Associations of Coffee and Tea Consumption With Survival to Age 90 Years Among Older Women.

BACKGROUND: Coffee and tea are two of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide and have been associated with reduced risk of mortality in some studies. However, it is unknown whether consumption of these beverages is associated with survival to an advanced age. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of coffee and tea consumption with survival to age 90 years. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study among participants from the Women's Health Initiative, recruited during 1993 to 1998 and followed up until March 31, 2018. SETTING: The setting included 40 US clinical centers. PARTICIPANTS: A racially and ethnically diverse cohort of 27,480 older women, aged 65 to 81 years at baseline. MEASUREMENTS: Women were classified as having either survived to age 90 years or died before this age. Consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and caffeinated tea was assessed at baseline and categorized as 0, 1, 2 to 3, or 4 or more cups/day. Associations of coffee and tea consumption with survival to age 90 years were examined using logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, dietary quality, and chronic disease history. RESULTS: A total of 14,659 (53.3%) women survived to age 90 years during follow-up. Caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or caffeinated tea consumption was not significantly associated with survival to age 90 years after adjusting for confounders. Findings did not significantly vary by smoking, body mass index, or race/ethnicity. CONCLUSION: No amount of coffee or tea consumption was associated with late-age survival among older women. These findings may be reassuring to older women who consume coffee and tea as part of their daily diets but do not support drinking these beverages to achieve longevity.

Threat, its impacts over survival systems, and related behavioral disorders

Defensive and appetitive motivation systems have evolved to propitiate more sophisticated interactions with environment threats and needs, such as nutrients, water, reproduction, and temperature regulation. In contact with survival-relevant environmental stimuli, organisms change as a whole to maximize fitness to that occasion. In this paper, an overview on defensive systems is described, as well as some relevant aspects of defensive states, including their impacts over appetitive functions. A parallel between these characteristics and what is called threat-related disorders in the present paper is drawn and, finally, these similarities are used as basis for a theoretical proposition that at least part of these disorders can be seen as persistent states of defense.

Funções de sobrevivência e sistemas orgânicos relacionados evoluíram para propiciar interações mais sofisticadas com ameaças ambientais e necessidades individuais, tais como nutrientes, água, reprodução e regulação da temperatura. Apesar de o termo "sistema" sugerir ações independentes de circuitos em face de tais estímulos, evidências sugerem que os organismos se alteram como um todo em situações relevantes para a sobrevivência, maximizando sua adequação à ocasião. No presente artigo, é apresentada uma visão global de tais alterações organísmicas em face de ameaças, bem como o impaco dessas alterações sobre funções apetitivas. Traça-se, também, um paralelo entre essas características e os transtornos relativos a ameaças. Por fim, as similaridades apontadas servirão como base para uma proposição teórica segundo a qual ao menos parte desses transtornos pode ser entendida como estados permanentes de defesa.

Pre-treatment quality of life as a predictor of distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer who underwent free flap reconstruction.

PURPOSE: This study examined the prognostic associations of pre-treatment quality of life (QoL) with overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DFMS) among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who underwent free flap reconstruction. METHODS: A cohort of 127 HNC patients who received free flap reconstruction between November 2010 and June 2014 at a hospital were recruited. Pre-treatment QoL was measured by the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire, which contains six physical domains, including speech, swallowing, appearance, saliva, taste and chewing, as well as the six social-emotional domains of pain, activity, recreation, shoulder, mood, and anxiety. Cox regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Results showed that pre-treatment QoL was predictive of OS and DMFS. Of the domains, swallowing, chewing, speech, taste, saliva, pain and shoulder were demonstrated to be significant predictors of OS. Additionally, swallowing, chewing, speech, pain and activity were demonstrated making significant contributions to DMFS. CONCLUSION: Our data supported that physical domains of pre-treatment QoL were predictors for OS and DFMS in HNC patients with free-flap reconstruction. Longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the prognostic abilities of social-emotional domains. Information on pre-treatment QoL should be taken into account to individualize care plan for these patients, and hence prolong their survival.

The contagion of optimism: The relationship between patient optimism and palliative care clinician overestimation of survival among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Clinicians frequently overestimate survival time among seriously ill patients, and this can result in medical treatment at end of life that does not reflect the patient's preferences. Little is known, however, about the sources of clinicians' optimistic bias in survival estimation. Related work in social networks and experimental psychology demonstrates that psychological states-such as optimism-can transfer from one person to another. METHODS: We directly observed and audio recorded 189 initial inpatient palliative care consultations among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer. Patients self-reported their level of trait optimism and expectations for survival prognosis prior to the palliative care consultation, and the palliative care clinicians rated their expectations for the patient's survival time following the initial conversation with the patient. We followed patient mortality for 6 months. RESULTS: Patient optimism was associated with clinician overestimation of their survival in a dose-response relationship. Clinicians were approximately three times as likely to overestimate the survival of patients endorsing both high trait optimism and optimistic ratings of their survival time compared with neither (OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.24-7.02). This association was not attenuated by adjustment for age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, income, cancer type, functional status, quality of life, or white blood cell count (ORadj : 3.45; 95% CI: 1.24-9.66). CONCLUSION: Patients' optimism may have some influence over their clinicians' prognostic judgments.

Long-Term Effects of Chemical Warfare on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Chronic Medical Conditions in Veterans.

We investigated the association between exposure to chemical warfare and chronic mental/physical conditions. This was a secondary analysis of data from a case-control study on Iranian male veterans. Participants with neuropsychiatric disorders other than depressive/anxiety disorders, anatomical defects, or malignancies were excluded. Compared to non-exposed veterans, exposed veterans demonstrated significantly higher odds of PTSD [OR (95% CI) = 5.23 (1.98-13.85)], hypertension [OR (95% CI) = 5.57 (1.68-18.48)], coronary heart disease [OR (95% CI) = 6.8 (1.62-28.49)], and diabetes [OR (95% CI) = 3.88 (1.35-11.16)], and marginally higher odds of moderate to severe depressive symptoms [OR (95% CI) = 2.21 (0.93-5.28)]. This study provides preliminary evidence on association of exposure to chemical warfare with long-term mental disorders as well as chronic medical conditions.

Ambulatory Advanced Cancer Patients' and Oncologists' Estimates of Life Expectancy Are Associated with Patient Psychological Characteristics But Not Chemotherapy Use.

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced cancer often face distressing decisions about chemotherapy. There are conflicting data on the relationships among perceived prognosis, psychological characteristics, and chemotherapy use, which impair the refinement of decision support interventions. OBJECTIVE: Clarify the relationships among patient and oncologist estimates of life expectancy for 6 and 12 months, chemotherapy use, and patient psychological characteristics. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from two cross-sectional studies. SETTING/SUBJECTS: One hundred sixty-six patients with advanced stage cancer recruited from ambulatory cancer clinics. MEASUREMENTS: All data were obtained at study enrollment. Patients completed the Adult Hope Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Life Orientation Test-Revised. Patients and their oncologists provided estimates of surviving beyond 6 and 12 months. Chemotherapy use was determined by chart review. RESULTS: There were no significant associations between life-expectancy estimates and chemotherapy use nor patient anxiety, depression, hope, or optimism and chemotherapy use. Patients' life expectancy estimates for 12 months and oncologists' for 6 months were associated with higher patient anxiety and depression. Finally, both oncologist and patient estimates of life expectancy for 6 and 12 months were associated with increased levels of trait hope. CONCLUSION: Advanced cancer patients who provide less optimistic estimates of life expectancy have increased anxiety and depression, but do not use chemotherapy more often. Increased patient trait hope is associated with more favorable oncologist estimates. These findings highlight the need for interventions to support both patients and oncologists as they clarify prognostic expectations and patients cope with the psychological distress of a limited life expectancy.

Fronteiras fluidas: a trajetória de padronização de um medicamento para câncer de mama metastático no Brasil e a mobilização de estratégias para a sua expressão social / Fluid boundaries: the trajectory of standartization of a metastatic breast cancer drug in Brazil and the mobilization strategies for it's social expressions

Trata-se de um estudo de caso do processo de padronização e estratégias de divulgação no Brasil do medicamento T-DM1/Kadcyla®, situado nos campos teóricos da Sociologia e da Antropologia do medicamento. Objetiva identificar como se estabelece o valor social do medicamento e sua trajetória junto a uma rede complexa que envolve grupos de pacientes, médicos, cientistas, indústria farmacêutica e agências regulatórias. O T-DM1/Kadcyla® é um conjugado droga-anticorpo destinado ao tratamento de pacientes com câncer de mama HER2-positivo metastático, quando a doença atingiu outros sítios e não há possibilidade de cura biomédica. Esse medicamento foi aprovado pela agência regulatória brasileira (ANVISA) em 2014, mas sua dispensação no país iniciou em 2010 através de ensaios clínicos regulamentados. Foi realizada análise documental dos meios de divulgação do T-DM1/Kadcyla® no site do laboratório farmacêutico Roche. Foram também utilizadas publicações em mídias eletrônicas de grupos de ativistas que se organizam em torno da temática de câncer no Brasil (FEMAMA e Instituto Oncoguia) e do material publicitário da petição pública "Por mais tempo", promovida em 2015. Durante a investigação sobre o modo como o medicamento que comporta alta tecnologia é traduzido em contexto local, foram identificadas duas estratégias: a informação sobre padrões moleculares dos tumores de mama que responderiam a medicamentos específicos e a ênfase em algumas experiências individuais apresentadas como exitosas e tornadas como exemplares para o enfrentamento da condição metastática. A partir desse levantamento, o presente estudo discute sobre o modo como a dinâmica da esperança é acionada nesse contexto paliativo e sobre a participação da indústria farmacêutica na mobilização de uma sociabilidade definida por critérios biológicos, pautados no conceito de medicina personalizada. Propõe-se uma reflexão sobre os desafios e impasses para a agenda de enfrentamento do câncer de mama no sistema público de saúde brasileiro

Survivorship: How to Survive Cancer and Still Lose Your Life
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Cancer survivorship implies that the cancer has been treated and the survivor can return to his or her precancer life. The term fails to acknowledge the radical change to the person's mind, body, and spirit, nor does it address the diminished quality of life that can occur secondary to treatment. The survivorship struggle is often overlooked as public interests lies only in "success stories."

Women's Educational Needs and Perceptions About Survivorship Following Bilateral Mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: More women are choosing to have a bilateral mastectomy to treat unilateral breast cancer despite it not being considered the standard of care. Women are making this choice for various reasons, including anxiety of follow-up screening of the other breast, risk of cancer recurrence for the rest of their lives, and desire to maintain control over the localized cancer. Currently, evidence-based information is lacking regarding this treatment choice. In addition, the concept of survivorship has yet to be examined in this population of women. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore women's educational needs and perceptions about survivorship following bilateral mastectomy as a treatment for unilateral breast cancer. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 women using a semistructured interview guide. Data were elicited, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Two themes were identified that addressed education and survivorship.

Repercussões na saúde mental dos sobreviventes ao transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas para tratamento do câncer hematológico na infância e na adolescência: revisão sistemática da literatura / Repercussions on the mental health of hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors for the treatment of hematologic cancer in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review of the literature

O transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) é uma modalidade de tratamento oncológico associada a consideráveis níveis de morbidade. Num cenário onde pacientes sobrevivem por períodos mais longos de tempo, tem sido dada atenção às sequelas tardias deste procedimento. A presente revisão sistemática pretende compilar as informações publicadas acerca da prevalência de transtornos mentais entre os sobreviventes ao TCTH para tratamento das neoplasias hematológicas e linfoides na infância e na adolescência, bem como os possíveis fatores associados à ocorrência desses transtornos. Foram utilizadas 13 bases de dados para pesquisar publicações desde 1990 até janeiro de 2016. Após aplicação de critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram selecionados oito artigos para revisão. Foram estudados 8449 indivíduos, dentre os quais 1009 sobreviventes ao TCTH. A idade média ao diagnóstico variou de 5 a 9 anos e os indivíduos foram avaliados de 1 a 16 anos após o diagnóstico. Os desfechos em saúde mental estudados foram os domínios psicológicos e mentais das escalas de qualidade de vida (QV), depressão, distúrbios de conduta, auto estima, e transtornos hipercinéticos, do comportamento, do funcionamento social, da alimentação e do sono, sendo utilizados nove instrumentos diferentes para avaliação. Dentre os resultados encontrados, observa-se que os desfechos tendem a ser mais desfavoráveis quando os pais são os respondentes dos questionários em comparação com aqueles em que os próprios pacientes os respondem. Os resultados também tendem a ser piores quando os pacientes já são adultos, quando em comparação com a avaliação realizada ainda na infância ou adolescência, e menos favoráveis quando a população de transplantados é comparada com a população geral, com diferenças menos significativas quando esta comparação se faz com pacientes não transplantados. Os efeitos físicos tardios, a intensidade do tratamento sobre o Sistema Nervoso Central (SCN) e a depressão materna foram reconhecidos como possíveis variáveis explicativas para alterações na saúde mental dos sobreviventes. Quanto à qualidade dos artigos, a maioria recebeu menos de dois terços da pontuação máxima da Newcastle - Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. O presente estudo apresenta limitações impostas pelo número escasso de artigos e pelas diferenças metodológicas dos estudos sobre o tema. A heterogeneidade dos estudos não permitiu a realização de metanálise. Contudo, esta revisão apresenta-se como a primeira a agrupar o conhecimento até então publicado sobre a saúde mental dos sobreviventes ao TCTH na infância e adolescência como parte do tratamento para as neoplasias hematológicas e linfoides. Seus resultados levam ao reconhecimento da importância deste tema, bem como às lacunas que ainda se apresentam. Sendo tais neoplasias as mais frequentes entre crianças e adolescentes, com taxas cada vez mais altas de sobrevivência, há que se pensar sobre a possível subnotificação destas consequências. O rastreamento das sequelas mentais no seguimento a longo prazo dessa população poderia trazer à tona um retrato mais fidedigno das repercussões mentais, que tanto a doença quanto seu agressivo tratamento com TCTH podem gerar

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a modality of oncological treatment associated with considerable levels of morbidity. In a setting where patients survive for longer periods of time, attention has been paid to the late sequelae of this procedure. The present systematic review aims to compile the published information on the prevalence of mental disorders among survivors of HSCT for the treatment of hematological and lymphoid neoplasms in childhood and adolescence, as well as the possible factors associated with the occurrence of these disorders. We used 13 databases to search publications from 1990 to January 2016. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight articles were selected for review. A total of 8449 individuals were studied, including 1009 survivors of HSCT. The mean age at diagnosis ranged from 5 to 9 years and subjects were assessed from 1 to 16 years after diagnosis. The mental health outcomes studied were the psychological and mental domains of quality of life (QoL), depression, behavioral disorders, self-esteem, and hyperkinetic disorders, behavior, social functioning, eating and sleep, being used nine different instruments for evaluation. Among the results found, it is observed that the outcomes tend to be more unfavorable when the parents are the respondents of the questionnaires compared to those in which the patients themselves respond. The results also tend to be worse when patients are already adults, when compared to the evaluation performed in childhood or adolescence, and less favorable when the transplant population is compared to the general population, with less significant differences when this comparison with non-transplanted patients. Late physical effects, intensity of treatment on the Central Nervous System (CNS) and maternal depression were recognized as possible explanatory variables for changes in the mental health of survivors. As for the quality of the articles, the majority received less than two thirds of the Newcastle - Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The present study presents limitations imposed by the scarce number of articles and the methodological differences of the studies on the subject. The heterogeneity of the studies did not allow meta-analysis. However, this review is the first to group previously published knowledge on the mental health of survivors of HSCT in childhood and adolescence as part of the treatment for hematological and lymphoid neoplasms. Its results lead to the recognition of the importance of this theme, as well as to the gaps that still exist. As these neoplasms are the most frequent among children and adolescents, with increasing rates of survival, it is necessary to think about the possible underreporting of these consequences. The tracking of mental sequelae in the long-term follow-up of this population could bring to the surface a more reliable picture of the mental repercussions that both the disease and its aggressive treatment with HSCT can generate

Treatment priorities in oncology: do we want to live longer or better?

OBJECTIVES: Despite the progress achieved in the fight against cancer over the past several years, assessing the needs, goals and preferences of patients with cancer is of the utmost importance for the delivery of health care. We sought to assess priorities regarding quantity versus quality of life among Brazilian patients, comparing them with individuals without cancer. METHODS: Using a questionnaire presenting four hypothetical cancer cases, we interviewed cancer patients, oncology health-care professionals and laypersons, most of whom had administrative functions in our hospital. RESULTS: A total of 214 individuals participated: 101 patients, 44 health-care professionals and 69 laypersons. The mean ages in the three groups were 56, 34 and 31 years old, respectively (p<0.001). The patients had gastrointestinal (25%), breast (22%), hematologic (10%), lung (8%) or other tumors (36%) and the tumor-node- metastasis (TNM) stage was I, II, III or IV in 22%, 13%, 34% and 31% of cases, respectively. Treatment priorities differed significantly among the three groups (p = 0.005), with survival time being a higher priority for patients than for the other two groups and with opposite trends regarding quality of life. In multivariate analysis, the age and sex distributions were not associated with the choice to maximize quality of life. In this limited sample of cancer patients, there were no associations between treatment priorities and disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: Both survival time and quality of life appeared to be important to cancer patients, oncology health-care professionals and laypersons, but survival time seemed to have higher priority for people diagnosed with cancer than for healthy people. Additionally, survival seemed to be more important than quality of life for all three groups assessed.

Treatment priorities in oncology: do we want to live longer or better?

OBJECTIVES: Despite the progress achieved in the fight against cancer over the past several years, assessing the needs, goals and preferences of patients with cancer is of the utmost importance for the delivery of health care. We sought to assess priorities regarding quantity versus quality of life among Brazilian patients, comparing them with individuals without cancer. METHODS: Using a questionnaire presenting four hypothetical cancer cases, we interviewed cancer patients, oncology health-care professionals and laypersons, most of whom had administrative functions in our hospital. RESULTS: A total of 214 individuals participated: 101 patients, 44 health-care professionals and 69 laypersons. The mean ages in the three groups were 56, 34 and 31 years old, respectively (p<0.001). The patients had gastrointestinal (25%), breast (22%), hematologic (10%), lung (8%) or other tumors (36%) and the tumor-node- metastasis (TNM) stage was I, II, III or IV in 22%, 13%, 34% and 31% of cases, respectively. Treatment priorities differed significantly among the three groups (p = 0.005), with survival time being a higher priority for patients than for the other two groups and with opposite trends regarding quality of life. In multivariate analysis, the age and sex distributions were not associated with the choice to maximize quality of life. In this limited sample of cancer patients, there were no associations between treatment priorities and disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: Both survival time and quality of life appeared to be important to cancer patients, oncology health-care professionals and laypersons, but survival time seemed to have higher priority for people diagnosed with cancer than for healthy people. Additionally, survival seemed to be more important than quality of life for all three groups assessed. .

Patients' perspectives on palliative chemotherapy of colorectal and non--colorectal cancer: a prospective study in a chemotherapy- experienced population.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of patients' views on the benefit and burden obtained from palliative chemotherapy would facilitate shared decision making. We evaluated palliative cancer patients' reported outcomes (PROs) for toxicity and investigated the survival threshold for which they would repeat chemotherapy (CTx). METHODS: Patients who had received a minimum of three months of palliative CTx for advanced colorectal (CRC) or non-colorectal (non-CRC: upper gastrointestinal, lung and head-and-neck) cancer were assessed by questionnaire. Patients were questioned about PROs for toxicity, subjective burden from side effects, and were asked for the survival threshold necessary for them to repeat CTx. Expected survival (sum of indicated survival threshold and median survival time with best supportive care) was compared to the patients' actual survival. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-four patients (CRC: 58; non-CRC: 76) were surveyed. The most frequent PRO- grade 3/4 toxicities were acne (12.8%), fatigue (9.0%), and diarrhea (8.5%). The symptom causing the highest subjective burden was fatigue and was worse than expected in 29.9% of the patients. The median survival threshold for which patients would repeat CTx was significantly longer in CRC than in non-CRC patients (p=0.01). Median expected survival was significantly longer than actual median survival (CRC: 44.0 months [22.0-65.9] compared with 30.0 months of actual survival [20.9-39.1]; non-CRC: 22.0 months [15.3-28.6] compared with 19.0 months of actual survival [15.1-22.9], p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Fatigue deserves more attention when toxicity of treatment and symptoms of disease are explained to patients. Patients' survival expectations from palliative chemotherapy are higher than previously described, exceed the median survival time known from phase III trials, and are significantly longer than their actual survival.

Relationship between cognitive function and prognosis in glioblastoma.

The association between increased signs and symptoms and poorer survival in glioblastoma is well recognized and confirmed in virtually every clinical trial and patient series. Measurement and consideration of performance status is, therefore, vital when counseling patients regarding their expected survival or evaluating the results of clinical trials. Unfortunately, measures of patient function in clinical trials have remained quite crude, in stark contrast to the rapid advances seen in the pathological characterization of brain tumors. Recently, clinical investigators have begun to examine the subcomponents of performance status in more detail, revealing that objective measures of cognition are significantly associated with patient survival in both newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. Furthermore, cognitive function does not appear to be a simple proxy for performance status but rather an independent predictor of survival, even within patient groups defined by currently available clinical prognostic systems. Therefore, objective measures of cognition must be evaluated for inclusion in future prognostic models and the simple addition of new tumor biomarkers to the current clinical prognostic models will likely prove insufficient. In order for the field of neuro-oncology to move forward in this regard, evaluation of cognition must become a routine part of future clinical trials, and the data must be recorded and analyzed with the same diligence as other trial end points.

Power relations in patient's experiences of suffering during treatment for cancer.

AIM: This paper is a report of how patients who have cancer experience suffering in the context of power relations. BACKGROUND: Many studies in Sweden and in other countries have detected inequality in healthcare use and resources, including unseen influences that can be connected to gender and distribution of resources. Few studies have examined how multiple relations of power - such as gender, ethnicity, age and education - influence how people with cancer experience suffering during treatment. METHOD: A hermeneutic design was used. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 women and 14 men receiving treatment for a variety of cancer diagnoses. The data collection was done at two hospitals in Sweden during 2008-2009. The interpretation of data was based on two theoretical perspectives - suffering and intersectionality. RESULTS: The results highlight patients suffering where two or more positions of power relations interacted with each other. Three main themes were identified: the complexity of control, the vulnerable effects of body changes, and the internal battle of survival. CONCLUSION: A vulnerable social situation for people with cancer concretely increased their suffering. Social inequalities, seemingly linked to social hierarchy, increased the suffering of people with cancer. For example, women with cancer with a low education belonging to an ethnic minority suffered more than highly educated patients belonging to the ethnic majority.

The development of social relationships, social support, and posttraumatic growth in a dragon boating team for breast cancer survivors.

Physical activity experiences may contribute to psychological and social wellbeing among breast cancer survivors. The main purpose of the current study was to qualitatively explore the development of social relationships, social support, and posttraumatic growth among breast cancer survivors participating in a dragon boat program over 19 months. Guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009), semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 breast cancer survivors on five occasions over their first two seasons of dragon boating. Narrative accounts were developed for each participant, and four profiles emerged describing processes of social and posttraumatic growth development over time: "developing a feisty spirit of survivorship," "I don't want it to be just about me," "it's not about the pink it's about the paddling," and "hard to get close." Profiles were discussed in terms of developing social relationships and support, providing support to others, physicality and athleticism, and negative interactions and experiences.

Breast cancer survivors' perspectives of care practices in Western and alternative medicine.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore perspectives of breast cancer survivors about their care with Western medicine and alternative medicine. RESEARCH APPROACH: Qualitative, ethnonursing. SETTING: Cancer center in the midwestern region of the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 9 breast cancer survivors who had experienced health care involving Western medicine and alternative medicine. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Semistructured interviews were conducted to elicit each participant's perspective about care practices. Data were analyzed with an ethnonursing qualitative data analysis method. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Care practices in Western medicine and care practices in alternative medicine. FINDINGS: Western medicine was seen as traditional or mainstream treatment, whereas alternative medicine was seen as anything not involving hospitals and doctors or as complementary. Perceived outcomes from alternative therapies were coping with disease and treatment, holistic care, and emotional support, whereas perceived outcomes from Western medicine were negative things that they had to go through and as an instrument of God. Kinship, social, economical, educational, and belief factors influenced care practices. CONCLUSIONS: Care practices from alternative medicine or Western medicine vary for breast cancer survivors. Many factors influence their selection decisions about care practices. INTERPRETATION: Nurses should be concerned about what care practices mean to breast cancer survivors. Further research should be considered to evaluate the potential contribution of each factor to breast cancer survivors' decision making about care practices.

Fathers' views and understanding of their roles in families with a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

This study explored how fathers of children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) perceived and understood the roles they had within their family over the course of their child's illness and treatment. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five fathers. Transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The major themes that emerged were: adjusting to the diagnosis; the experience of maternal gate-keeping; striving for normalization; experiences of giving and receiving support. Overall, the fathers perceived themselves as having significant responsibility in helping their child and family cope with the illness experience. Clinical implications, including the need for professionals to recognize and more openly acknowledge the father's position, are considered.