Effects of trauma history on cancer-related screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Trauma has substantial effects on human health and is recognised as a potential barrier to seeking or receiving cancer care. The evidence that exists regarding the effect of trauma on seeking cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment and the gaps therein can define this emerging research area and guide the development of interventions intended to improve the cancer care continuum for trauma survivors. This Review summarises current literature on the effects of trauma history on screening, diagnosis, and treatment among adult patients at risk for or diagnosed with cancer. We discuss a complex relationship between trauma history and seeking cancer-related services, the nature of which is influenced by the necessity of care, perceived or measured health status, and potential triggers associated with the similarity of cancer care to the original trauma. Collaborative scientific investigations by multidisciplinary teams are needed to generate further clinical evidence and develop mitigation strategies to provide trauma-informed cancer care for this patient population.

Long-Term Outcomes of a Phase I Trial of Weekly Docetaxel, Total Androgen Blockade, and Image Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Localized High-Risk Prostate Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Our purpose was to describe the long-term outcomes seen with the addition of concurrent weekly docetaxel to high-dose intensity modulated radiation (IMRT) to the prostate and androgen deprivation therapy in patients with high-risk nonmetastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Methods and Materials: Nineteen patients with high-risk, localized prostate cancer were treated in a phase I trial with concurrent docetaxel at doses of 10 to 30 mg/m2, in a dose-escalated scheme, in addition to IMRT (77.4 Gy/43 fx) and neoadjuvant and concurrent combined androgen blockade (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and antiandrogen). A gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was continued for an additional 24 months post radiation. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the survival probabilities. Results: At a median follow-up of 10.5 years, 5-year and 10-year overall survival were found to be 89.5% and 68.4%, respectively. The median metastasis-free survival and progression-free survival were determined to be 11.3 years and 9.0 years, respectively. Conclusions: This regimen produced a 10-year overall survival of 68% with a 10-year metastasis-free survival of 58%. Grade >2 toxicity was minimal. These limited data suggest that the addition of concurrent weekly docetaxel to high-dose IMRT for high-risk prostate cancer warrants further investigation.

Brachytherapy improves outcomes in young men (≤60 years) with prostate cancer: A SEER analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) in young men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated by either external beam radiation (EBRT) alone or brachytherapy with or without external beam radiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, 15,505 patients ≤60 years of age diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2004 and 2009 and treated with radiation therapy alone were identified. Incidence of PCSM was determined for both groups and compared using competing risk models. RESULTS: The overall 8-year PCSM for the study population was 1.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-2.2). For patients treated with EBRT or brachytherapy with or without external beam, the 8-year PCSM was found to be 2.8% (CI: 2.2-3.4) and 1.2% (CI: 0.9-1.6), respectively (p < 0.001). Univariable analysis demonstrated that brachytherapy was associated with lower PCSM risk (hazard ratio = 0.40; CI: 0.30-0.54; p < 0.001). High Gleason risk category, black race, higher Tumor (T) stage, and higher grade were all associated with greater mortality risk (p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, brachytherapy continued to be associated with a significantly lower mortality risk (hazard ratio = 0.65; CI: 0.47-0.89; p = 0.008). Subgroup analyses found that among those with Gleason score ≥8, younger patients had increased risk of PCSM (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In men ≤60 years of age with prostate cancer, radiation therapy continues to offer excellent outcomes. After adjusting for relevant variables, the use of brachytherapy was associated with reduced PCSM compared to treatment with EBRT alone.

Perspectives of an interdisciplinaryg research team to engage practice: lessons from a knowledge exchange trainee experience.

End-of-life (EOL) care is an area of health services that will ultimately affect us all. To share the knowledge emerging from EOL research and to address inequities in the quality of EOL care in Nova Scotia, a knowledge exchange (KE) trainee was hired to translate research and surveillance into a Surveillance Report. The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon this initiative and share the research team's perspectives on their KE experiences. We describe four key competencies of the KE trainee selected, and discuss lessons learned from this KE trainee experience, to expand our understanding of KE.