Cancer control research 2001.

OBJECTIVES: Major societal changes, including the changing demographics of US society and the genetics and communications revolutions, are providing new opportunities to control cancer both in the United States and around the world. This article examines the implications of these trends and other issues in the context of cancer control research. A seven-item strategy for cancer control research is proposed. RESULTS: Epidemiology, statistics, genetics, and bio-behavioral research are central disciplines for cancer control research. The identification of particular at-risk populations is increasingly possible. Cancer control research must focus on increasing fundamental knowledge in order to accelerate improvements in cancer prevention and early detection. Cancer control research also must be used to conduct trials of new cancer detection methods, overcome differential participation in cancer screening, develop evidence-based strategies to improve decision-making, and develop evidence-based cancer communications. A comprehensive cancer surveillance system is the foundation for cancer control research. Cancer control research must aim to reduce cancer risk, incidence, and mortality, and improve quality of life. These are important challenges for the new millennium.

Effects of coping style and relaxation on cancer chemotherapy side effects and emotional responses.

This study was designed to determine (a) the relationship of coping style to cancer chemotherapy side effects and (b) whether coping style moderated the impact of a relaxation intervention on anxiety, depression, and nausea associated with chemotherapy. Forty-eight cancer patients were assigned randomly to receive either progressive muscle relaxation training before chemotherapy (experimental group) or standard care (control group). Spearman correlations indicated that a "blunting" or distraction-oriented coping style was associated with less anticipatory anxiety, less depression, and less nausea during and after chemotherapy. Spearman correlations also indicated that a "monitoring" or information-gathering coping style was associated with more anticipatory anxiety, and more nausea before and during chemotherapy. Although there was a significant effect of the relaxation intervention on posttreatment nausea, there were no other between-group differences. The results did suggest, however, that relaxation was effective in reducing anticipatory anxiety among "blunters," but not "monitors," perhaps because relaxation is a distraction strategy and therefore is consistent with a blunting coping style. The effects of coping and relaxation on pretreatment anxiety may have important implications, because anxiety is a key factor in classic conditioning models of anticipatory nausea and vomiting.

Cancer patient education: reality and potential.

Cancer now attacks one in three Americans, resulting in one in six deaths. Yet, until recently, few patient education programs were directed toward cancer patients. This review examines the status of cancer patient education and suggests future directions. We focus on several aspects of cancer patient education, including needs assessments and programs in treatment, rehabilitation, and continuing care and evaluation. The most comprehensive patient education programs are those directed toward patients in active treatment; one of its tasks is to help patients manage treatment side effects. A major component of rehabilitation programs is counseling patients to help them cope with the effects of cancer. Many patient education programs have performed evaluations; most reflect difficulties in one or more areas, such as selecting appropriate measures or accruing adequate sample sizes. We recommend several directions for the future, including the use of appropriate measurement tools, adequate sample sizes, multimodality programs with incorporation of psychological techniques such as relaxation training and guided imagery, and assessment of the impact of patient education programs on costs.