| 1. |
- Stenmarker, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life, culture and communication: a comparative study in children with cancer in Argentina and Sweden.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of patient-reported outcomes. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2509-8020. ; 2:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Malignant disorders in childhood are life-threatening conditions, and issues regarding the children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are crucial in paediatric oncology. The overall aim of this study was to explore HRQOL in children with cancer in two countries, Argentina and Sweden, which have different cultural contexts. The specific aims were: to determine HRQOL by gender, age, diagnosis, treatment modality, time since diagnosis, and parental education/employment across cultures. Further aims were to assess the child/parent relationship in HRQOL and the influence of demographic variables in psychosocial and physical HRQOL in each country.A cross-sectional study was performed in 2014, including 58 children (24 females, 34 males) and 62 parents/guardians. The instrument, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™, generic, cancer and fatigue modules), and medical records were used. The response rate was 97%.The mean age of the children was 8.67years (SD 5.1, range 2-18years) and the mean time on treatment was 10.7months (SD 8.7, range 1-30months). The most common diagnosis was leukaemia (57%). In Argentina, in comparison with Sweden, a higher estimation of generic HRQOL was reported among adolescents (p=0.022) and more cancer-related problems among school-age children (p<0.0001). Children and parents in both countries confirmed the major problem with fatigue and multimodality therapy regimes, but lower levels of fatigue were reported in Argentina. Adolescents and children with solid tumours appeared as vulnerable groups. In Sweden, children whose mothers had post-secondary education reported less cancer-related problems (p=0.031). Good relationships were found between child/parent reports in Argentina regarding the fatigue module (p=0.034) and physical subscale (p=0.014), and in Sweden regarding generic health (p=0.004), including psychosocial (p=0.006) and physical subscales (p=0.042), and cancer (p=0.001), and fatigue (p<0.0001) modules. In Sweden, psychosocial health (OR 7.5; p=0.007) and physical health (OR 6.2; p=0.011) were positively influenced by being a school-age child.Fatigue is as a major problem across cultures. Still, being in school facilitates recovery. Good relationships in psychosocial HRQOL highlight professional challenges regarding severe issues and open communication, and the need of performing comparative studies of HRQOL of children with cancer from different cultural backgrounds.
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| 2. |
- Adolfsson, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Referral of patients with cancer to palliative care: Attitudes, practices and work-related experiences among Swedish physicians
- 2022
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer Care. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0961-5423 .- 1365-2354. ; 31:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective This study aimed to explore the attitudes, practices and work-related experiences among Swedish physicians regarding the referral process, integration and transition between oncology care and palliative care (PC). Methods A cross-sectional online survey was performed with a study-specific questionnaire in 2016-2017 in south-eastern Sweden. Physicians working with cancer patients within surgical specialties, medical specialties and paediatric oncology participated. Results The vast majority of the 130 participating physicians (99.2%) stated that PC was beneficial for the patient and were positive about early integration of PC (65.5%). Still, only 27.6% of the participants introduced PC at an early stage of non-curable disease. However, paediatric oncologists had a very early introduction of PC in comparison with medical specialties (p = 0.004). Almost 90% of the study population said they wanted to know that the patient had been taken care of by another care facility. Conclusions Despite the physicians' positive attitude towards early integration and referral to PC, they often acted late in the disease trajectory. This late approach can reduce the patient's opportunity of improving quality of life during severe circumstances. There is a need for in-depth knowledge of the physicians' challenges in order to bridge the gap between intentions and actions.
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| 3. |
- Björnsson, Bergthor, et al.
(författare)
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Digital twins to personalize medicine
- 2020
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Ingår i: Genome Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1756-994X. ; 12:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Personalized medicine requires the integration and processing of vast amounts of data. Here, we propose a solution to this challenge that is based on constructing Digital Twins. These are high-resolution models of individual patients that are computationally treated with thousands of drugs to find the drug that is optimal for the patient.
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| 4. |
- Bohnstedt, C., et al.
(författare)
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Participation, challenges and needs in children with down syndrome during cancer treatment at hospital: a qualitative study of parents & apos; experiences
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 2673-6861. ; 4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundStudies report that it can be challenging to assess and treat side-effects and symptoms among children who have impairments and difficulties in expressing their needs. Children with Down syndrome have an increased vulnerability and an increased risk for contracting leukaemia. There is sparse knowledge about the parental experience of how treatment and side-effects affect children with Down syndrome with leukaemia, as well as the role of participation during treatment.PurposeThis study aimed to explore the perceptions of parents of children with Down syndrome and leukaemia regarding their child's treatment, side effects and participation during hospital care.MethodsA qualitative study design was used, and interviews were conducted with a semi-structured interview-guide. Fourteen parents of 10 children with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from Sweden and Denmark, 1-18 years of age, participated. All children had completed therapy or had a few months left before the end of treatment. Data was analysed according to qualitative content analysis.ResultsFour sub-themes were identified: (1) Continuously dealing with the child's potential susceptibility; (2) Confidence and worries regarding decisions related to treatment regulation; (3) Challenges in communication, interpretation, and participation; and (4) Facilitating participation by adapting to the child's behavioural and cognitive needs. The sub-themes were bound together in an overarching theme, which expressed the core perception "Being the child's spokesperson to facilitate the child's participation during treatment". The parents expressed this role as self-evident to facilitate communication regarding the needs of the child, but also regarding how the cytotoxic treatment affected the vulnerable child. Parents conveyed the struggle to ensure the child's right to receive optimal treatment.ConclusionThe study results highlight parental challenges regarding childhood disabilities and severe health conditions, as well as communication and ethical aspects regarding to act in the best interests of the child. Parents played a vital role in interpreting their child with Down syndrome. Involving parents during treatment enables a more accurate interpretation of symptoms and eases communication and participation. Still, the results raise questions regarding issues related to building trust in healthcare professionals in a context where medical, psychosocial and ethical dilemmas are present.
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| 5. |
- Crona, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Taking care of oneself by regaining control - a key to continue living four to five decades after a suicide attempt in severe depression
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMC Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-244X. ; 17:1, s. 1-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Depression is a strong risk factor for suicide and suicide attempt. Several studies have examined the pathway to suicide attempt, but few studies have considered aspects important for overcoming being suicidal. The aim of the present study was to examine personal strategies to continue living after a suicide attempt. Methods: A qualitative grounded theory approach was used. Thirteen former inpatients diagnosed with severe depression (1956-1969) participated in a follow-up 42-56 years after their last suicide attempt, which occurred between the ages of 21 and 45. They were interviewed on one occasion between June 2013 and January 2014, using semi-structured interviews. Results: The pathway to a suicide attempt was defined as 'being trapped in an overwhelming situation'. Three categories described the recovery process: 'coming under professional care', 'experiencing relief in the personal situation', and 'making a decision to continue living'. These categories emerged in a core category, labelled 'taking care of oneself by regaining control'. Overcoming being suicidal occurred regardless of recovering from depression. Conclusion: In the very long-term course following a suicide attempt, the process of recovery is multi-dimensional and fluctuating, and includes appropriate treatment, connecting with others, decision making, and overcoming existential issues.
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| 6. |
- Debelius, J. W., et al.
(författare)
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The Local Tumor Microbiome Is Associated with Survival in Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer Patients
- 2023
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Ingår i: Microbiology Spectrum. - : AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY. - 2165-0497. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The gut microbiome is associated with survival in colorectal cancer. Single organisms have been identified as markers of poor prognosis. However, in situ imaging of tumors demonstrate a polymicrobial tumor-associated community. To understand the role of these polymicrobial communities in survival, we conducted a nested case-control study in late-stage cancer patients undergoing resection for primary adenocarcinoma. The microbiome of paired tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples was profiled using 16S rRNA sequencing. We found a consistent difference in the microbiome between paired tumor and adjacent tissue, despite strong individual microbial identities. Furthermore, a larger difference between normal and tumor tissue was associated with prognosis: patients with shorter survival had a larger difference between normal and tumor tissue. Within the tumor tissue, we identified a 39-member community statistic associated with survival; for every log(2)-fold increase in this value, an individual's odds of survival increased by 20% (odds ratio survival 1.20; 95% confidence interval = 1.04 to 1.33). Our results suggest that a polymicrobial tumor-specific microbiome is associated with survival in late-stage colorectal cancer patients.
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| 7. |
- Flejmer, Anna M., et al.
(författare)
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Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm versus Pencil Beam Convolution for treatment planning of breast cancer: implications for target coverage and radiation burden of normal tissue
- 2015
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Ingår i: Anticancer Research. - : International Institute of Anticancer Research. - 0250-7005 .- 1791-7530. ; 35:5, s. 2841-2848
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the implications of using the analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) for calculation of target coverage and radiation burden of normal tissues. Most model parameters, recommendations and planning guidelines associated with a certain outcome are from the era of pencil beam convolution (PBC) calculations on relatively simple assumptions of energy transport in media. Their relevance for AAA calculations that predict more realistic dose distributions needs to be evaluated. Patients and Methods: Forty patients with left-sided breast cancer receiving 3D conformal radiation therapy were planned using PBC with a standard protocol with 50 Gy in 25 fractions according to existing re-commendations. The plans were subsequently recalculated with the AAA and relevant dose parameters were determined and compared to their PBC equivalents. Results: The majority of the AAA-based plans had a significantly worse coverage of the planning target volume and also a higher maximum dose in hotspots near sensitive structures, suggesting that these criteria could be relaxed for AAA-calculated plans. Furthermore, the AAA predicts higher volumes of the ipsilateral lung will receive doses below 25 Gy and smaller volume doses above 25 Gy. These results indicate that lung tolerance criteria might also have to be relaxed for AAA planning in order to maintain the level of normal tissue toxicity. The AAA also predicts lower doses to the heart, thus indicating that this organ might be more sensitive to radiation than thought from PBC-based calculations. Conclusion: The AAA should be preferred over the PBC algorithm for breast cancer radiotherapy as it gives more realistic dose distributions. Guidelines for plan acceptance might have to be re-evaluated to account for differences in dose predictions in order to maintain the current levels of control and complication rates. The results also suggest an increased radiosensitivity of the heart, thus indicating that a revision of the current models for cardiovascular complications may be needed.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Flejmer, Anna M., et al.
(författare)
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Clinical implications of the ISC technique for breast cancer radiotherapy and comparison with clinical recommendations
- 2014
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Ingår i: Anticancer Research. - : International Institute of Anticancer Research. - 0250-7005 .- 1791-7530. ; 34:7, s. 3563-3568
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The project studied the implications of using the irregular surface compensator (ISC) technique in comparison to three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for breast cancer treatment. ISC is an electronic compensation algorithm that modulates the fluence across the radiation fields to compensate for irregularly shaped surfaces and deliver a homogeneous dose to a compensation plane. Methods: Ten breast cancer patients (five left- and five right-sided) were planned with both techniques. The planning was done for 50 Gy in 25 fractions with 2 Gy per fraction in all patients. Physical parameters such as doses to the clinical target volume (CTV-T) and the planned target volume (PTV), heterogeneity index and doses to lung and heart were determined and compared for the treatment plans. Results: The ISC technique led to significantly better coverage of the CTV-T and PTV in almost all patients with statistically significant better homogeneity of the dose distribution. The contralateral lung and the heart receive the same doses with both ISC and 3D-CRT plans. However, ISC showed a trend towards decreasing the volumes of the ipsilateral lung irradiated with high doses. Consequently this led to better compliance with the national recommendations for breast radiotherapy. Conclusion: The ISC technique leads to an improvement of the target coverage and the radiation burden of the ipsilateral lung thus allowing better compliance with the national recommendations and increasing the potential for improved quality of life for breast cancer patients. It should therefore be preferred over 3D-CRT for breast cases with difficult dose homogeneity to the PTV or CTV-T.
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