Trajectories of Current and Predicted Satisfaction With One's Life Following a Cancer Diagnosis

Effects of exercise on life satisfaction of people diagnosed with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

A cancer diagnosis is commonly associated with a decline in patient's life satisfaction and more pessimistic expectations about the future. The identification of strategies to improve life satisfaction in patients with cancer is of great interest to health practitioners since it may be associated with a better prognosis of cancer and higher survival rates. Previous meta-analyses and reviews concluded that exercise could significantly improve health-related quality of life in this population, but the effects of exercise on life satisfaction are still not well-known. This review aims to analyse the effects of exercise programs on life satisfaction in people with cancer and individuals who have overcome cancer.

METHODS

The present systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough search of databases including Web of Science and PubMed/MEDLINE was carried out. Six studies (535 participants) in which the effect of an exercise program was compared to a non-exercise program control condition in patients with cancer were considered eligible. A subsequent meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model to calculate the standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Exercise intervention improved satisfaction with life compared with a control condition (SMD = 1.28; p = 0.02 with a 95% CI of 0.22 to 2.34).

CONCLUSION

Exercise could be considered an effective tool to improve life satisfaction in patients with cancer. Hence, professionals might consider the possibility of integrating physical exercise into strategies aimed at enhancing the low life satisfaction often experienced by patients.

PROSPERO

CRD42023438146.

Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility

Background: The impact of cancer extends beyond treatment and evaluating the adverse psychological effects in survivors is important. We examined: (1) the relationship between diagnosis, relapse, and subjective well-being using a short and a holistic measure of well-being, including comparisons between our sample and established norms; (2) if reported physical symptoms were related to components of subjective well-being; and (3) if increased psychological flexibility predicted overall subjective well-being. Methods: In total, 316 survivors completed online questionnaires to assess cancer, physical health (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-R; ESAS-R), subjective well-being (Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving; CIT; Satisfaction with Life Scale; SWLS) and psychological flexibility (Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Results: Relative to ESAS-R cut-points (Oldenmenger et al., 2013), participants reported only moderate levels of tiredness and slightly elevated drowsiness, depression, and anxiety; participants reported more problems with psychological health. SWLS scores were lower than published norms (M = 18.23, SD = 8.23) and a relapse was associated with the lowest SWLS scores (M = 16.95, SD = 7.72). There were differences in thriving between participants and age-matched norms (Su et al., 2014). Participants reported lower community involvement, respect, engagement with activities, skill mastery, sense of accomplishment, self-worth, self-efficacy, autonomy, purpose, optimism, subjective well-being, and positive emotions coupled with higher loneliness and negative emotions. In regression analysis, two components of psychological flexibility, Openness to Experience, t = 2.50, p < 0.13, β = -0.18, and Valued Action, t = 7.08, p < 0.001, β = -0.47, predicted 28.8% of the variability in total CIT scores, beyond the effects of demographic and disease characteristics and reported physical symptoms. Conclusion: Cancer is an isolating experience, with the adverse psychological effects that impact subjective well-being continuing after the cessation of physical symptoms. Specific components of psychological flexibility may explain some variability in thriving beyond disease characteristics and may inform psychological intervention after diagnosis.

Men's Lived Experiences of Breast Cancer and Changes in Occupation

Introduction

Male breast cancer is rare and frequently diagnosed at later stages of disease with low survival rates. There is a lack of knowledge of how breast cancer impacts men's occupations.

Objectives

This study is aimed at understanding the lived experiences of men with breast cancer and their changes in occupation. Methodology. Twenty-four men with breast cancer participated in semistructured phone interviews. Data was open-coded and analyzed for themes. Findings. The six major themes are as follows: (1) death as a reality, (2) unique personal insights, (3) social environment, (4) interactions with the healthcare system, (5) decreased engagement in occupations, and (6) finding meaning in new occupations.

Conclusion

The healthcare team can improve the patient experience by discussing and responding to the client's experience throughout the diagnosis, intervention, and survival continuum. The scope of occupational therapy is well suited to address the needs of men with breast cancer to maintain optimal levels of functioning.

Stress and coping in women with breast cancer:unravelling the mechanisms to improve resilience

Breast cancer diagnosis, surgery, adjuvant therapies and survivorship can all be extremely stressful. In women, concerns about body image are common as a result of the disease and can affect interpersonal relationships, possibly leading to social isolation, increasing the likelihood for mood disorders. This is particularly relevant as women are at greater risk to develop anxiety and depressive symptoms in response to highly stressful situations. Here we address the mechanisms and the pathways activated as a result of stress and contributing to changes in the pathophysiology of breast cancer, as well as the potential of stress management factors and interventions in buffering the deleterious effects of chronic stress in a gender perspective. An improved understanding of the biological mechanisms linking stress-management resources to health-relevant biological processes in breast cancer patients could reveal novel therapeutic targets and help clarifying which psychosocial interventions can improve cancer outcomes, ultimately offering a unique opportunity to improve contemporary cancer treatments.