The Experience of COVID-19 in a Sample of Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Focus on the Psychological Implications

Perego, Gaia; Mattei, Valentina Elisabetta Di; Mazzetti, Martina; Milano, F; Gatti, Carola; Rancoita, Paola Maria Vittoria; Taranto, Paola; Rabaiotti, Emanuela; Cioffi, Raffaella; Candiani, Massimo

doi:10.3390/ijerph20053851

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 55 publications

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“…At the same time, the SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause physical discomfort. Studies have confirmed that this comorbidity further affects the quality of life (QOL) and psychological state of other patients with cancer; however, whether it alters the QOL of patients with breast cancer has not been reported [ 9 10 11 ]. During the period of change in our hygienic and epidemiologic policies, a large number of patients treated with NAC became infected with SARS-CoV-2, and this study addresses this issue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Effective in Those Infected With SARS-CoV-2: The Real-World Experience of a Large Chinese Breast Cancer Center

Ma,

Wang

et al. 2024

J Breast Cancer

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Purpose During the major shift in China's policies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many residents will be infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) over a short period, including a few patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Moreover, it is unknown whether this comorbidity affects the efficacy of NAC for breast cancer and the patient's psychological state and quality of life (QOL). This study aims to answer these questions. Methods The clinical data of 2,793 patients with breast cancer who received NAC at The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were retrospectively collected. The infected and non-infected groups were divided according to whether they were infected with COVID-19 during NAC. Propensity score matching was used to reduce patient selection bias. The effectiveness, psychological well-being, and QOL of the two groups were compared. Results No discernible differences were observed in the pathological complete response rates ( p = 0.307) and major histological responses rate ( p = 0.398) between the infected and non-infected groups. Following the full course of NAC, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment General ( p < 0.001) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer ( p < 0.001) were lower in the infected group than the non-infected group, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety scale ( p < 0.001) and HADS depression scale ( p < 0.001) were considerably higher in the infected group than the non-infected group. Conclusion With timely treatment and effective medical management, SARS-CoV-2 does not appear to affect the efficacy of NAC; however, it can significantly affect the QOL of patients and increase their psychological distress. Therefore, in addition to a timely assessment of the efficacy of NAC, it is necessary to dynamically understand the patient's psychological state and QOL.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Effective in Those Infected With SARS-CoV-2: The Real-World Experience of a Large Chinese Breast Cancer Center

Ma,

Wang

et al. 2024

J Breast Cancer

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The Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Interventions in the Management of Chemotherapy Physical Side Effects: A Systematic Review

Di Mattei,

Perego,

Milano

et al. 2024

Healthcare

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Background: Despite advancements in cancer treatment, chemotherapy side effects significantly impact patients both physically and emotionally. While pharmacological treatments can mitigate these side effects, they may trigger additional side effects, exacerbating the overall discomfort experienced by patients; moreover, psychological factors influencing physical symptoms are beyond the reach of pharmacological interventions. Nonpharmacological interventions, however, offer the potential for complementary or alternative solutions. Objectives: This review aims to offer a comprehensive analysis of the literature on the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in managing the physical side effects of chemotherapy. Methods: This review, based on a search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases, identified 46 relevant studies. It categorizes interventions and evaluates their effectiveness in managing common chemotherapy side effects (fatigue, nausea, pain, diarrhea, and constipation). Results: Guided imagery, tailored exercises, and Qigong show promise in reducing fatigue, while interventions like yoga and cognitive-behavioral approaches address nausea and vomiting. Pain benefits result from guided imagery and educational interventions. Limited evidence exists for diarrhea and constipation interventions, necessitating further research. Conclusions: This review offers provisional conclusions, emphasizing the potential of integrating evidence-based nonpharmacological approaches alongside pharmacological interventions to enhance patient outcomes and reduce chemotherapy-induced side effects, considering factors such as accessibility, safety, customization, and adaptability in clinical settings.

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tumor Stage and Pathohistological Parameters of Vulvar Cancer

Klamminger,

Bitterlich,

Nigdelis

et al. 2024

JCM

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Background/Objectives: Vulvar cancer (VC) comprises a small fraction of female neoplasms with notable high-incidence clusters among German regions. Despite a proposed impact of nationwide lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on oncological diseases, the effect on VC staging and tumor characteristics remains yet to be resolved; therefore, analyzing pathological data from patients with squamous cell VC pre-, during, and post-COVID in a high-incidence region may offer insights into potential epidemiological and clinical trends. Methods: We identified a total of 90 patients who were diagnosed at the Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Saarland, between 2018 and 2023, and defined three distinct cohorts: a pre-COVID cohort (2018–2019), a COVID cohort (2020–2021), and a post-COVID cohort (2022–2023). Histomorphological data were collected from the individual patient reports and statistically analyzed using Fisher’s exact test or the Kruskal–Wallis test. Results: Although we found no statistically significant differences in age, T-stage, perineural infiltration, blood vessel infiltration, resection status, grading, or resection margin between our three cohorts, surprisingly, we determined a greater extent of lymphovascular infiltration (Fisher’s exact test; p = 0.041), as well as deeper tumor infiltration depth (Kruskal–Wallis test; p < 0.001) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we did not identify any soft indications of abnormalities in patient care within our center (unchanged status of the resection margins across all three cohorts). Conclusions: Our results clearly do not support a negative affection of clinical or pathobiological characteristics of VC during or after the pandemic. However, final assessments regarding the pandemic’s effect on VC require additional study approaches in various regions, preferably with future extended timeframes of a longer follow-up.

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The Experience of COVID-19 in a Sample of Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Focus on the Psychological Implications

Cited by 3 publications

References 55 publications

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Effective in Those Infected With SARS-CoV-2: The Real-World Experience of a Large Chinese Breast Cancer Center

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Effective in Those Infected With SARS-CoV-2: The Real-World Experience of a Large Chinese Breast Cancer Center

The Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Interventions in the Management of Chemotherapy Physical Side Effects: A Systematic Review

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tumor Stage and Pathohistological Parameters of Vulvar Cancer

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