Cancer diagnosis and treatment can result in a significant psychological burden. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of major depression, associated treatments, and suicidal ideation in cancer survivors compared to a non-cancer cohort.

This is a retrospective, population-based study using survey responses from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health collected from January 2015 to December 2019. Survey data sets were queried for all respondents who provided a cancer history. Respondents with a reported history of cancer (“cancer survivors”) were further stratified by whether they reported a “recent” cancer diagnosis within the past 12 months. Survey responses were evaluated for recent diagnoses of and treatments for major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation.

Among the 212,411 survey respondents identified, 7,635 (3.6%) reported a cancer history, with 1,486 (0.7%) reporting a recent cancer history. There were no differences in prevalence of major depression between cancer survivors and participants without cancer (9.3% vs 9.2%, p = 0.762), though the prevalence was slightly higher among recent cancer survivors (10.0% vs 9.2%, p = 0.259). Among respondents diagnosed with major depression, cancer survivors were significantly more likely to receive treatment for depression (78.6% vs 60.3%, p < 0.001). Suicidal ideation was significantly lower among cancer survivors (5.1% vs 6.2%, p < 0.001) including recent survivors (5.0% vs 6.2%, p < 0.001).

There was no overall difference in the prevalence of major depression between cancer survivors and respondents without cancer. Survivors with major depression were more likely to receive treatments. Prevalence of major depression was higher in recent cancer survivors.

Survivors of childhood neuroblastoma are at risk of multiple treatment-related health problems (late effects), impacting their quality of life. While late effects and quality of life among Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) childhood cancer survivors have been reported, the outcomes of neuroblastoma survivors specifically have not been reported, limiting critical information to inform treatment and care.

Young neuroblastoma survivors or their parents (as proxy for survivors <16 years) were invited to complete a survey and optional telephone interview. Survivors’ late effects, risk perceptions, health-care use, and health-related quality of life were surveyed and analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses. In-depth interviews explored participants’ experiences, knowledge, and perception of late effects and information needs. Thematic content analysis was used to summarize the data.

Thirty-nine neuroblastoma survivors or parents completed questionnaires (median age = 16 years, 39% male), with 13 also completing interviews. Thirty-two participants (82%) reported experiencing at least 1 late effect, most commonly dental problems (56%), vision/hearing problems (47%), and fatigue (44%). Participants reported high overall quality of life (index = 0.9, range = 0.2–1.0); however, more participants experienced anxiety/depression compared to the population norm (50% met criteria versus 25%, χ2 = 13, p < 0.001). Approximately half of participants (53%) believed they were at risk of developing further late effects. Qualitatively, participants reported knowledge gaps in understanding their risk of developing late effects.

Many neuroblastoma survivors appear to experience late effects, anxiety/depression and have unmet cancer-related information needs. This study highlights important areas for intervention to reduce the impact of neuroblastoma and its treatment in childhood and young adulthood.

Digital health tools are increasingly being recognised as effective interventions in monitoring chronic health conditions. This systematic review addressed how digital health is currently utilised in patients with head and neck cancer as an adjunct to care.

Studies of the development or evaluation of an eHealth, telemedicine or telemonitoring tool were eligible. A narrative synthesis was performed as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines.

Twenty-nine studies of digital health tools in head and neck cancer were identified. Nine were randomised, controlled trials but most had concern of bias. Fourteen (48 per cent) of the interventions used multiple modes of delivery. The primary digital tool functions are symptom tracking and self-care, prehabilitation and rehabilitation, psychological support, and education, including decision aids. Most tools aimed to support patients during active cancer treatment.

There are a small number of digital health tools for head and neck cancer patients; however, there is a lack of well-designed randomised, controlled trials to demonstrate effectiveness.

UK head and neck cancer incidence and prevalence in working-age people are increasing. Work is important for individuals and society. Head and neck cancer survivors return to work less than other cancer survivors. Treatment affects physical and psychological functioning long-term. Evidence is limited, with no UK qualitative studies.

A qualitative study was conducted, underpinned by a critical realism approach, involving semi-structured interviews with working head and neck cancer survivors. Interviews were conducted using the Microsoft Teams communication platform and interpreted using reflexive thematic analysis.

Thirteen head and neck cancer survivors participated. Three themes were drawn from the data: changed meaning of work and identity, return-to-work experiences, and the impact of healthcare professionals on returning to work. Physical, speech and psychosocial changes affected workplace interactions, including stigmatising responses by work colleagues.

Participants were challenged by returning to work. Work interactions and context influenced return-to-work success. Head and neck cancer survivors want return-to-work conversations within healthcare consultations, but perceived these as absent.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients may be at high risk of experiencing psychological distress because their diagnosis came during a key time of consolidation of identity and social growth. This study aimed (1) to examine the prevalence of psychological distress among AYA cancer patients within a year of diagnosis to long-term survivors and (2) to describe socio-demographic and cancer-related characteristics associated with psychological distress.

In a cross-sectional web-based survey, patients who scored 5 or more on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were assessed for significant psychological distress. Logistic regression examined whether demographics, clinical variables, and social support were associated with psychological distress.

A total of 206 young adult cancer patients participated. The median age at the survey was 34.5 years (range: 22–39 years), and 87.4% were female. The prevalence of psychological distress was 55.3%. Psychological distress among patients diagnosed within a year and long-term survivors (≥10 years since diagnosis) was significantly higher than patients 1–4 years since diagnosis. Pain, decrease in income after a cancer diagnosis, experience of negative change in work/school after a cancer diagnosis and poor social support were significantly associated with psychological distress.

Over half of young adult patients had significant psychological distress in Japan. Our findings potentially contribute to the intervention components for distress management among AYA cancer survivors.

Palliative care (PC) is patient and family-centered supportive care intended to improve symptom management, reduce caregiver burden, coordinate care, and improve quality of life for patients diagnosed with serious illness. Optimally, PC is begun close to initial diagnosis and delivered in synchrony with disease-specific treatment until symptom relief or patient death. The purpose of this study was to examine cancer survivors’ knowledge and perceptions of PC using a nationally representative sample of US adults from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS).

A total of 593 HINTS respondents reported a personal history of cancer and were included in the sample (55.56% female; mean age of 65.88 years, SD = 18.21; mean time from diagnosis 13.83 years, SD = 18.21). Weighted logistic regression models were conducted to identify correlates of PC knowledge.

Of the 593 cancer survivors in the sample, 66% (N = 378) reported that they had never heard of PC, 18% (N = 112) reported knowing a little bit about PC, and 17% (N = 95) reported knowing what PC is and could explain it to someone else. In multivariable analysis, survivors of color (Hispanic/Latino, Black, Asian, American Indian, and Pacific Islander), males, and those less educated were significantly less likely to report knowledge of PC. Among survivors who did report knowledge of PC, a lack of distinction between differing modes of supportive care exists.

These findings suggest a need to increase PC knowledge among cancer survivors with the ultimate goal of addressing disparities in PC acceptance and utilization.

The relationship between fatigue and cognition has not been fully elucidated in children and adolescent survivors of brain tumours. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential relationship between fatigue and cognitive impairments in these survivors, as this group is at risk for both types of deficits.

Survivors of paediatric brain tumours (n = 45) underwent a neuropsychological testing on average 4 years after diagnosis. Mean age at follow-up was 13.41 years. Cognition was assessed with neuropsychological tests, and fatigue with the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL™) Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Regression analysis, adjusted for cranial radiotherapy and age at diagnosis, was used to investigate the associations between cognitive variables and fatigue subscales. Cognitive variables associated with fatigue were subsequently exploratively assessed.

Significant associations were found for cognitive fatigue and measures of cognitive processing speed; Coding: p = .003, r = .583, 95% CI [9.61; 22.83] and Symbol Search: p = .001, r = .585, 95% CI [10.54; 24.87]. Slower processing speed was associated with poorer results for cognitive fatigue. Survivors with the largest decrease in processing speed from baseline to follow-up also experienced the most cognitive fatigue. Survivors expressed more cognitive fatigue compared to other types of fatigue.

The association between cognitive fatigue and cognitive processing speed in children and adolescents treated for brain tumours is in concordance with the results previously reported in adults. Some survivors experience fatigue without impairment in processing speed, indicating the need for comprehensive assessments. Moreover, the study supports that fatigue is a multidimensional concept which should be measured accordingly.

Survival rates for paediatric cancers have increased dramatically since the 1970s, but childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at increased risk for several chronic diseases throughout life. Nutrition interventions promoting healthy family meals may support wellness for survivors, but little research has explored CCS family food preparation habits. The goal of the present study was to describe and compare food preparation practices of CCS and non-CCS families.

Observational.

Typical evening meal preparation events were observed and recorded in participant homes. Recordings and notes were analysed using the Healthy Cooking Index (HCI), a measure of nutrition-optimizing food preparation practices relevant to survivor wellness. Demographics, BMI and nutrient composition of prepared meals were also collected.

Forty parents with a CCS or non-CCS child aged 5–17 years were recruited.

There were no major differences between the CCS and non-CCS families with regard to summative HCI score or specific food preparation behaviours. Meals prepared by CCS and non-CCS families had similar nutrient compositions.

The study revealed areas for practical nutrition intervention in CCS and non-CCS families. Future studies should consider adopting and tailoring nutrition intervention methods that have been successful in non-CCS communities.

Patients undergoing prostate radiation therapy were observed to have elevated blood pressures in clinic. Therefore, we sought to further characterise this phenomenon.

The charts of 76 patients who received radiotherapy for prostate cancer between 2014 and 2017 were examined. Blood pressure (BP) readings were obtained at initial consultation, on treatment visits, and subsequent follow-up appointments. To describe this effect, we defined radiation-associated hypertension (RAH) as an increase ≥15 mmHg systolic BP, 10 mmHg diastolic BP, or 5 mmHg mean arterial pressure.

Within this cohort, 36 patients developed RAH, with 75% developing RAH while on treatment, and 25% developing RAH at post-treatment visits. Two-thirds of patients remained hypertensive during post-treatment visits, and 27% were prescribed additional anti-hypertensives. There was no association between neoadjuvant/concurrent androgen deprivation therapy and RAH.

A significant number of patients undergoing prostate radiotherapy developed RAH, necessitating additional medication in some.

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) have been shown to practise suboptimal dietary intake and may benefit from nutrition interventions during and after treatment. Cooking classes have become popular for encouraging healthy eating behaviours in community-based programming and academic research; however, literature on teaching cooking classes in CCS is limited. The purpose of the present study was to address the development and implementation of classes for CCS based on a recently developed framework of healthy cooking behaviour.

A conceptual framework was developed from a systematic literature review and used to guide healthy cooking classes for CCS in different settings.

One paediatric cancer hospital inpatient unit, one paediatric cancer in-hospital camp programme and two off-site paediatric cancer summer camp programmes.

One hundred and eighty-nine CCS of varying ages and thirteen parents of CCS.

Seventeen classes were taught at camps and seven classes in the hospital inpatient unit. Healthy cooking classes based on the conceptual framework are feasible and were well received by CCS.

Cooking classes for CCS, both at the hospital and at camp, reinforced the principles of the conceptual framework. Future trials should assess the dietary and anthropometric impact of evidence-based healthy cooking classes in CCS.