Treatment of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Using Negative Pressure Massage: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of negative pressure massage treatment (NPMT) compared with manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in women with chronic breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE). We hypothesized that NPMT would result in greater improvements in LE and upper limb function. DESIGN: Pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Health sciences university. PARTICIPANTS: Of 64 women screened, 28 met eligibility requirements (ie, >18y of age; completed active treatment for breast cancer; had unilateral arm LE for ≥1y; were not receiving LE care; had stable LE) and were randomized to the NPMT (n=15) and control groups (n=13). INTERVENTIONS: The intervention group received NPMT and the control group received MLD; both received twelve 60-minute sessions over 4-6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bioimpedance (lymphedema index [L-Dex] units]), limb volume (mL) calculated from limb circumference, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) score. RESULTS: Outcomes were analyzed for 28 women. Compared to the MLD group, the NPMT group demonstrated greater improvement with a large effect size in L-Dex scores (P=.001; standardized mean difference [SMD]=-1.15; 95% confidence interval, -1.96 to -0.35) and interlimb volume differences (P=.038; SMD=-0.83; 95% confidence interval, -1.60 to -0.05). Differences in DASH scores were not statistically significant (P=.067). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to MLD, treatment with NPMT resulted in greater improvement in L-Dex scores and interlimb volume differences in women with a duration of unilateral upper limb LE of >1 year. Our findings need to be confirmed in a larger randomized controlled trial.

Differential expression of genes and differentially perturbed pathways associated with very high evening fatigue in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Fatigue is the most common symptom associated with cancer and its treatment. Investigation of molecular mechanisms associated with fatigue in oncology patients may identify new therapeutic targets. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationships between gene expression and perturbations in biological pathways and evening fatigue severity in oncology patients who received chemotherapy (CTX). METHODS: The Lee Fatigue Scale (LFS) and latent class analysis were used to identify evening fatigue phenotypes. We measured 47,214 ribonucleic acid transcripts from whole blood collected prior to a cycle of CTX. Perturbations in biological pathways associated with differential gene expression were identified from public data sets (i.e., Kyoto Encyclopedia Gene and Genomes, BioCarta). RESULTS: Patients were classified into Moderate (n = 65, mean LFS score 3.1) or Very High (n = 195, mean LFS score 6.4) evening fatigue groups. Compared to patients with Moderate fatigue, patients with Very High fatigue exhibited differential expression of 29 genes. A number of the perturbed pathways identified validated prior mechanistic hypotheses for fatigue, including alterations in immune function, inflammation, neurotransmission, energy metabolism, and circadian rhythms. Based on our findings, energy metabolism was further divided into alterations in carbohydrate metabolism and skeletal muscle energy. Alterations in renal function-related pathways were identified as a potential new mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified differential gene expression and perturbed biological pathways that provide new insights into the multiple and likely inter-related mechanisms associated with evening fatigue in oncology patients.

Factors associated with oncology patients' involvement in shared decision making during chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Oncology patients are increasingly encouraged to play an active role in treatment decision making. While previous studies have evaluated relationships between demographic characteristics and decision-making roles, less is known about the association of symptoms and psychological adjustment characteristics (eg, coping styles and personality traits) and decision-making roles. METHODS: As part of a larger study of symptom clusters, patients (n = 765) receiving chemotherapy for breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer provided information on demographic, clinical, symptom, and psychological adjustment characteristics. Patient-reported treatment decision-making roles (ie, preferred role and role actually played) were assessed using the Control Preferences Scale. Differences among patients, who were classified as passive, collaborative, or active, were evaluated using χ2 analyses and analyses of variance. RESULTS: Over half (56.3%) of the patients reported that they both preferred and actually played a collaborative role. Among those patients with concordant roles, those who were older, those with less education and lower income, and those who were less resilient were more likely to prefer a passive role. Several psychological adjustment characteristics were associated with decision-making role, including coping style, personality, and fatalism. CONCLUSIONS: Oncology patients' preferences for involvement in treatment decision making are associated with demographic characteristics as well as with symptoms and psychological adjustment characteristics, such as coping style and personality. These results reaffirm the complexities of predicting patients' preferences for involvement in decision making. Further study is needed to determine if role or coping style may be influenced by interventions designed to teach adaptive coping skills.

Potassium Channel Candidate Genes Predict the Development of Secondary Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Potassium (K) channels play an important role in lymph pump activity, lymph formation, lymph transport, and the functions of lymph nodes. No studies have examined the relationship between K channel candidate genes and the development of secondary lymphedema (LE). OBJECTIVE: The study purpose was to evaluate for differences in genotypic characteristics in women who did (n = 155) or did not (n = 387) develop upper extremity LE following breast cancer treatment based on an analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in 10 K channel genes. METHODS: Upper extremity LE was diagnosed using bioimpedance resistance ratios. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify those SNPs and haplotypes that were associated with LE while controlling for relevant demographic, clinical, and genomic characteristics. RESULTS: Patients with LE had a higher body mass index, had a higher number of lymph nodes removed, had more advanced disease, received adjuvant chemotherapy, received radiation therapy, and were less likely to have undergone a sentinel lymph node biopsy. One SNP in a voltage-gated K channel gene (KCNA1 rs4766311), four in two inward-rectifying K channel genes (KCNJ3 rs1037091 and KCNJ6 rs2211845, rs991985, rs2836019), and one in a two-pore K channel gene (KCNK3 rs1662988) were associated with LE. DISCUSSION: These preliminary findings suggest that K channel genes play a role in the development of secondary LE.

Subgroups of chemotherapy patients with distinct morning and evening fatigue trajectories.

PURPOSE: Purposes of this study were to identify subgroups of patients with distinct trajectories for morning and evening fatigue, evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics among these subgroups, and compare and contrast the predictors of subgroup membership for morning and evening fatigue. METHODS: Outpatients with breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer (n = 582) completed questionnaires, a total of six times over two cycles of chemotherapy (CTX). Morning and evening fatigue severity were evaluated using the Lee Fatigue Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct subgroups. RESULTS: Three latent classes were identified for morning fatigue (i.e., low (31.8 %), high (51.4 %), and very high (16.8 %)) and for evening fatigue (i.e., moderate (20.0 %), high (21.8 %), and very high (58.2 %)). Most of the disease and treatment characteristics did not distinguish among the morning and evening fatigue classes. Compared to the low class, patients in the high and very high morning fatigue classes were younger, had a lower functional status, and higher level of comorbidity. Compared to the moderate class, patients in the very high evening fatigue class were younger, more likely to be female, had child care responsibilities, had a lower functional status, and a higher level of comorbidity. CONCLUSION: LPA allows for the identification of risk factors for more severe fatigue. Since an overlap was not observed across the morning and evening fatigue classes and unique predictors for morning and evening fatigue were identified, these findings suggest that morning and evening fatigue may have distinct underlying mechanisms.

Comparison of subgroups of breast cancer patients on pain and co-occurring symptoms following chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study, in a sample of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy (CTX), were to identify subgroups of women with distinct experiences with the symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms and evaluate differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, differences in psychological symptoms, and differences in pain characteristics among these subgroups. METHODS: Patients completed symptom questionnaires in the week following CTX administration. Latent class profile analysis (LCPA) was used to determine the patient subgroups. RESULTS: Three subgroups were identified: 140 patients (35.8 %) in the "low," 189 patients (48.3 %) in the "moderate," and 62 patients (15.9 %) in the "all high" latent class. Patients in the all high class had a lower functional status, a higher comorbidity profile, a higher symptom burden, and a poorer quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings provide evidence of the utility of LCPA to explain inter-individual variability in the symptom experience of patients undergoing CTX. The ability to characterize subgroups of patients with distinct symptom experiences allows for the identification of high-risk patients and may guide the design of targeted interventions that are tailored to an individual's symptom profile.

Disease and treatment characteristics do not predict symptom occurrence profiles in oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: A large amount of interindividual variability exists in the occurrence of symptoms in patients receiving chemotherapy (CTX). The purposes of the current study, which was performed in a sample of 582 oncology outpatients who were receiving CTX, were to identify subgroups of patients based on their distinct experiences with 25 commonly occurring symptoms and to identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with subgroup membership. In addition, differences in quality of life outcomes were evaluated. METHODS: Oncology outpatients with breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale before their next cycle of CTX. Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups of patients with distinct symptom experiences. RESULTS: Three distinct subgroups of patients were identified (ie, 36.1% in Low class; 50.0% in Moderate class, and 13.9% in All High class). Patients in the All High class were significantly younger and more likely to be female and nonwhite, and had lower levels of social support, lower socioeconomic status, poorer functional status, and a higher level of comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current study support the clinical observation that some oncology patients experience a differentially higher symptom burden during CTX. These high-risk patients experience significant decrements in quality of life.

Life enhancing activities for family caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia.

Aberrant psychological and behavioral symptoms are common in patients with dementia. These symptoms have negative consequences for family caregivers, causing stress and burden. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) symptoms cause more pronounced stress and burden on caregivers than those associated with Alzheimer dementia. In this randomized, attention control pilot study, we delivered 5-weekly, one-on-one, positive affect intervention sessions to family caregivers of people with FTD. The program, Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers: LEAF was conducted in-person or by videoconference with caregivers across the United States. Measures of affect, caregiver mood, stress, distress, and caregiver burden were assessed at baseline, end of sessions, and 1 month after completion. Twenty-four caregivers (12 intervention and 12 attention control) participated. At the end of the intervention, scores on positive affect, negative affect, burden, and stress all improved in the intervention compared with the control group. These scores continued to show improvement at the assessment done 1 month after intervention. Subjects were receptive to the skills and the delivery methods. The positive emotion skill-building intervention proved feasible especially in the internet videoconference delivery format. The intervention promoted positive affect and improved psychological outcomes for family caregivers of people with FTD.

Sleep in persons with frontotemporal dementia and their family caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is associated with disruptions in sleep and sleep quality for patients and their family caregivers. Little is known about the impact of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) on sleep. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize sleep in patients with FTD and their family caregivers. METHODS: Twenty-two patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled: Thirteen behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) and nine semantic dementia (SD). Sleep and sleep quality data were collected for 2 weeks using diaries and Actiwatches. RESULTS: Patients with bvFTD and SD spent more time in bed at night compared to their caregivers. Nighttime behaviors were reported more frequently by caregivers for the bvFTD patients and strongly correlated with caregiver distress. Actigraphy data showed normal sleep efficiency and timing of the nighttime sleep period for both patients and their caregivers. Caregivers of patients with bvFTD reported poorer sleep quality compared to the SD caregivers. A greater number of bvFTD caregivers compared to SD reported negative aspects of sleep quality for themselves and used sleep medications more frequently. CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestations of bvFTD appear to be associated with different and more distressing impacts on the caregiver sleep quality than SD.

Characterization of apathy in persons with frontotemporal dementia and the impact on family caregivers.

This study characterized daytime activity and apathy in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and semantic dementia (SD) and their family caregivers. Twenty-two patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled: 13 bvFTD and 9 SD. Data were collected on behavior and movement. Patients and caregivers wore Actiwatches for 2 weeks to record activity. We predicted that bvFTD patients would show greater caregiver report of apathy and less daytime activity compared with patients diagnosed with SD. Patients with bvFTD spent 25% of their day immobile, whereas patients with SD spent 16% of their day inactive. BvFTD caregivers spent 11% of their day immobile and SD caregivers were immobile 9% of their day. Apathy was present in all of the patients with bvFTD and in all but one patient with SD; the severity of apathy was greater in bvFTD compared with SD. Apathy correlated with caregiver emotional distress in both groups. In conclusion, apathy has been defined as a condition of diminished motivation that is difficult to operationalize. Among patients with frontotemporal dementia, apathy was associated with lower levels of activity, greater number of bouts of immobility, and longer immobility bout duration. Apathy and diminished daytime activity appeared to have an impact on the caregiver. Objective measures of behavioral output may help in formulation of a more precise definition of apathy.

Feasibility of adapting a classroom balance training program to a video game platform for people with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Decreased postural stability in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major component of disability. Rehabilitation interventions are therefore targeted to improve balance, mobility, and strength. Virtual environment and gaming platforms can encourage therapeutic activity in the home and be challenging and fun. The aims of the project were to demonstrate the technical feasibility of adapting a classroom-based gait-and-balance training program to a video game platform. Ease of use, appeal, and safety of the proposed games were tested for both clinic and in-home use. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in three phases. Modifications in the game platform were made in an iterative fashion based on feedback from subjects and the observations of clinical and design team members. The first two phases of testing were performed in a laboratory setting, and the final phase was carried out in subjects' homes. RESULTS: Subjects (n=20) scored the primary "Rail Runner" game 3.6 for ease of use (1=hard, 5=easy) and 3.9 for appeal (1=did not like at all, 5=liked very much). There were no safety issues encountered, and the games performed without technical flaws in the final phase of testing. CONCLUSIONS: A computer-based video game that incorporates therapeutic movements to improve gait and balance for people with PD was appealing to subjects and feasible for home use.

Associations among hearing loss, multiple co-occurring symptoms, and quality of life outcomes in cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, occurrence of common symptoms, symptom severity scores, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in survivors with (n = 155) and without (n = 118) audiometrically confirmed hearing loss. METHODS: Survivors, who were recruited from throughout the San Francisco Bay area, completed the self-report questionnaires to obtain the information of demographic and clinical characteristics; the occurrence and severity of depression, anxiety, fatigue, decrements in energy, sleep disturbance, pain, and cognitive impairment; and the general and cancer-specific QOL outcomes. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to evaluate for differences between the two survivor groups. RESULTS: Survivors with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss were older, more likely to be male, were more likely to be unemployed, report a lower annual household income, and had a higher comorbidity burden. Except for the severity of worst pain, no between-group differences were found in the occurrence rates for or severity of any of the symptoms. Survivors with hearing loss reported worse physical function and general health scores. CONCLUSIONS: While no between-group differences in symptom occurrence rates and severity scores were found, across the total sample, a relatively high percentage of survivors who were over 6 years from their cancer diagnosis reported clinically meaningful levels of depression (25%), anxiety (50%), fatigue (40%), decrements in energy (70%), sleep disturbance (58%), cognitive impairment (57%), and pain (60%). IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Clinicians need to perform routine assessments of hearing loss, as well as common co-occurring symptoms and initiate individualized symptom management interventions.

Use of Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry to Assess Soft Tissue Composition in Breast Cancer Survivors With and Without Lymphedema.

Background: In patients with lymphedema (LE), in addition to hand dominance, between-group comparisons of interlimb soft tissue differences need to account for differences in whole-body adiposity, measured directly by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or indirectly by body mass index. No study has evaluated the effects of hand dominance and whole-body adiposity on limb composition in patients with LE. This study's purpose was to compare soft tissue composition of affected and unaffected limbs of women with breast cancer, who did and did not have LE, controlling for dominance and percent body fat. Methods and Results: Whole-body DXA scans were acquired and included measures of percent body fat, upper limb total mass, upper limb fat mass, and upper limb fat-free mass. Participants were classified into one of three groups: women without LE; women with only subjective LE; and women with objective signs of LE at the time of assessment. Differences among the LE groups were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square analyses. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to control for percent body fat and for the affected limb dominance. Compared to women without LE, women with objective signs of LE have greater total limb mass, fat mass, and fat-free mass in their affected limbs, independent of affected side dominance and percent body fat. In addition, the interlimb differences in total mass, fat mass, and fat-free mass were greater for the women with objective signs of LE, compared to the other two groups. Conclusions: DXA is useful in identifying soft tissue changes in patients with LE. Given that limb circumferences measure only changes in limb volume and that bioimpedance provides estimates of extracellular fluid, DXA has the advantage of being able to estimate the volumes of specific tissues in the limb.

Assessment of Arm Volume Using a Tape Measure Versus a 3D Optical Scanner in Survivors with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Background: Lymphedema (LE) is a significant clinical problem for breast cancer survivors. While the water displacement test and circumferential assessment using a tape measure (TM) are common methods to assess differences in arm volumes, faster and more reliable methods are needed. Study purposes, in breast cancer survivors (n = 294), were to compare the average total arm volumes and interlimb volume ratios for women with and without a history of LE, using a TM and three-dimensional (3D), whole-body surface scanner (3D scan); compare the level of agreement between arm volumes and interlimb volume ratios obtained using the two devices; and evaluate the percent agreement between the two measures in classifying cases of LE using three accepted thresholds. Methods and Results: Measurements were done using a spring-loaded TM and Fit3D ProScanner. Paired t-tests and Bland-Altman analyses were used to achieve the study aims. For circumference and volume comparisons, compared with the 3D scan, values obtained using the TM were consistently smaller. In terms of level of agreement, the Bland-Altman analyses demonstrated large biases and wide limits of agreement for the calculated arm volumes and volume ratios. In terms of the classification of caseness, using the 200-mL interlimb volume difference criterion resulted in 81.6% overall agreement; using the >10% volume difference between the affected and unaffected arms resulted in 78.5% overall agreement; and using the volume ratio ≥1.04 criterion resulted in 62.5% overall agreement. For all three accepted threshold criteria, the percentage of cases was significantly different between the TM and 3D scan techniques. Conclusions: The 3D technology evaluated in this study has the potential to be used for self-initiated surveillance for LE. With improvements in landmark identification and software modifications, it is possible that accurate and reliable total arm volumes can be calculated and used for early detection.

A Comparison of Supine Versus Stand-on Bioimpedance Devices to Assess Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Background: While supine bioimpedance devices are used to evaluate for lymphedema (LE), stand-on devices are gaining popularity. Because research on differences in bioimpedance values between the two devices is limited, this study's purposes were to: (1) determine the average upper limb impedance values and inter-limb ratios for women who self-reported having (n = 34) or not having (n = 61) a history of LE, using a single-frequency supine device and a multifrequency stand-on device; (2) compare the level of agreement in inter-limb impedance ratios between the two devices; evaluate the percent agreement between the two devices in classifying cases of LE using established supine thresholds; and evaluate the percent agreement in classifying cases of LE between the supine device using previously established supine thresholds and the stand-on device using two published standing thresholds. Methods and Results: Bioimpedance measures were done using the two devices. For the entire sample, absolute impedance values for both the affected and unaffected limbs were significantly higher for the stand-on device in women with and without LE. Impedance values for the two methods were highly correlated. Bland-Altman analysis determined that for the entire range of impedance ratios the values for the two devices could not be used interchangeably. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the stand-on device can be a useful and valid tool to assess for LE. However, because agreement is not perfect, values obtained from the two devices should not be used interchangeably to evaluate for changes in impedance ratios, particularly for ratios of >1.20.

Assessment of local tissue water in the arms and trunk of breast cancer survivors with and without upper extremity lymphoedema.

Given the paucity of information on local tissue water (LTW) in the upper extremity and trunk of women after breast cancer surgery, the purpose of this study was to compare tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values between the affected and unaffected sides of breast cancer survivors with and without upper extremity lymphoedema (LE). Differences in LTW were assessed using the TDC method for three sites in the upper limbs, three sites in the lateral thorax and two sites on the back. Additional measures included demographic and clinical characteristics, arm circumference and bioimpedance analysis. For the 112 survivors without LE, no differences in TDC values were found between the affected and unaffected sides for the first dorsal web space, ventral forearm and upper arm, and upper and lower back. Compared to the unaffected side, TDC values were significantly higher on the affected side for the upper, mid and lower lateral thorax. For the 78 survivors with LE, compared to the unaffected side, TDC was significantly higher on the affected side for all of the sites evaluated except the hand web space. Our findings support the use of the TDC method to detect differences in upper extremity and truncal oedema in survivors with LE following breast cancer treatment. Measurement of LTW may provide a useful method to determine truncal as well as extremity LE. The ability to detect early signs of truncal oedema may lead to pre-emptive interventions in breast cancer survivors.

Contribution of Loss of Large Fiber Function to Pain in 2 Samples of Oncology Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Numbness associated with neuropathic pain suggests the loss of function in myelinated, large diameter sensory neurons. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between pain severity and subjective (ie, severity of numbness) and objective (ie, loss of light touch sensations, vibration thresholds) measures of loss of large fiber function in adult survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN, n=426) and breast cancer patients with persistent postsurgical pain (n=80). MATERIAL AND METHODS: For both samples, average pain and numbness were evaluated using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. Loss of light touch sensations in the hands and feet of patients with CIPN and in the upper arm of patients at 5 and 6 months following breast cancer surgery were assessed using Semmes Weinstein monofilaments. Loss of vibration in the hands and feet of patients with CIPN was assessed using a biothesiometer. Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficients were calculated between average pain and the number or percentage of sites with loss of light touch sensations, mean vibration thresholds, and the severity of numbness. RESULTS: For both pain conditions, average pain scores were significantly correlated with objective measures of large fiber function (r=0.12 to 0.34; all P<0.05) and numbness (r=0.22 to 0.52; all P<0.008). DISCUSSION: Our findings, in 2 independent samples of oncology patients, suggest that loss of function of myelinated, large diameter fibers contributes to the severity of neuropathic pain.

Characteristics Associated With Physical Function Trajectories in Older Adults With Cancer During Chemotherapy.

CONTEXT: Studies on physical function trajectories in older adults during chemotherapy remain limited. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics associated with initial levels as well as trajectories of physical function over two cycles of chemotherapy in adults aged ≥65 years with breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer. METHODS: Older adults with cancer (n = 363) who had received chemotherapy within the preceding four weeks were assessed six times over two cycles of chemotherapy using the Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to evaluate for interindividual variability in initial levels and trajectories of PCS scores. RESULTS: Mean age was 71.4 years (SD 5.5). Mean PCS score at enrollment was 40.5 (SD .45). On average, PCS scores decreased slightly (i.e., 0.21 points) at each subsequent assessment. Lower PCS scores at enrollment were associated with older age, greater comorbidity, being unemployed, lack of regular exercise, higher morning fatigue, lower evening energy, occurrence of pain, lower trait anxiety, and lower attentional function. Only higher morning fatigue and lower enrollment PCS scores were associated with decrements in physical function over time. CONCLUSION: While several symptoms were associated with decrements in PCS scores at enrollment in older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy, morning fatigue was the only symptom associated with decreases in physical function over time. Regular assessments of symptoms and implementation of evidence-based interventions should be considered to maintain physical function in older adults during chemotherapy.

Influence of Menopausal Status on the Symptom Experience of Women Before Breast Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer treatments can change women's hormonal milieu and alter their symptom experience. Little is known about associations between menopausal status and menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer before surgery. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate for differences in occurrence, severity, and distress of symptoms between premenopausal and postmenopausal women before breast cancer surgery. METHODS: A total of 312 women with breast cancer completed the Menopausal Symptoms Scale, a self-report measure that evaluated the occurrence, severity, and distress of 46 common symptoms associated with menopause. Regression analyses were used to evaluate for between-group differences in these symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 312 patients enrolled, 37.4% (n = 116) were premenopausal, and 62.6% (n = 196) were postmenopausal. In the multivariate analysis that adjusted for 7 covariates, premenopausal patients reported higher occurrence rates for urinary frequency (P = .006) and reported lower occurrence rates for joint pain/stiffness (P = .011), difficulty falling asleep (P = .025), and vaginal dryness (P = .002). A significant interaction was found between age and menopausal status for hot flashes (P = .002), wake during the night (P = .025), and headache (P = .040). CONCLUSION: Regardless of menopausal status, women reported high occurrence rates for several menopausal symptoms. Associations between some symptom occurrence rates and menopausal status depended on the patients' age. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As part of a preoperative symptom assessment, clinicians need to consider a woman's menopausal status and salient demographic and clinical characteristics. The identification of women with a higher symptom burden will assist with more effective management.

Phenotypic Characterization of Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors.

CONTEXT: Although paclitaxel is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat breast, ovarian, and lung cancers, little is known about the impact of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) on cancer survivors. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics as well as measures of sensation, balance, upper extremity function, perceived stress, symptom burden, and quality of life (QOL) between survivors who received paclitaxel and did (n = 153) and did not (n = 58) develop PIPN. METHODS: Pain characteristics associated with PIPN are described in detail. Both subjective and objective measures were used to evaluate the impact of PIPN. RESULTS: Survivors with PIPN were significantly older, had a higher body mass index, and a worse comorbidity profile. The duration of PIPN was almost four years, and pain scores were in the moderate range. Compared with survivors without PIPN, survivors with PIPN had a higher number of upper and lower extremity sites that had lost light touch, cold, and pain sensations. Survivors with PIPN had worse upper extremity function, more problems with balance, a higher symptom burden, and higher levels of perceived stress. In addition, survivors with PIPN had worse QOL scores particularly in the domain of physical functioning. CONCLUSION: The findings from this large descriptive study are the first to document the impact of PIPN on survivors' symptom burden, functional status, and QOL.