Parenting is a primary role for many young breast cancer survivors and the combined effect of parenting while coping with this disease can be problematic for many of them. Despite this, little is known about the impact of parenting on the well-being of young breast cancer survivors. This thesis, comprising two studies in article format, explores this question. In the first study, we identified elements of well-being that are salient for all young women with breast cancer, and which also captured some of the unique challenges associated with parenting as a survivor. Using factor analysis techniques, we determined how these elements interrelated in separate groups of young survivors with children and without, and identified differences between the two groups based on the patterns observed. We found that the interrelationship among elements of well-being varied between these two groups: psychological distress (representing mental health and perceived stress), illness intrusiveness, and fear of cancer recurrence were found to co-occur more frequently in mothers than in young survivors without children, thus compromising their well-being. Our second study had two objectives. The first part examined differences in perceived stress, illness intrusiveness, and fear of cancer recurrence between young breast cancer survivors with and without children in two separate timeframes (0-5 and 5-15 years since diagnosis). The second part identified predictors for these elements of well-being in young mothers exclusively. Compared to survivors without children, young mothers reported higher levels of fear of cancer recurrence and illness intrusiveness in intimate life domains during both timeframes, suggesting that disruptions in these areas persist over time. Part two revealed that mothers with adolescent children and high levels of parenting stress were most likely to report perceived stress and illness intrusiveness. A mother’s age and the time since her diagnosis predicted fear of cancer recurrence and illness intrusiveness, respectively. Results from this thesis indicate that young mothers with breast cancer need screening and interventions to manage psychological distress, fear of cancer recurrence, and illness intrusiveness, particularly in intimate life domains. This thesis also identifies the most vulnerable groups of mothers and has important implications for future research.

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Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 149-167.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 9, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-126).

Background: With advances in medical treatments, the numbers of cancer survivors have grown considerably over recent years. Following completion of cancer treatment, patients can experience a range of physical and psychological difficulties, particularly around critical transition phases such as adjustment to survivorship. One of the most common difficulties cited by cancer survivors is that of fear of cancer recurrence (FOR). Existing treatments for improving psychological wellbeing in this population appear to offer limited efficacy, and there are very few interventions directly targeting FOR. Acceptance-based approaches, with an underlying aim of improving psychological flexibility, offer one novel alternative approach to addressing these difficulties. Methods: This thesis presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature in relation to the effectiveness of acceptance-based interventions for post treatment cancer survivors, with a particular focus on Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI). A cross sectional questionnaire study is then reported which explores the potential role of psychological flexibility in mediating the relationship between FOR and distress and quality of life (QoL)outcomes. Results: The findings of the review offer tentative support for the effectiveness of MBI in reducing stress and depressive symptoms, while less convincing results emerged for anxiety. Results from the empirical study suggest that while psychological flexibility does not appear to significantly mediate the impact of FOR on distress and QoL, value based living and cognitive fusion did emerge as significant mediating variables within these relationships. Conclusions: Findings suggest that acceptance-based approaches, may be of benefit in reducing the burden of distress and improving the lives of cancer survivors. Supporting cancer survivors to become less entangled with their thoughts and live in accordance with their values may be particularly beneficial. Further studies using larger samples and longitudinal designs are warranted.

Introdução: O câncer de mama é a neoplasia maligna mais prevalente em mulheres. Em decorrência do diagnóstico tardio, a mastectomia radical modificada (MRM) permanece como tratamento cirúrgico de escolha para a maioria das pacientes portadoras da doença. Em pacientes mastectomizadas, a reconstrução mamária com retalhos miocutâneos é a técnica que apresenta melhor resultado a longo prazo. Material e métodos: O estudo compara as taxas de recorrência local e sistêmica e a sobrevida livre de doença em pacientes submetidas à MRM, associada ou não à reconstrução mamária imediata com retalho miocutâneo transverso do reto abdominal (TRAM). Resultados: O grupo submetido à TRAM apresentou recorrência local de 11,8% e sistêmica de 35,7%, e o grupo da MRM, 4,4 e 26,1%, respectivamente. A sobrevida livre de doença (tempo decorrido entre a cirurgia e a primeira recorrência) foi, em média, de 105,4 meses (IC95% 97,0-113,72) no grupo MRM e de 95,4 meses (IC95% 80,7-110,0) no grupo TRAM, não havendo diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos (P = 0,147). Conclusões: Em pacientes portadoras de câncer de mama, a reconstrução mamária imediata com retalho miocutâneo transverso do reto abdominal não influencia o prognóstico da doença, devendo ser oferecida às pacientes que não apresentam contraindicação clínica ao procedimento. / Introduction: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant neoplasia among women. In cases of late diagnoses, modified radical mastectomy (MRM) remains the surgical treatment of choice for most women with this disease, and breast reconstruction with myocutaneous flaps is the technique with the best long-term results. Material and methods: Local and systemic recurrence rates were compared, as well as diseasefree survival of patients who underwent MRM with or without immediate breast reconstruction using transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (TRAM). Results: The TRAM group had a local recurrence rate of 11.8% and a systemic recurrence rate of 35.7%; for the MRM group, these rates were 4.4 and 26.1%, respectively. Disease-free survival time (from surgery to first recurrence) was 95.4 months (95%CI 80.7-110.0) in the TRAM group and 105.4 (95%CI 97.0-113.72) in the MRM group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.147). In patients with breast cancer, immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM did not affect disease prognosis, and may be indicated to all patients who undergo MRM, except those with any clinical contraindications to the procedure.

Introdução: O alongamento dos músculos isquiotibiais (ISQ) tem sido utilizado com frequência para a correção da contratura em flexão dos joelhos na paralisia cerebral (PC), porém o aumento da anteversão da pelve (AP) e a recidiva da deformidade podem ocorrer a longo prazo. Objetivos: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar se a transferência do semitendíneo para o tubérculo dos adutores (TXST) está relacionada a uma menor taxa de recidiva e a um menor aumento da AP no período pós-operatório, quando comparada ao alongamento deste músculo. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo tipo coorte retrospectivo. Pacientes com PC diparesia espástica, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I-III, sem cirurgias prévias nos joelhos, submetidos ao alongamento dos ISQ mediais ou à TXST, e com completa documentação no laboratório de marcha foram incluídos no estudo. Foram excluídos aqueles que receberam de forma concomitante a osteotomia extensora do fêmur distal e o encurtamento patelar. Trinta e nove pacientes preencheram os critérios de inclusão e foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com os procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados: Grupo A (22 pacientes / 44 joelhos), composto por aqueles que receberam o alongamento dos ISQ mediais; Grupo B (17 pacientes / 34 joelhos), formado por aqueles que receberam a TXST ao invés do alongamento do semitendíneo (AST), em conjunto com o alongamento dos demais ISQ mediais. Parâmetros clínicos e de cinemática foram avaliados nos dois grupos antes e após as cirurgias. Resultados: Os grupos não exibiram diferença quanto à distribuição por gênero, idade na cirurgia e tempo de seguimento. A deformidade irredutível em flexão estava presente em 9,1% dos joelhos no Grupo A e em 50% no Grupo B (p < 0,001) antes do tratamento, e em 25% dos joelhos do Grupo A e 20,6% no Grupo B (p=0,647) após os procedimentos cirúrgicos. O número de joelhos com deformidade irredutível em flexão aumentou no Grupo A (p=0,047) e reduziu no Grupo B (p=0,011) após a intervenção. Houve redução significativa da deformidade média em flexão dos joelhos ao exame físico (de 7,3° para 4,4°, p= 0,04) e da flexão dos joelhos durante a fase de apoio da marcha (de 34,2° para 20,2°, p < 0,001) apenas no Grupo B. A AP aumentou nos Grupos A e B após a correção cirúrgica da deformidade em flexão dos joelhos. Conclusão: O aumento da AP foi observado nos dois grupos após o tratamento efetuado. A redução da deformidade em flexão dos joelhos ao exame físico e o aumento da extensão dos joelhos na fase de apoio foram observados apenas nos pacientes submetidos à TXST / Introduction: Hamstrings surgical lengthening has been frequently used for the correction of knee flexion contracture in cerebral palsy (CP), however the increase of anterior pelvic tilt and the recurrence of the deformity can occur in a long-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to evaluate if semitendinosus transfer to distal femur (STTX) is related to less increase of anterior pelvic tilt and less recurrence of knee flexion deformity after treatment than semitendinosus surgical lengthening (STL). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients with diplegic spastic CP, GMFCS levels I to III, without previous surgical procedures at knee, undergone to bilateral medial hamstrings surgical lengthening or STTX, and with complete documentation at gait laboratory were included in this study. Patients with concomitant distal femur extension osteotomy and patellar tendon shortening were excluded. Thirty-nine patients matched the inclusion criteria and they were divided in two groups according surgical procedures at knees: Group A (22 patients / 44 knees), including patients who received medial hamstrings surgical lengthening as part of multilevel approach; Group B (17 patients / 34 knees), represented by patients who underwent orthopedic surgery including a STTX instead of STL. Clinical and kinematic parameters were evaluated at baseline and at follow-up for all groups. Results: The two groups matched at gender distribution, age at surgery and follow-up time. Fixed knee flexion deformity (FKFD) before surgery was observed at 9.1% of knees in Group A and at 50% in Group B (p < 0.001). At final follow-up, 25% of knees in Group A and 20.6% in Group B shown FKFD (p=0.647). FKFD increased in Group A (p=0.047) and decreased in Group B (p=0.011) after treatment. The reduction of mean FKFD (from 7.3° to 4.4°, p= 0.04) and of knee flexion during gait stance phase (from 34.2° to 20.2°, p< 0.001) were observed only in Group B after surgical procedures. The anterior pelvic tilt increased at both groups after treatment. Conclusion: The increase of anterior pelvic tilt occurred at both groups after correction of knee flexion deformity. Patients who received STTX exhibited less fixed knee flexion deformity and better knee extension during stance phase after surgical treatment than those whom undergone to STL