Relationship between food perceptions and health-related quality of life in a prospective study with breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the perceptions related to dietary intake with the domains and subscales of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in women with breast neoplasms receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: In this prospective study, 55 women with breast cancer were followed up during chemotherapy at three different times (T0, T1, T2). Before chemotherapy, perceptions related to food consumption were evaluated. HRQL was analyzed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and Br23 instruments 21 days after each investigated cycle. The differences (T2-T0) in the subscales and HRQL domains were correlated with the differences (T2-T0) in the appetite scores. Spearman's correlation was used to verify a possible correlation between differences in functional and overall HRQL domains (T2-T0) and differences in appetite scores for certain foods and between the differences in some subscales of EORTC QLQ-C30 and Br23 (T2-T0) and differences in appetite scores for certain food groups (T2-T0). RESULTS: Correlations between pain and appetite for bitter taste and between an increased appetite for juices and pain intensification or fatigue were identified, and pain was correlated with an appetite for starchy foods. An appetite for vegetables, legumes and meat/eggs was correlated with physical function. The only significant correlation with social functions occurred between the appetite for sweet foods and these functions. We found a correlation between overall health, emotional function, social function and physical function and the appetite for juices. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy alters the individual's relationship with food and, consequently, the individual's HRQL.

Cáncer de mama y sexualidad: ¿una discapacidad emergente? / Breast cancer and sexuality: an emerging disability?

Fundamentos: Ante la relevancia del cáncer de mama y su impacto en la salud pública, sumado a las pocas referencias bibliográficas sobre estudios psicosociales en la materia y la necesidad de comprender la situación desde una perspectiva cultural y situada de las personas, surgió la interrogante de conocer las vivencias en la sexualidad de las mujeres tratadas por carcinoma ductal invasor en la Unidad de Patología Mamaria (UPM) del Hospital Regional de Concepción, Chile. Método: Estudio cualitativo exploratorio con usuarias de una Unidad de Patología Mamaria y tratadas por carcinoma ductal invasor (noviembre 2014 ­ junio 2015). Muestreo intencional con entrevista en profundidad semiestructurada, análisis de contenido semánticamente orientado. Resultados: Se encontraron principalmente dificultades en la interacción y comunicación con sus parejas debido a la transformación física como consecuencia de la cirugía de mamas y de la quimioterapia. Al mismo tiempo se evidenció distanciamiento entre las parejas debido al impacto que genera el tratamiento. Sin embargo, se observaron algunos casos en los cuales sus parejas manifestaron apoyo y compañía durante el proceso, lo cual impactó significativamente en las vidas de las usuarias y de éstas. Conclusión: Las mujeres manifiestan conflictos íntimos con sus parejas principalmente como consecuencia del estigma y cambio corporal que existe en el tratamiento de cáncer de mama, generando restricciones y limitaciones en la participación social que enfrentan en su vida personal y comunitaria, gatillando una emergente expresión de discapacidad.

Background: In light of the relevance of breast cancer and its impact on public health, along with the limited number of psychosocial studies on the subject and the need to understand the situation from a cultural perspective, focused on individuals' experiencse, an investigation of the sexual experiences of women treated for invasive ductal carcinoma in the Breast Pathology Unit (BPU) of the Hospital Regional de Concepción, Chile was conducted. Method: Qualitative exploratory study with users of the Breast Pathology Unit who were treated for invasive ductal carcinoma (November 2014 - June 2015). Purposive sampling with semi-structured in-depth interviews, with posterior semantically-oriented content analysis. Results: The principal difficulty expressed involved the interaction and communication with their partners, due to the physical transformation as a result of breast surgery and chemotherapy. Additionally, the woman exerienced distancing with their partner due to the impact of the treatment. However, there were some experiences in which the partners expressed support and companionship during the process, which significantly impacted the users' and their partners' lives. Conclusion: The women expressed intimate conflicts with their partners mainly due to stigma and body changes as a results of breast cancer treatment, which also leads to limited social participation their personal and community life, triggering an emerging type of disability.

Chronic psychological stress and its impact on the development of aggressive breast cancer / Estresse psicológico crônico e seu impacto no desenvolvimento de neoplasia mamária agressiva

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological findings of women diagnosed with breast cancer and study the impact of chronic psychological stress on the pathological characteristics of these tumors.Methods We investigated a cohort composed of women diagnosed with breast cancer and divided into two groups. One group was categorized as presenting with chronic psychological stress (by using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire − SRQ-20). Another group of women with breast cancer, but with no previous history of chronic psychological stress, comprised the Control Group. Clinical and pathological data were assessed.Results Women presenting with a history of chronic distress were significantly overweight when compared to the Control Group. Furthermore, it was observed that these stressed women also had a significant percentage of aggressive breast cancer subtype, the HER2 amplified tumor, which could be putatively associated with the loss of immunosurveillance.Conclusion Our findings suggested an interaction among chronic psychological stress, overweight, and the development of more aggressive breast tumors.

Objetivo Investigar os achados clínico-patológicos de mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de mama e estudar o impacto do estresse psicológico crônico nas características patológicas desses tumores.Métodos Investigamos uma coorte composta por mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de mama divididas em dois grupos. O primeiro foi classificado pela apresentação de estresse psicológico crônico (por meio do Self-Reporting Questionnaire− SRQ-20). Outro grupo de mulheres com câncer de mama, mas sem história prévia de estresse psicológico crônico, foi denominado Grupo Controle. Os dados clínicos e patológicos foram avaliados.Resultados As mulheres com histórico de estresse crônico apresentaram-se significativamente acima do peso quando comparadas com o Grupo Controle. Além disso, verificou-se que estas mulheres estressadas apresentaram um porcentual significativo de um subtipo de câncer de mama agressivo, o HER2, o que poderia estar associado à possível perda da imunovigilância.Conclusão Nossos resultados sugeriram uma ligação entre o estresse psicológico crônico, o excesso de peso e o desenvolvimento de tumores de mama com maior agressividade.