Patient-reported psychosocial distress in adolescents and young adults with germ cell tumors.

Authors

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Maryam Soleimani

BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Maryam Soleimani , Cheryl Ho , Christian K. Kollmannsberger , Alan Bates , Bonnie Leung

Organizations

BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Research Funding

Other

Background: Germ cell tumours are the most common cancer of male adolescents and young adults (AYA, age 18-39). Men in this age group have been healthy much of their lives, and are at a stage of personal and professional growth, consequently a diagnosis of cancer can cause significant psychosocial distress. We evaluated patient reported psychosocial distress and hypothesized that AYA compared to older patients experienced more anxiety and distress in emotional, practical and physical domains. Methods: All patients referred to BC Cancer complete the Psychosocial Screen for Cancer (PSSCAN-R) at first consultation. This is a validated screening questionnaire for distress. Components include a screen for subclinical/clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety and the Canadian Problem Checklist (CPC) with 6 domains of concern: emotional, informational, practical, spiritual, social/family and physical. Results: Data was collected for 349 patients from 2011-2015. Baseline characteristics: 227 (65%) AYA, median age 33 (range 18-83), 41 (11%) metastatic disease at diagnosis. The top 3 AYA concerns were work/school (38.3%), financial (34.8%), frustration and anger (26%). AYA patients scored positive for subclinical/clinical anxiety more commonly than their older counterparts (39.4% vs. 27.9%, p = 0.028). AYA patients with subclinical/clinical anxiety symptoms experienced more fears and worries (41.5%), concerns regarding work/school (38%), lack of understanding of their disease (37.9%), finances (35.3%) and frustration and anger (26.3%) than AYA patients who do not express anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that AYA with testicular cancer have unique needs and experience significantly more self-reported anxiety symptoms with emotional, informational, and practical concerns. Programs tailored to address needs of AYA patients may help reduce anxiety and improve the cancer experience. The results of this study are valuable to stakeholders for allocation of resources to address psychosocial parameters of distress in this patient group.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Prostate Cancer; Urothelial Carcinoma; Penile, Urethral, Testicular, and Adrenal Cancers

Track

Urothelial Carcinoma,Prostate Cancer,Penile, Urethral, Testicular, and Adrenal Cancers

Sub Track

Testicular Cancer

Citation

J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl 7S; abstr 521)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2019.37.7_suppl.521

Abstract #

521

Poster Bd #

M8

Abstract Disclosures

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