Jehm Hoekstra-Weebers

Quality of life of testicular cancer survivors and the relationship with sociodemographics, cancer-related variables, and life events

Goals of workThe aim of this study was to (1) assess the quality of life (QoL) of testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) by comparing them to a reference group; (2) investigate the relationship between the QoL of TCSs and sociodemographics, cancer-related variables, and life events; and (3) identify TCSs at risk for an impaired QoL.Patients and methodsOf the TCSs approached, 50% (n=354) participated and completed a generic QoL questionnaire (RAND-36) once. Time since completion of treatment varied from 3 months to 24 years.Main results(1) TCSs had significantly higher mean scores on the subscales physical functioning (p=0.02) and pain (p=0.001), but lower mean scores on mental health (p=0.04) and vitality (p<0.001) than a reference group of men. The effect sizes of these differences were small to insignificant. (2) Employment status and chronic disease were the main correlates of the QoL of TCSs. Age, negative life events, type of treatment, and the experience of a second cancer event were moderately associated with some subscales as well. (3) The joint burden of unemployment and a chronic disease was the strongest predictor for an impaired functioning.ConclusionsOn a group level, TCSs experience a good QoL, but a small group appeared to be at risk for an impaired functioning, namely, those who were unemployed and had a chronic disease. The variance explained by the variables studied was low, indicating that more important predictors remain to be identified.

Syndromic aspects of testicular carcinoma

In patients with hereditary or constitutional chromosomal anomalies, testicular carcinoma can develop sporadically or on the basis of an underlying hereditary genetic defect. Greater knowledge of these genetic defects would provide more insight into the molecular pathways that lead to testicular carcinoma. To the authors knowledge, little attention has been paid to date to the comorbid occurrence of testicular carcinoma in patients with hereditary disorders or constitutional chromosomal anomalies.

The role of meaning in the prediction of psychosocial well-being of testicular cancer survivors

SummaryStressful life events, such as cancer, may threaten the belief that life is meaningful and this may have a negative effect on well-being. This study aimed at: (1) examining meaning in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs); (2) changes in outlook on life after testicular cancer (TC); (3) the contribution of meaning in the prediction of psychosocial well-being and cancer-related distress. A total of 354 TCSs completed relevant questionnaires. Results showed that: (1) TCSs experience their lives as meaningful; (2) most TCSs (60%) report a more positive outlook on life since TC; (3) meaning is the most important predictor for psychosocial well-being, but its relationship with cancer-related distress is weak. These results indicate that the cancer experience did not (permanently) disrupt the sense of meaning in TCSs. Furthermore, results confirm the idea that a sense of meaning has a positive effect on psychosocial well-being. Meaning appeared to have little effect on cancer-related distress. However, previous research has shown that this relationship may be too complex to unravel with a cross-sectional design. Therefore, it is suggested to further investigate the underlying interacting mechanisms between meaning and cancer-related distress.

2013 President's plenary international psycho-oncology society : embracing the IPOS standards as a means of enhancing comprehensive cancer care

The second Presidents Plenary at the 2013 International Psycho‐oncology Societys World Congress in Rotterdam, the Netherlands aimed to progress and, where needed, initiate changes to achieve comprehensive cancer care. Recent initiatives have been driven by the need to see psychosocial care as an integrated part of holistic multidisciplinary quality cancer care. The Presidents Plenary session covered the need for the following: An internationally agreed standard of quality cancer care, which includes psychosocial care for patients and their families and caregivers. An endorsement to assess distress as the 6th vital sign. Psycho‐oncology professionals to integrate into a federation promoting better national and international outcomes.

Postmortem diagnosis of testicular cancer

doubled when we changed rinses for gel rubs in care units. We did not change to gels for surgical hand disinfection but kept a hand rinse. Third, Kramer and colleagues put the gel effect before the composition effect. However, the type and number of associated alcohols are perhaps more important than the carrier formulation. In future gels, which are becoming increasingly fluid and easy to apply, may become as efficient as rinses and as well tolerated as old gels. Another important issue is efficacy of hand rubs on viruses, which is awaiting European testing. Although, however, the efficacy of the product should be a criterion, if our target is the reduction of nosocomial infections, tolerance and acceptability by health-care workers are also important. *Raphaële Girard, Ludwig Serge Aho, Marie Louise Goetz, Jean Claude Labadie, Benoist Lejeune, on behalf of members of the working group on hand disinfection of the French Society for Hospital Hygiene

Distress, problems and referral wish of cancer patients: differences according to relationship status and life phase: Distress, problems and referral wish according to relationship status

The aim of this study is to examine differences in distress, problems and referral wish in cancer patients according to relationship status and life phase.

Quality of life after sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to asses quality of life (QoL) after axillary or inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with or without completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in patients with cutaneous melanoma by comparing patients to a norm group of the general population and by comparing QoL between four patient groups depending on surgical procedure and location, i.e., patients receiving an axillary or groin SLNB, or an axillary or groin CLND.MethodsBetween 1995 and 2003, a total of 242 axillary and inguinal SLNBs were performed. Of the 127 patients eligible for the study, 116 patients participated (91%). QoL was measured by the 30-item European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale.ResultsMedian age at diagnosis was 50 (range, 18–77) years; median Breslow thickness 2.0 (range, 1–13) mm; median follow-up 56 (range, 4–94) months. SLNB only was performed in 89 patients (77%): 48 in the groin and 41 in the axilla. CLND was performed in 27 patients (23%): 13 in the axilla and 14 in the groin. More postoperative complications (13 vs. 5; Pxa0<xa00.001) and lymphedema (10 vs. 8; Pxa0<xa00.001) occurred in the CLND group than in the SLNB group. The total group of patients reported better physical (Pxa0<xa00.001), role (Pxa0<xa00.001), emotional (Pxa0<xa00.001), and social functioning (Pxa0=xa00.049), global QoL (Pxa0<xa00.001), and less fatigue (Pxa0<xa00.001) and pain (Pxa0<xa00.001) than a German norm group. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in role functioning (Pxa0=xa00.02) and tendencies toward physical problems (Pxa0=xa00.051) and fatigue (Pxa0=xa00.051) between the four groups. Post hoc Bonferroni tests showed that the axillary CLND group had more problems than the axillary and inguinal SLNB groups. Kruskal-Wallis tests showed that the axillary CLND group reported most pain.ConclusionsQoL in melanoma survivors after axillary or inguinal SLNB with or without CLND was better than that in a norm group. Patients who underwent CLND in the axilla after SLNB reported most problems.