What are the unmet supportive care needs of men affected by penile cancer? A systematic review of the empirical evidence.

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate evidence regarding the unmet supportive care needs of men affected by penile cancer and their partners to create a holistic model of care and inform clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (CCRT and CDSR) controlled trials databases and clinicaltrial.gov from 1990 to April 2020. This review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. RESULTS: 18 articles were included, reporting the results from 17 studies. Included reports used qualitative (seven studies) and survey (ten studies). Across these studies, men reported that the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of penile cancer affected physical, psychological and sexual well-being with each facet impacting and being intertwined with the other at varying degrees. There was varying complexity of unmet needs in men and partners pre-surgery, post-surgery and into survivorship. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate evidence exists that men affected by penile cancer experience a range of unmet supportive care needs across the international literature. Further work to evaluate the impact of penile cancer on partners is required.

Implementing a Multimodal Prehabilitation Program to Radical Cystectomy in a Comprehensive Cancer Center: A Pilot Study to Assess Feasibility and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Radical cystectomy(RC) often leads to postoperative morbidity and complications. We conducted a pilot study on the effectiveness of multimodal prehabilitation, a preoperative conditioning method shown to be effective for colorectal surgery, in bladder cancer patients soon to undergo RC. We assessed patients' adherence to the prehabilitation regimen and changes in their physical condition. METHODS: Thirty-two bladder cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering from February to August 2015 scheduled for RC were included in a standardized prehabilitation program. The 2-week program consisted of general physical exercises for the major muscle groups used for everyday activities, and sufficient protein intake. Patients received a program journal to document physical and nutritional achievements. Patients were physically tested using handgrip strength and bio-impedance at 2 weeks pre-surgery, day of surgery, and 6 weeks post-surgery. Additionally, a six-minute walk test (6MWT) 2 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery were measured. RESULTS: Adherence to the exercises and nutritional recommendations respectively, was 62% (95% confidence interval [CI] 42-78%) for the exercise component and 81% (95% CI 62-93) for the nutritional component. The 6MWT results, showing physical capacity, significantly improved from baseline to 6-week follow-up, with an increase of 9.2% (95% CI 0.3-20.99; p=0.03). The handgrip strength, a proxy for nutritional status, improved 6.8% (95% CI 1.4-14.4; p=0.001) from baseline to admission, and maintained until 6-week follow-up (p=0.7). CONCLUSION: In a United States comprehensive cancer center, implementing a multimodal prehabilitation program is feasible in clinical practice and maintained. or even improved, physical functioning post-surgery compared to baseline.