Predictive Features of Resilience in Early Breast Cancer Young Patients : experience in Real Life

Giacomo, Daniela Di; Cannita, Katia; Ranieri, Jessica; Aloisio, Federica; Cocciolone, Valentina; Ficorella, Corrado

doi:10.1093/annonc/mdv347.10

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…On the contrary, the women in the control group showed increased distress and depression signs, and consequently experienced delayed and unbalanced wellness, likely related to a lower quality of life. In Di Giacomo’s studies (Di Giacomo et al, 2015, 2016; Di Giacomo, 2018), and confirmed in this research, two variables seemed to act as risk factors: (a) the reduction of the intensity and frequency of clinical sessions in the hospital (end of clinical treatments) and (b) positive responsiveness to the pharmacological protocols. Both factors fit with an increased level of distress in the patient due to the lower level of hospital stress and more negative thoughts about her own perspective on life (such as the possibility of recurrence and the risk of death).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Generally, our findings, even if limited by this small-scale protocol, seemed to confirm the positive psychotherapy role after BC diagnosis and treatment through the impact of the cognitive processes, coping strategies, and psychological resilience (Kolokotroni et al, 2014; Parikh et al, 2015; Di Giacomo et al, 2015, 2016; Koutrouli et al, 2016; Mattei et al, 2017a,b). In fact, they are considered key factors in personal change, in dealing positively with, and overcoming, the cancer experience.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

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Emotional “Patient-Oriented” Support in Young Patients With I–II Stage Breast Cancer: Pilot Study

et al. 2018

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Objective: The recent increased survival rate after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment is mostly related to early screening in younger age. Evidence gained from newly detected assessed psychological needs as well as certain emotional regulatory patterns in younger survivors has been related in the literature to an extremely low rate of adherence to the psychological therapies offered. Tailored psychological support is necessary. The aim of the present study was to verify the preliminary efficacy of supportive psychological intervention with an innovative orientation: the Early BC Psychological Intervention (EBC-Psy).Methods: A controlled study design was used to investigate the efficacy of EBC-Psy intervention. Preliminary data involved twenty-four patients in the age range of 35–50 years, diagnosed with cancer at the early stage (I–II), who were exposed to the EBC-Psy intervention. To address the effect of intervention, emotional variables were tested before the treatment (Time 1) and then again after 6 months of the treatment (Time 2); evaluated emotional dimensions were anxiety, anger, depression, and psychological distress.Results: EBC-Psy intervention appears to be effective on both depression (p = 0.02) and psychological distress (p = 0.01), even in a short time, highlighting the strength of a reinforced positive psychological conceptual approach to deal with the “disease condition” in younger patients; on the contrary, the control group evidenced an increase in the same emotional variables in timing.Conclusion: Our findings, even if limited by this small-scale protocol, seemed to confirm the role of positive psychotherapy after BC diagnosis and treatment through the impact of cognitive processes, coping strategies, and psychological resilience. Future theoretical framework could boost the intervention to design an innovative survivorship model.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Emotional “Patient-Oriented” Support in Young Patients With I–II Stage Breast Cancer: Pilot Study

et al. 2018

Self Cite

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“…It is important that researchers and clinicians continue to explore ways to improve psychiatric health in at-risk and under-researched patient populations. Cancer survivors, women and other gender minorities in particular, are particularly vulnerable to a range of affective, anxiety, and cognitive disorders (Ahles et al, 2012; Di Giacomo et al, 2016; Fafouti et al, 2010). It is imperative that we find ways to support all aspects of their health as they navigate treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Oral Tamoxifen Administration Decreases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Hippocampus of Female Long-Evans Rats

Been

Halliday

Blossom

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is commonly used as an adjuvant drug therapy for estrogen-positive breast cancers. While this drug is effective at reducing the rate of cancer recurrence, many patients report unwanted cognitive and affective side effects such as brain fog, confusion, memory impairment, anxiety, and depression. Despite this, the impacts of chronic tamoxifen exposure on the brain are poorly understood, and rodent models of tamoxifen exposure do not replicate the chronic oral administration seen in patients. We therefore used long-term ad lib consumption of medicated food pellets in adult female rats to model chronic tamoxifen exposure in a clinically-relevant way. Gonadally-intact adult female Long-Evans Hooded rats consumed tamoxifen medicated food pellets for approximately 12 weeks while control animals received standard chow. At the conclusion of the experiment, animals were euthanized, and blood and brain samples were collected for analyses. Blood tamoxifen levels were measured using a novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay, which found that this administration paradigm produced serum levels of tamoxifen similar to those in human patients. In the brain, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was visualized in the hippocampus using immunohistochemistry and quantified using background-subtracted optical densitometry. Chronic oral tamoxifen treatment resulted in a decrease in BDNF expression across several regions of the hippocampus. Together, these findings provide a novel method of modeling and measuring chronic oral tamoxifen exposure, and suggest a putative mechanism by which tamoxifen may cause cognitive and behavioral changes reported by patients.

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“…The literature highlights the chances for young women to experience growth during illness, transforming the negative emotions into resources and modifying their life priorities ( Di Giacomo et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of narrative meaning-making markers during the different phases of breast cancer treatment for women below 50 years old

Martino¹,

Lemmo²,

Gargiulo³

et al. 2021

Health Psychology Report

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IntroductionThe onset of breast cancer is considered a potential traumatic event associated with physical and psychological effects, in particular when it occurs at the age below 50. The literature lacks a longitudinal narrative exploration of breast cancer experience of young women.Participants and procedureUsing the narrative device as a diachronic tool aimed at promoting semiotic connection processes during the different phases of the therapeutic path, the authors constructed an ad hoc narrative interview to explore the meaning-making processes of 10 breast cancer patients below 50 years old during three turning-point phases: pre-hospitalization (T1); postoperative counseling (T2); and adjuvant therapy (T3). The research took place at National Cancer Institute Pascale of Naples. Through an ad hoc qualitative methodology, this study identifies the prevailing modes with which the five narrative meaning-making functions are articulated in the repeated narrative during the three phases.ResultsThe findings capture the patterns of change of narrative meaning-making markers during the illness experience, highlighting both integrated modes of connections between aspects of experience over time and moments of block in specific critical phases for women under 50.ConclusionsFrom a clinical health psychology point of view the results suggest the promotion of integration between the synchrony of the medical path and the diachrony of the subjective experience of women to support resources for adapting to experience.

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Predictive Features of Resilience in Early Breast Cancer Young Patients : experience in Real Life

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Emotional “Patient-Oriented” Support in Young Patients With I–II Stage Breast Cancer: Pilot Study

Emotional “Patient-Oriented” Support in Young Patients With I–II Stage Breast Cancer: Pilot Study

Long-Term Oral Tamoxifen Administration Decreases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Hippocampus of Female Long-Evans Rats

Changes of narrative meaning-making markers during the different phases of breast cancer treatment for women below 50 years old

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