Jonas Kuon1, Jeannette Vogt2, Anja Mehnert3, Bernd Alt-Epping4, Birgitt van Oorschot5, Jochen Sistermanns6, Miriam Ahlborn7, Ulrike Ritterbusch8, Susanne Stevens9, Christoph Kahl10, Anne Ruellan11, Kathrin Matthias12, Thomas Kubin13, Kerstin Stahlhut14, Andrea Heider15, Florian Lordick2, Michael Thomas16. 1. Department of Thoracic Oncology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg TLRC-H, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research DZL, Heidelberg, Germany, jonas.kuon@med.uni-heidelberg.de. 2. University Cancer Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 3. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 4. Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 5. Interdisciplinary Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. 6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Kliniken Maria Hilf, Mönchengladbach, Germany. 7. Department of Oncology and Hematology, Klinikum Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany. 8. Westdeutsches Tumorzentrum, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. 9. Department of Medical Oncology, Kliniken Essen Mitte, Essen, Germany. 10. Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Klinikum Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. 11. Department of Hematology and Oncology, Stadtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany. 12. Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. 13. Department of Haematology Oncology and Palliative Care, Klinikum Traunstein, Traunstein, Germany. 14. Ambulatory of Haematology Oncology and Palliative Care, Immanuel Klinik und Poliklinik Rüdersdorf, Berlin, Germany. 15. Department of Medicine 3, Klinikum Leverkusen, Leverkusen, Germany. 16. Department of Thoracic Oncology, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg TLRC-H, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Member of the German Center for Lung Research DZL, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known on symptom burden, psychosocial needs, and perception of prognosis in advanced lung cancer patients at the time of diagnosis, although early assessment is strongly recommended within the setting of daily routine care. METHODS: Twelve study sites cross-sectionally assessed symptoms and psychosocial needs of patients suffering from newly diagnosed incurable lung cancer. Assessment comprised NCCN distress thermometer, FACT-L, SEIQoL-Q, PHQ-4, and shortened and modified SCNS-SF-34 questionnaires. Additional prognostic information from both patients and physicians were collected. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 63.6 years, 58% were male, 84% suffered from stage IV lung cancer, and 71% had an ECOG performance status of 0-1. Mean distress level was 5.4 (SD 2.5), FACT-L total score was 86 (21.5), and TOI 50.5 (14.9). PHQ-4 was 4.6 (3.3), and shortened and modified SCNS-SF-34 showed 9 (8.7) unmet needs per patient. According to their physicians' perspective, 98.1% of patients were reflecting on and 85.2% were accepting incurability, while 26.5% of patients considered the treatment to be of curative intent. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize substantial domains of symptom burden seen in newly diagnosed, incurable lung cancer patients. Oncologists should be aware of these features and address prognostic issues early in the disease trajectory to facilitate opportunities to improve coping, advance care planning, and appropriate integration of palliative care, thus improving quality of life.
BACKGROUND: Little is known on symptom burden, psychosocial needs, and perception of prognosis in advanced lung cancerpatients at the time of diagnosis, although early assessment is strongly recommended within the setting of daily routine care. METHODS: Twelve study sites cross-sectionally assessed symptoms and psychosocial needs of patients suffering from newly diagnosed incurable lung cancer. Assessment comprised NCCN distress thermometer, FACT-L, SEIQoL-Q, PHQ-4, and shortened and modified SCNS-SF-34 questionnaires. Additional prognostic information from both patients and physicians were collected. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 63.6 years, 58% were male, 84% suffered from stage IV lung cancer, and 71% had an ECOG performance status of 0-1. Mean distress level was 5.4 (SD 2.5), FACT-L total score was 86 (21.5), and TOI 50.5 (14.9). PHQ-4 was 4.6 (3.3), and shortened and modified SCNS-SF-34 showed 9 (8.7) unmet needs per patient. According to their physicians' perspective, 98.1% of patients were reflecting on and 85.2% were accepting incurability, while 26.5% of patients considered the treatment to be of curative intent. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize substantial domains of symptom burden seen in newly diagnosed, incurable lung cancerpatients. Oncologists should be aware of these features and address prognostic issues early in the disease trajectory to facilitate opportunities to improve coping, advance care planning, and appropriate integration of palliative care, thus improving quality of life.
Authors: Ellen Krueger; Ekin Secinti; Wei Wu; Nasser Hanna; Gregory Durm; Lawrence Einhorn; Shadia Jalal; Catherine E Mosher Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-03-24 Impact factor: 3.359
Authors: Jonas Kuon; Miriam Blasi; Laura Unsöld; Jeannette Vogt; Anja Mehnert; Bernd Alt-Epping; Birgitt van Oorschot; Jochen Sistermanns; Miriam Ahlborn; Ulrike Ritterbusch; Susanne Stevens; Christoph Kahl; Anne Ruellan; Kathrin Matthias; Thomas Kubin; Kerstin Stahlhut; Andrea Heider; Florian Lordick; Michael Thomas Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-12-07 Impact factor: 3.359