The Multidimensional Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors
Barandouzi et al explored how social determinants of health (SDOH) influenced psychoneurological symptom burden among breast cancer survivors. Psychoneurological symptoms can include fatigue, pain, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. An 11-item questionnaire was utilized to measure SDOH, and the Area Deprivation Index was used to evaluate neighborhood deprivation. Psychoneurological symptoms were assessed with the PROMIS 29 version 1.0. Data from 74 breast cancer survivors were included for analysis. Mean age was 54 years. Most patients (53%) were non-Hispanic Black; 28 percent were non-Hispanic White, and 19 percent were Hispanic. Sixty-five percent of patients had early-stage breast cancer. There was a significant association between higher financial needs and more severe psychoneurological symptoms, pain, and depressive symptoms. When controlling for race/ethnicity, marital status, and body mass index, greater stress levels showed a significant association with more severe psychoneurological symptoms, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance.
Exploring the Lived Experiences of Financial Burden Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Phenomenology Study
Breast cancer is linked to a high financial burden, as it has been identified as one of the most expensive cancers due to long-term costs. Researchers conducted semistructured interviews with eight breast cancer survivors in order to describe financial burden during treatment and recovery. Comprehensive support services that could help alleviate financial burden among breast cancer survivors include free financial counseling, support groups, and mental health resources. Across the interviews, seven themes pertaining to challenges faced by respondents were identified, including survivors’ experiences, internal and external support, and impact on quality of life. Financial burden, insurance policies, and economic consequences of breast cancer treatment were notable; for example, one patient noted being denied insurance coverage for an emergency surgery due to a lack of prior authorization.
Gut Microbiome and Symptom Burden in Women with and Without Obesity Receiving Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
In this study, Cherwin et al compared symptom burden and gastrointestinal microbiome composition among chemotherapy-treated patients with breast cancer with (n=26) and without (n=33) obesity. One week after receipt of chemotherapy, patients provided stool samples for analysis and completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Mean patient age significantly differed between groups (obesity group: 57.96 years; non-obesity group: 47.48 years). Symptom burden was similar between patients with and without obesity. In the obesity group, mean symptom occurrence, frequency, severity, and distress were 13.76, 1.93, 1.93, and 1.65, respectively; in the non-obesity group, these values were 13.12, 2.02, 1.91, and 1.74, respectively. Alpha- and beta-diversity were not significantly different between groups, indicating that patients had comparable gastrointestinal microbiome composition regardless of obesity status. However, eight bacteria were found to be significantly enriched in patients with obesity versus those without obesity.