that national healthcare resources were correlated with the cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio, we compared access to BC drugs in Thailand with that in other Asian countries.

Return to Work and Work Productivity During the First Year After Cancer Treatment.

Objectives: Working-age cancer patients face barriers to resuming work after treatment completion. Those resuming work contend with reduced productivity arising from persisting residual symptoms. Existing studies of return to work (RTW) after cancer diagnosis were done predominantly in Western countries.

Integrated palliative medicine in public oncology: a 10-year review.

Objectives: The rapid ageing population of Hong Kong has a high demand on oncology and palliative care (PC) service. This study was the first territory-wide assessment in Hong Kong to assess the palliative service coverage in patients with advanced cancer in the past decade.

Methods: Cancer deaths of all 43 public hospitals of Hong Kong were screened.

Integrative Palliative Care Service Model Improved End-of-Life Care and Overall Survival of Advanced Cancer Patients in Hong Kong: A Review of Ten-Year Territory-Wide Cohort.

Integrated palliative care in oncology service has been widely implemented in Hong Kong since 2006. The study aimed to review its impact on end-of-life outcomes and overall survival (OS) of cancer patients, as well as its utilization of health care resources in the past 10 years. Cancer deaths of all 43 public hospitals of Hong Kong were screened.

Measurement invariance across gender and age groups, validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the short-form supportive care needs survey questionnaire (SCNS-SF34).

Background: Despite the wide use of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34), the measurement invariance of the SCNS-SF34 across the main groups-gender and age-which might be of interest in the application of the instrument has never been confirmed. To provide an accurate assessment tool to evaluate the unmet needs of Chinese cancer patients, the present study aimed to assess the measurement invariance of the SCNS-SF34 across gender and age groups and to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the SCNS-SF34.

Methods: The SCNS-SF34 was administrated to 1106 Chinese cancer patients.

Illness perceptions as predictors of psychological distress among head and neck cancer survivors: a longitudinal study.

Background: Leventhal's commonsense model implies illness perceptions influence illness outcomes. This study examined illness perceptions among head and neck cancer survivors, and whether these predicted subsequent psychological distress.

Methods: A total of 124 survivors of head and neck cancer (87% nasopharyngeal carcinoma; NPC) completed measures of psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS), illness perceptions (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire; B-IPQ), dispositional optimism (revised Chinese version of the Life Orientation Test; C-LOT-R), and clinical and demographic data approximately12.

Factors predicting patient satisfaction in women with advanced breast cancer: a prospective study.

Background: The present study (1) examined patient satisfaction with care over the first year following the diagnosis of advanced breast cancer and (2) tested if unmet health system and information needs, physical symptom distress, and psychological distress predicted patient satisfaction.

Methods: Prospective study of 213 Chinese women with advanced breast cancer assessed while awaiting or receiving initial chemotherapy (baseline), then again at 1.5-, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-baseline.

Efficacy and tolerability of trastuzumab emtansine in advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer.

Introduction: The management of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer has changed dramatically with the introduction and widespread use of HER2-targeted therapies. There is, however, relatively limited real-world information about the effectiveness and safety of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in Hong Kong Chinese patients. We assessed the efficacy and toxicity profiles among local patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who had received T-DM1 therapy in the second-line setting and beyond.

Psychometric assessment of the Chinese version of the brief illness perception questionnaire in breast cancer survivors.

Objective: The eight-item Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) supposedly evaluates cognitive and emotional representations of illness. This study examined the validity and reliability of a traditional Chinese version of the B-IPQ in Hong Kong Chinese breast cancer survivors.

Methods: 358 Chinese breast cancer survivors who had recently ended their primary treatment completed this B-IPQ Chinese version.

The Impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay on Treatment Decisions for Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Node-Negative Breast Carcinoma in Hong Kong.

Background: The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay is validated to assess risk of distant recurrence and likelihood of chemotherapy (CT) benefit in estrogen receptor-positive ESBC in various populations. In Hong Kong, > 80% of breast cancers are early stage breast cancer (ESBC) and > 60% of these women receive CT. This prospective study measured changes in CT type and recommendations, as well as physician impression of assay impact in a homogenous Chinese population.

Comparing the meanings of living with advanced breast cancer between women resilient to distress and women with persistent distress: a qualitative study.

Background: Most women with advanced breast cancer (ABC) show little distress, but about one in ten show persistent distress over time. It remains unclear if meanings ascribed by patients to ABC differentiate these distress trajectories.

Study Aims: This qualitative study (a) compared illness meanings of ABC between women with persistent psychological distress and those with low/transient distress, and (b) examined how illness meanings might influence coping strategies.

Comparison of fluorescence in-situ hybridisation with dual-colour in-situ hybridisation for assessment of HER2 gene amplification of breast cancer in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To compare the PathVysion fluorescence in-situ hybridisation assay with the INFORM HER2 Dual in-situ hybridisation assay on 104 invasive breast cancers with a broad spectrum of immunohistochemistry scores.

Methods: This case series involved consecutive patients diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma with equivocal immunohistochemistry score and referred for further HER2 assessment from the departments of Surgery and/or Clinical Oncology of the two hospitals between January 2013 and February 2014. An additional 10 cases with negative HER2 immunohistochemistry and 11 cases with positive HER2 immunohistochemistry were further included.

Illness perceptions among cancer survivors.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to document in Hong Kong Chinese cancer survivors cross-sectional associations between illness perceptions, physical symptom distress and dispositional optimism.

Methods: A consecutive sample of 1036 (response rate, 86.1%, mean age 55.

Goal adjustment influence on psychological well-being following advanced breast cancer diagnosis.

Objective: A diagnosis of advanced breast cancer (ABC) challenges a woman's ambitions. This longitudinal study explored (1) if goal adjustment disposition influenced psychological adjustment patterns among women with ABC and (2) if dispositional hope and optimism moderate effects of goal adjustment on psychological adjustment.

Methods: One hundred ninety three out of 225 women with ABC were assessed while they were awaiting/receiving initial chemotherapy, then again at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-baseline.

Perfusion and diffusion characteristics of cervical cancer based on intraxovel incoherent motion MR imaging-a pilot study.

Objectives: To investigate the tissue characteristics of cervical cancer based on the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model and to assess the IVIM parameters in tissue differentiation in the female pelvis.

Methods: Sixteen treatment-naïve cervical cancer and 17 age-matched healthy subjects were prospectively recruited for diffusion-weighted (b = 0-1,000 s/mm(2)) and standard pelvic MRI. Bi-exponential analysis was performed to derive the perfusion parameters f (perfusion fraction) and D* (pseudodiffusion coefficient) as well as the diffusion parameter D (true molecular diffusion coefficient) in cervical cancer (n = 16), normal cervix (n = 17), myometrium (n = 33) and leiomyoma (n = 14).

The evolution of supportive care needs trajectories in women with advanced breast cancer during the 12 months following diagnosis.

Purpose: This longitudinal study examined if the evolution of supportive care needs differed over the first year following the diagnosis of advanced breast cancer and examined factors differentiating these trajectories.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-eight of 276 Chinese women with advanced breast cancer were assessed while they were awaiting or receiving initial chemotherapy, then again at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-baseline. Supportive care needs (SCNS-34-Ch), psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale), symptom distress (MSAS-Ch), and patient satisfaction (PSEQ-9) were assessed at baseline; supportive care needs were reassessed at each follow-up assessment.

The evolution of psychological distress trajectories in women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer: a longitudinal study.

Background: Anxiety and depression (distress) over the first year following the initial adjuvant therapy for advanced breast cancer (ABC) remain poorly documented in non-Caucasian populations. This study describes trajectories of distress and their determinants in Chinese women with ABC.

Methods: Of the 228 Chinese women newly diagnosed with ABC recruited from six oncology units, 192 completed an interview before their first course of chemotherapy (baseline) and follow-up interviews at 1.

Use of methylphenidate for the management of fatigue in Chinese patients with cancer.

Unlabelled: REASON FOR THE STUDY: Studies on methylphenidate for cancer-related fatigue showed conflicting results. This prospective study aims to determine whether methylphenidate is useful for relieving fatigue in Chinese patients with cancer. Chinese Version of Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C) was administered on days 1, 8, and 29.

Supportive care needs in Hong Kong Chinese women confronting advanced breast cancer.

Background: Women with advanced breast cancer (ABC) are living longer, so understanding their needs becomes important. This cross-sectional study investigated the type and extent of unmet supportive care needs in Hong Kong Chinese women with advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted among women with stage III or stage IV disease mostly awaiting chemotherapy (76%) to identify unmet needs using the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form, psychological morbidity using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, symptom distress using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, and satisfaction with care using the Patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-9).

Validation of the Chinese version of the short-form Supportive Care Needs Survey Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34-C).

Background: There is no instrument available in Chinese for assessing psychosocial needs. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey short form (SCNS-SF34-C) in Chinese women with breast cancer (BC).

Methods: The Chinese version of the 34-item SCNS-SF34-C, a self-report measure for assessing psychosocial unmet needs, was administered to 348 Chinese women with BC at the outpatient oncology unit.

Delayed presentation of symptomatic breast cancers in Hong Kong: experience in a public cancer centre.

Objective: Delayed presentation is an important obstacle to improving cancer treatment outcomes. We aimed to study the magnitude of this problem in Hong Kong and the factors associated with delayed presentation of patients with symptomatic breast cancers.

Design: Retrospective study using self-administered questionnaires.