Summary Sleep disturbance is a core symptom of mood disorders. However, surprisingly little is known about the relationship between sleep quality and ambulatory daily mood, especially in mood‐disordered populations. We assessed ambulatory positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) 10 times daily for three consecutive days with the computerized experience sampling method among persons with major depression (n = 35), minor depression (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 36). Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Poorer sleep quality predicted lower ambulatory PA, even after accounting for the effects of diagnostic group and self‐reported anxiety. Conversely, sleep quality did not predict ambulatory NA once diagnostic group was accounted for. Analyzes of specific PSQI component scores indicated that poor subjective sleep quality and self‐reported daytime dysfunction were the sleep components most strongly tied to reports of low ambulatory PA. Impaired sleep quality may be responsible for reduced pleasurable experience in everyday life.

Contrary to the assumed psychological benefits of breast reconstruction, psychological distress was evident among women regardless of reconstruction or timing of reconstruction. Further, psychosocial functioning (including quality of life, sexual functioning, cancer-related distress, body image, depression, and anxiety) was not different at 1-year postsurgery between women with mastectomy alone, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and delayed reconstruction. These results suggest that women need psychosocial support after breast cancer diagnosis, even if they have breast reconstruction.

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Background This study sought to determine the prevalence of distribution of fertility preservation (FP) materials, source of the materials, and providers’ perceived relevance of the materials among a sample of US oncologists. Methods A 53-item survey was administered via mail and the Web to a stratified sample of oncologists from the American Medical Association Masterfile. This study represents a subset of results, reporting on three survey items. Results Among the 511 oncologists (32% response rate), only 13.5% (n = 69) reported ‘always or often’ giving their patients educational materials about FP. Among those who reported ever distributing materials, 39.5% used American Cancer Society materials, 11.0% used Fertile Hope, 6.4% used Lance Armstrong Foundation, and 11.8% used ‘other’. Among those who provided materials, only 27.4% believe the FP materials they provide are ‘relevant to patient’s specific cancer diagnosis’. Conclusion There is need to improve oncologists’ distribution of FP educational materials to patients with cancer.

Purpose Fertility is a concern for many cancer patients diagnosed during their reproductive years. Although African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with early breast cancer (i.e., ≤age 40), little is known about patient awareness of or provider discussion related to fertility in this group. We examined African American women’s awareness of the possible impact of cancer treatment on fertility. Methods In a cross-sectional survey of African American women with early-onset breast cancer, demographic and clinical variables were compared with patient awareness and physician discussion of potential fertility loss. Results For women in our sample (N=48), 45.8% reported being aware of the potential impact of cancer treatment on fertility, and 56.3% reported that their providers discussed fertility with them. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that awareness was significantly higher in women diagnosed at age ≤45 (p<0.05), who were nulliparous (p<0.01), or who did not have tubal ligation (p<0.001). Provider discussion was more often reported by patients who were diagnosed in stages 2/3 (p<0.05) and had no children (p<0.01). Conclusion Study results suggest potential health disparities in reproductive health among early-onset breast cancer patients and demonstrate missed clinical opportunities to provide information about fertility that may impact long-term quality of life in early-onset African American breast cancer patients.