Impact of immigration status on health behaviors and perceptions in cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Health behaviors including smoking cessation, physical activity (PA), and alcohol moderation are key aspects of cancer survivorship. Immigrants may have unique survivorship needs. We evaluated whether immigrant cancer survivors had health behaviors and perceptions that were distinct from native-born cancer survivors. METHODS: Adult cancer patients from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre were surveyed on their smoking, PA, and alcohol habits and perceptions of the effects of these behaviors on quality of life (QoL), 5-year survival, and fatigue. Multivariable models evaluated the association of immigration status and region-of-origin on behaviors and perceptions. RESULTS: Of the 784 patients, 39% self-identified as immigrants. Median time of survey was 24 months after histological diagnosis. At baseline, immigrants had trends toward not meeting Canadian PA guidelines or being ever-drinkers; patients from non-Western countries were less likely to smoke (aORcurrent  = 0.46, aORex-smoker  = 0.47, P = 0.02), drink alcohol (aORcurrent  = 0.22, aORex-drinker  = 0.52, P < 0.001), or meet PA guidelines (aOR = 0.44, P = 0.006). Among immigrants, remote immigrants (migrated ≥40 years ago) were more likely to be consuming alcohol at diagnosis (aOR = 5.70, P < 0.001) compared to recent immigrants. Compared to nonimmigrants, immigrants were less likely to perceive smoking as harmful on QoL (aOR = 0.58, P = 0.008) and survival (aOR = 0.56, P = 0.002), and less likely to perceive that PA improved fatigue (aOR = 0.62, P = 0.04) and survival (aOR = 0.64, P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Immigrants had different patterns of health behaviors than nonimmigrants. Immigrants were less likely to perceive continued smoking as harmful and were less likely to be aware of PA benefits. Culturally tailored counselling may be required for immigrants who smoke or are physically sedentary at diagnosis.

Hemorrhagic Shock/Resuscitation Reduces the M2 Phenotype of Alveolar Macrophages: A Potential Mechanism Contributing to Increased LPS-Induced Lung Injury.

Major hemorrhage is a significant contributor to the morbidity and mortality resulting from traumatic injury. In addition to its role in in early mortality, hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation (HS/R) is known to initiate immunological events that contribute to the development of organ dysfunction. The pathogenesis of acute lung injury following HS/R involves macrophage activation. Recent studies have shown that macrophage function may in part be regulated by polarization toward classical M1 pro-inflammatory cells or alternatively activated anti-inflammatory M2 cells. We hypothesized that alteration in the M1/M2 phenotypic balance of alveolar macrophages in the lung may contribute to a pro-inflammatory state following HS/R. Using a murine model, we show that HS/R causes a rapid reduction in surface cluster of differentiation (CD)206 and CD36, markers of M2 cells, as well as in CD206 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). M1 markers including surface CD80 and tumour necrosis factor alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA were increased, albeit in a somewhat delayed time course. The prostaglandin 5-deoxyDelta12,14 prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), known to polarize cells toward M2, restored levels of M2 macrophages toward control and prevented lung injury, as assessed by bronchoalveolar protein content. Adoptive cell transfer of in vitro M2 polarized macrophages also reduced lung inflammation/injury following hemorrhagic shock. Together, these studies demonstrate that HS/R increases M1/M2 ratio, predominantly by lowering M2 cells, and thus enhances the proinflammatory state. Various strategies aimed at promoting M2 polarization may lessen the magnitude of inflammation and injury. This represents a novel approach to the prevention/treatment of lung injury in critically ill trauma patients.

Patterns, perceptions and their association with changes in alcohol consumption in cancer survivors.

Continued consumption of alcohol after a cancer diagnosis is associated with poorer outcomes. We evaluated whether perceptions of the effects of continued alcohol use and receiving information on moderating alcohol reduced alcohol consumption in adult cancer survivors. A total of 509 cancer survivors were cross-sectionally surveyed at follow-up for their alcohol use before and after cancer diagnosis and perceptions of continued drinking. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated factors associated with changes in alcohol consumption after diagnosis. Among 299 patients who were drinking alcohol at diagnosis (13% exceeding gender-specific guidelines), 52% reduced/ceased alcohol consumption 1 year after diagnosis. Patients perceiving that alcohol worsened their own (a) quality of life, (b) cancer-related fatigue or (c) overall survival were more likely (aORs = 2.43-3.35, p < 0.002) to reduce (moderating or quitting) their alcohol use 1 year after diagnosis. Only 14% of individuals currently drinking regularly recalled receiving information/counselling from healthcare providers on alcohol consumption (7% from oncologists). However, there was a significant fourfold to sixfold increase in cessation with such information/counselling (p < 0.01). Similar trends were observed in patients exceeding gender-specific guidelines. Perception of negative effects of alcohol use on their health by cancer survivors was associated with reducing harmful alcohol consumption. Counselling, especially from the oncologist, may play a significant role for reducing consumption.

Patterns, perceptions, and perceived barriers to physical activity in adult cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Physical activity (PA) during and after cancer treatment is associated with improved cancer- and non-cancer-related outcomes. We assessed for predictors of change in PA levels among cancer survivors. METHODS: Adult cancer survivors from a comprehensive cancer center completed a one-time questionnaire retrospectively assessing PA levels before, during, and after cancer treatment along with their perceptions of PA. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the association of clinico-demographics variables and perceptions of PA with changes in whether patients were meeting PA guidelines after cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: Among the 1003 patients, 319 (32%) met moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) guidelines before diagnosis. Among those meeting guidelines before diagnosis, 50% still met guidelines after treatment; 12% not meeting MVPA guidelines initially met them after treatment/at follow-up. Among patients meeting guidelines before diagnosis, better ECOG performance status at follow-up, receiving curative therapy, and spending a longer time on PA initially were each associated with meeting guidelines at follow-up. After controlling for other variables, perceiving that PA improves quality of life (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 11.09, 95%CI [1.42-86.64], P = 0.02) and overall survival (aOR = 8.52, 95%CI [1.12-64.71], P = 0.04) was each associated with meeting MVPA guidelines during/after treatment, in patients who did not meet guidelines initially. Only 13% reported receiving counseling, which was not associated with PA levels. Common reported barriers to PA included fatigue, lacking motivation, and being too busy. CONCLUSIONS: Patient perceptions of PA benefits are strongly associated with improving PA levels after a cancer diagnosis. Clinician counseling should focus on patient education and changing patient perceptions.

Lifestyle Behaviors in Elderly Cancer Survivors: A Comparison With Middle-Age Cancer Survivors.

PURPOSE: Improved cancer screening and treatment have led to a greater focus on cancer survivorship care. Older cancer survivors may be a unique population. We evaluated whether older cancer survivors (age ≥ 65 years) had lifestyle behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge distinct from younger survivors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult cancer survivors with diverse cancer subtypes were recruited from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Multivariable models evaluated the effect of age on smoking, alcohol, and physical activity habits, attitudes toward and knowledge of these habits on cancer outcomes, and lifestyle information and recommendations received from health care providers, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinicopathologic covariates. RESULTS: Among the 616 survivors recruited, 23% (n = 139) were older. Median follow-up since diagnosis was 24 months. Older survivors were more likely ex-smokers and less likely current smokers than younger survivors, but they were less likely to know that smoking could affect cancer treatment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.53; P = .007) or prognosis (adjusted OR, 0.53; P = .008). Older survivors were more likely to perceive alcohol as improving overall survival (adjusted OR, 2.39; P = .02). Rates of meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity guidelines 1 year before diagnosis (adjusted OR, 0.55; P = .02) and maintaining and improving their exercise levels to meet these guidelines after diagnosis (adjusted OR, 0.48; P = .02) were lower in older survivors. Older and younger cancer survivors reported similar rates of receiving lifestyle behavior information from health care providers (P = .36 to .98). CONCLUSION: Older cancer survivors reported being less aware of the impact of smoking on their overall health, more likely perceived alcohol as beneficial to survival, and were less likely to meet exercise goals compared with younger survivors. Survivorship programs need to consider age when counseling on lifestyle behaviors.