Effects of a light therapy intervention on diurnal salivary cortisol in fatigued cancer survivors: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Altered diurnal cortisol rhythms are a potential mechanism through which symptoms of fatigue are maintained in post-treatment cancer survivors. Exposure to early morning bright light may target this underlying dysregulation, resulting in improved diurnal cortisol patterns, subsequently improving symptoms of fatigue. This research investigates the effects of a 4-week light therapy intervention on the diurnal cortisol slopes and output in fatigued cancer survivors.

Health care provider preferences for, and barriers to, cannabis use in cancer care.

Background: Limited research has been conducted about the perspectives of oncology health care providers (hcps) concerning the use of cannabis in cancer care and their potential role in advising patients. We sought to determine the barriers encountered by hcps with respect to medical cannabis and their preferred practices in this area.

Methods: An anonymous survey about cannabis was distributed to oncology hcps at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta.

A Smartphone App-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Survivors: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cancer patients transitioning to survivorship after completing cancer treatments need psychosocial interventions to manage stressors such as anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer recurrence. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective for treating these symptoms; however, cancer survivors are often unable to participate in face-to-face interventions because of difficulties such as work and family commitments, treatment-related side-effects, scheduling conflicts, and geography. Smartphone app-based MBIs are an innovative way to deliver psychosocial cancer care and can overcome several such difficulties, since patients can participate at their own convenience.

Integrative Approaches to Stress Management.

This narrative review provides an overview of the scope of psychosocial distress and stress in cancer patients and survivors and the potential negative consequences of untreated symptoms. Evidence-based interventions to treat these symptoms are reviewed, beginning with a summary of published clinical practice guidelines, followed by more detailed reviews of the specific integrative interventions with the largest empirical support: cognitive-behavioral stress management, yoga, mindfulness-based interventions, and massage. We also comment on use of natural health products because of their popularity.

The ONE-MIND Study: Rationale and protocol for assessing the effects of ONlinE MINDfulness-based cancer recovery for the prevention of fatigue and other common side effects during chemotherapy.

Cancer patients often experience poor quality of life (QoL) during chemotherapy (CT) treatments due to side effects including fatigue, insomnia, pain and nausea/vomiting. Mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) is an evidence-based intervention for treating such symptoms, but has not been investigated as an adjunctive treatment during CT. This study aims to determine the efficacy of an online group MBCR programme delivered during CT in 12 real-time interactive weekly sessions for managing fatigue (primary outcome).