Supportive Care Needs following Cancer Treatment: A Comparison of Breast and Brain Cancer in an Australian Cohort

Abstract

Objective. To assess and identify patient-reported supportive care needs following definitive treatment in persons with breast cancer (BC) and primary brain tumours (gliomas) (BT) in an Australian community cohort and to assess the commonalities and/or discrepancies of the reported needs in these oncological populations. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional survey of persons with BC ( = 85) and BT ( = 106) using questionnaires for supportive care needs, psychological morbidity, and quality of life. Results. BT participants were younger than BC patients (mean ages 51 and 57 years). The median time since diagnosis for both groups was over 2 years. The level of psychological morbidity, mainly depression, was high in both groups: BC (22%) and BT (20%). Participants in both groups reported at least one need ("met" or "unmet"). The BC patients reported higher numbers of "needs" and "unmet" needs compared with BT patients (mean 13.7 versus 11.6 needs; "unmet" needs mean 6.0 versus 4.1). The common "met" and "unmet" needs highlighted by both groups were comparable; the domain for most "met" needs included comprehensive cancer care, while "unmet" needs related to existential survivorship issues. Conclusion. Despite successful treatment many cancer survivors experience unmet supportive care needs in longer term. Understanding the impact of these beyond the acute phase is important as care shifts to community settings. More research in existential survivorship issues is needed.

Identifying the most prevalent unmet needs of cancer survivors in Australia: A systematic review

“…In keeping with the inclusion criteria, all studies were conducted in Australia, and participants varied in cancer type, time since diagnosis, and age. Six studies included participants with various cancer types, 18,20,24-27 one study compared breast and brain cancer survivors, 28 and other studies focused on single types of cancer, including gynaecological (four studies), [29][30][31][32] haematological (two studies) 22,23,33 and one study each for breast, 34 endometrial, 35 prostate 36 and testicular 37 cancer. Studies with multiple cancer types presented combined data, with the exception of the study comparing breast and brain cancer.…”

Unmet supportive care needs of breast, colorectal and testicular cancer survivors in the first 8 months post primary treatment: A prospective longitudinal survey

“…Fear of cancer returning was reported as the paramount unmet need throughout and has been reported as the most common unmet need in many other studies, including in breast, colorectal and mixed cancer populations (Amatya et al, 2014;Armes et al, 2009;Boyes et al, 2012;Simard et al, 2013;Valery et al, 2017). Testicular cancer survival rates are high (Cancer Research UK, 2017), but many men report persistent worries about recurrence (Bender et al, 2012;Smith et al, 2013Smith et al, , 2018.…”

“…(Hodgkinson et al, 2007). In its original form, it comprises 35 items, but following Willems et al (2015) and Amatya et al (2014), the study focused on the 28 items in five domains relating to need. Following piloting with patients, the 28 items were reduced to 25.…”

“…Supportive care needs in the preceding month were measured at each time point using the Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs Survey (CaSUN) (Hodgkinson et al, 2007 ). In its original form, it comprises 35 items, but following Willems et al ( 2015 ) and Amatya et al ( 2014 ), the study focused on the 28 items in five domains relating to need. Following piloting with patients, the 28 items were reduced to 25.…”

Gynecological cancer inpatients need more supportive nursing care than outpatients: a comparative study

“…Unfulfilled supportive care needs may lead to multidimensional problems that are interrelated and overlapping [3]. Physical issues including fatigue, pain, and nausea are the most commonly reported issues in gynecological cancer patients.…”