Intimate partner violence after cancer diagnosis: an SOS call.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to measure the frequency and types of IPV among patients with cancer and evaluate risk factors. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study, conducted between January and April 2022, including 141 patients treated with cancer regardless of gender, site, or stage. We developed the study questionnaire by adapting items from the "WHO multi-country questionnaire on violence against women" and "The Women's Experiences with Battering Scale." Odds ratio (OR) and spearman tests were performed to assess the impact of several factors associated with the reported IPV. RESULTS: Median age was 50 years old, 38.3% were male cancer patients. IPV prevalence was 24.8%, we observed 5 cases of torture (3%). The most common forms of violence were placing severe restriction on certain types of food and clothing in 21%, psychological violence in 20%, exposing intimate information about the patient health status to others in 17%, ignoration in 13.5%, putting restrictions on visiting friends or families in 9.2%, verbal assault in 9.2%, physical violence in 7.9%, and 7.1% racist conducts. Financial violence was rare in 4.3%. There was no difference in the incidence of IPV between man and women. We observed a significant correlation between IPV prevalence and disease stage (19.1% M0 vs 34.6% M1, p=0.04, OR=2.2 [1-4.8]), patient's educational level (48.5% vs 17.6%, p=0.01, OR= 4.4 [1.8-10.2]), and being under ongoing cancer therapy (11.4% vs 30.9%, p=0.013, OR=3.4 [1.2-9.7]) CONCLUSION: Patients were shown to be victims of several forms of IPV regardless of gender.

Understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: another challenge in cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to measure the acceptability towards the COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients and to investigate determinant factors associated with the patient's choice. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a self-administered questionnaire delivered to 329 cancer patients in 3 oncology cancer centers in Tunisia between February-May 2021. Logistic regression was used to evaluate odds ratio predicting patient's intentions toward the vaccine. RESULTS: Acceptance rate was 50.5%, 28.3% (n = 93) reported to definitely refuse the vaccine and 21.2% (n = 70) did not make their decision yet. High educational level, history of comorbidities, history of influenza vaccination in the current season, and patient's opinion about the severity of COVID-19 did not predict vaccine resistance. However, patients who think that the vaccine may interfere with treatment efficacy (OR = 7.28, 95%CI [2.5-12.32]), or may impact cancer outcome (OR = 6.14, 95%CI [2.27-16.7]), were significantly more likely to refuse the vaccine. Patients who disagree that the vaccine is a major weapon against the pandemic (OR = 6.07, 95%CI [2.34-9.52]) or that it could reduce the virus transmission (OR = 7.34, 95%CI [4.22-11.81]) were also significantly more likely to reject the vaccination. Safety concerns were also significant predictive factors (OR = 7.9, 95%CI [4.10-11.27]. Confidence level in the authorities played a significant role in patient's acceptance of the vaccine, indeed patients who are not registered (OR = 5.9, 95%CI [1.58-8.7]) or not informed about the Tunisian national vaccination platform EVAX (OR = 5.51, 95%CI [2.1-7.9]) were more likely to be against the vaccine. CONCLUSION: Cancer patient's education about the impact of the vaccine on their disease and on the COVID-19 is needed. Governments should build strategies to gain more population confidence.

Synergistic Effect and Tolerance of Concurrent Radiotherapy and Lenalidomide Use in Relapsing Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Mantle cell lymphoma is an aggressive disease. Limited treatment options are available for refractory or relapsing presentation. We report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of concurrent radiotherapy and lenalidomide use in this setting, focusing on its possible synergy and tolerance. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old man with a history of mantle cell lymphoma presented with ptosis of the left eyelid, eyelid swelling, and nasal obstruction. Results of positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed a pathologic fluorodeoxyglucose uptake at the pharynx and left eyelid. He received treatment with ibrutinib, which was stopped 3 months later because of digestive toxic effects. Radiotherapy for the eyelid and pharynx was performed at a dose of 18 Gy, with concurrent lenalidomide administration. Evaluation 3 months later revealed complete disappearance of the 2 relapse sites. DISCUSSION: This case highlights the role of concomitant lenalidomide treatment and low-dose radiotherapy in patients with relapsing mantle cell lymphoma. Use of this combination treatment has achieved a complete local control with a safe toxicity profile. The case also illustrates the possible lenalidomide-induced radio sensitization.