Sexual function and lifestyle behavior among lymphoma survivors after high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation

Background/Aims: Lymphoma is one of the most prevalent malignancies among young persons. The survival rate is high, though comes with a risk of late effects including secondary cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic fatigue (CF). Some lymphoma patients require especially intensive treatment, high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (auto-SCT), to achieve curation or prolonged survival. This thesis aimed to investigate sexual function and lifestyle factors among auto-SCT survivors and to compare the results to controls. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was conducted, inviting 399 survivors who were >18 years at auto-SCT, treated during 1987-2008 and without ongoing cancer treatment. Participants responded anonymously on a mailed multi-item questionnaire. Independent t-test and Χ2-test were performed for comparison of mean and prevalence, respectively, between groups. Age-adjusted and multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to assess associations between explanatory variables and categorical and linear outcome variables, respectively. Effect size was estimated to assess clinical significance of differences. Controls were randomly drawn from three normative cohorts, using frequency matching. Results: In total, the response rate was 78%, 60% was men and median follow-up time was 8.5 years. In paper I, male survivors had lower sexual functioning and satisfaction than controls. In multivariable models, lower sexual functioning was related to increasing age, less physical activity and CF. Reduced erectile function was related to CVD. In paper II, female survivors more frequently reported personal-issues as cause of sexual inactivity than controls. Sexual activity was related to younger age, being in a relationship and hormone replacement therapy among the postmenopausal women. Sexually active survivors had more sexual discomfort (vaginal dryness and coital pain) and were more often too tired to have sex compared with controls. Reduced sexual functioning was related to younger age, total body irradiation, mental distress and CF. In paper III, 55% was sedentary and overweight while 18% smoked. Compared to controls, more survivors were adhering to lifestyle recommendations. Among survivors, an unhealthier lifestyle was related to male gender, less chemotherapy prior to auto-SCT, a higher burden of somatic disease and CF. Conclusions: Sexual function was lower among survivors than controls and there was a potential for improvement of healthy lifestyle factors among survivors

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy after modern treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma; symptom burden and quality of life

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-limiting side effect of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) treatment. We aimed to describe the prevalence of CIPN associated symptoms in long-term HL survivors compared to controls, and determine associated factors, including impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Material and methods: A questionnaire, including EORTC QLQ-CIPN-20 for CIPN related symptoms and SF-36 for HRQoL, was completed by 303 HL survivors at a median of 16 years after diagnosis. CIPN results were compared to a normative population (n ¼ 606). CIPN associated factors were identified by linear regression analysis. Results: Total CIPN score and subscores were significantly higher in HL survivors compared to controls. In multivariate analysis of HL survivors, a number of comorbidities (p < 0.001) and female gender (p ¼ 0.05) were significantly associated with more CIPN. No association with disease or treatment factors was found. In a multivariate analysis including survivors and controls, the number of comorbidities (p < 0.001) and caseness (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with more CIPN. In HL survivors higher CIPN score was associated with reduced HRQoL (p < 0.001). Conclusion: HL survivors more than a decade after treatment report higher neuropathy-related symptom burden than controls, with a negative impact on HRQoL. Symptoms may be related to factors other than neurotoxic chemotherapy

Survivors' knowledge of their diagnosis, treatment and possible late adverse effects after autologous stem cell transplantation for lymphoma

Purpose: Lymphoma survivors after high dose therapy with autologous stem cell therapy (HD-ASCT) are at high risk for late adverse effects (AEs). Information patients receive and collect throughout their cancer trajectory about diagnosis, treatment schedule and risks of AEs may influence attitudes and health-related behavior in the years after treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore level of knowledge in lymphoma survivors after HD-ASCT at a median of 12 years after primary diagnosis. Material and methods: From a national study on the effects of HD-ASCT for lymphomas, 269 survivors met for an outpatient examination, including a structured interview addressing knowledge about diagnosis and treatment. Survivors were also asked whether they knew and/or had experienced certain common late AEs. Numbers of recognized and experienced late AEs were presented as sum scores. Factors associated with the level of knowledge of late AEs were analyzed by linear regression analysis. Results: Eighty-one percent of the survivors knew their diagnosis, 99% knew the components of HD-ASCT and 97% correctly recalled having had radiotherapy. Ninety percent reported awareness of late AEs, but the level of knowledge and personal experience with specified AEs varied. Thirty-five percent of survivors stated to have received follow-up for late AEs. In multivariable analysis younger age at diagnosis, having received mediastinal radiotherapy, higher mental health related quality of life, a higher number of self-experienced late AEs and having received follow-up care for late AEs were significantly associated with a higher level of knowledge of AEs. Conclusion: The majority of lymphoma survivors treated with HD-ASCT correctly recalled diagnosis and treatment, while knowledge of late AEs varied. Our findings point to information deficits in survivors at older age and with lower mental health related quality of life. They indicate benefit of follow-up to enhance education on late AEs in lymphoma survivors

Lifestyle behavior among lymphoma survivors after high-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, assessed by patient-reported outcomes

Introduction: High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT) is associated with an increased risk of late effects. Our aim was to assess lifestyle behavior and factors associated with unhealthy lifestyle among HD-ASCT-treated lymphoma survivors (HD-ASCT-LS). Materials and methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional study of HD-ASCT-LS treated during 1987–2008. Among 399 eligible participants, 312 (78%) completed patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on lifestyle behavior (physical activity, overweight, smoking and alcohol consumption), chronic fatigue (CF) and somatic and mental illness. We assessed lifestyle according to WHO recommendations. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to study associations between variables. A comparison to the general population was performed. Results: Mean age at survey was 54.6 years, 60% were men, 55% sedentary, 55% overweight, 18% smokers and 5% had unhealthy alcohol consumption. Being sedentary was positively associated with older age, low household income, CF and higher somatic burden (≥4 self-reported somatic conditions). Overweight was positively associated with male gender and negatively associated with increased number of chemotherapy regimens prior to HD-ASCT. Current smoking was positively associated with living alone and CF, and negatively associated with older age. Male gender, CF and higher somatic burden increased the risk of an unhealthier lifestyle whereas the increased number of chemotherapy regimens prior to HD-ASCT decreased the risk. HD-ASCT-LS were significantly less sedentary, less overweight, and had a lower likelihood of smoking than the controls. Discussion: Assessed by PROMs, unhealthy habits were frequent among HD-ASCT-LS and associated with comorbidity. Nevertheless, compared with controls significantly more HD-ASCT-LS met lifestyle recommendations. These results indicate that the HD-ASCT-LS may consist of two groups, the adhering group with less comorbidity and the non-adhering group with more comorbidity. Our findings illustrate the necessity of recommendations and support for improving health-related behavior in cancer survivorship plans in order to empower survivors in their life beyond cancer

Lifestyle behavior among lymphoma survivors after high-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, assessed by patient-reported outcomes

Introduction: High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT) is associated with an increased risk of late effects. Our aim was to assess lifestyle behavior and factors associated with unhealthy lifestyle among HD-ASCT-treated lymphoma survivors (HD-ASCT-LS). Materials and methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional study of HD-ASCT-LS treated during 1987–2008. Among 399 eligible participants, 312 (78%) completed patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on lifestyle behavior (physical activity, overweight, smoking and alcohol consumption), chronic fatigue (CF) and somatic and mental illness. We assessed lifestyle according to WHO recommendations. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to study associations between variables. A comparison to the general population was performed. Results: Mean age at survey was 54.6 years, 60% were men, 55% sedentary, 55% overweight, 18% smokers and 5% had unhealthy alcohol consumption. Being sedentary was positively associated with older age, low household income, CF and higher somatic burden (≥4 self-reported somatic conditions). Overweight was positively associated with male gender and negatively associated with increased number of chemotherapy regimens prior to HD-ASCT. Current smoking was positively associated with living alone and CF, and negatively associated with older age. Male gender, CF and higher somatic burden increased the risk of an unhealthier lifestyle whereas the increased number of chemotherapy regimens prior to HD-ASCT decreased the risk. HD-ASCT-LS were significantly less sedentary, less overweight, and had a lower likelihood of smoking than the controls. Discussion: Assessed by PROMs, unhealthy habits were frequent among HD-ASCT-LS and associated with comorbidity. Nevertheless, compared with controls significantly more HD-ASCT-LS met lifestyle recommendations. These results indicate that the HD-ASCT-LS may consist of two groups, the adhering group with less comorbidity and the non-adhering group with more comorbidity. Our findings illustrate the necessity of recommendations and support for improving health-related behavior in cancer survivorship plans in order to empower survivors in their life beyond cancer

Survivors' knowledge of their diagnosis, treatment and possible late adverse effects after autologous stem cell transplantation for lymphoma

urpose: Lymphoma survivors after high dose therapy with autologous stem cell therapy (HD-ASCT) are at high risk for late adverse effects (AEs). Information patients receive and collect throughout their cancer trajectory about diagnosis, treatment schedule and risks of AEs may influence attitudes and health-related behavior in the years after treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore level of knowledge in lymphoma survivors after HD-ASCT at a median of 12 years after primary diagnosis. Material and methods: From a national study on the effects of HD-ASCT for lymphomas, 269 survivors met for an outpatient examination, including a structured interview addressing knowledge about diagnosis and treatment. Survivors were also asked whether they knew and/or had experienced certain common late AEs. Numbers of recognized and experienced late AEs were presented as sum scores. Factors associated with the level of knowledge of late AEs were analyzed by linear regression analysis. Results: Eighty-one percent of the survivors knew their diagnosis, 99% knew the components of HD-ASCT and 97% correctly recalled having had radiotherapy. Ninety percent reported awareness of late AEs, but the level of knowledge and personal experience with specified AEs varied. Thirty-five percent of survivors stated to have received follow-up for late AEs. In multivariable analysis younger age at diagnosis, having received mediastinal radiotherapy, higher mental health related quality of life, a higher number of self-experienced late AEs and having received follow-up care for late AEs were significantly associated with a higher level of knowledge of AEs. Conclusion: The majority of lymphoma survivors treated with HD-ASCT correctly recalled diagnosis and treatment, while knowledge of late AEs varied. Our findings point to information deficits in survivors at older age and with lower mental health related quality of life. They indicate benefit of follow-up to enhance education on late AEs in lymphoma survivors

Sexual function in long-term male lymphoma survivors after high-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation

Reduced sexual function may have negative implications on health related quality of life among lymphoma survivors. A national cross-sectional study among long-term lymphoma survivors after high-dose therapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation auto-SCT treated during 1987–2008 was conducted in 2012–2014. The current study explored sexual functioning among these survivors. Sixty-six percent (n = 159) of eligible men with complete questionnaire data were included, median age was 55 years. The Brief Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI) was used to assess sexual function and sexual satisfaction, compared with age-matched controls. In addition, sexual problems were defined based on predetermined cutoff values for BSFI domain scores. Sexual drive and erections firm enough to have sexual intercourse were reported to be present only a few days or less last month among 30% and 41% of survivors, respectively. Sexual satisfaction was reported by 39% of survivors. The survivors had significantly lower scores on all BSFI domains and an increased risk of problems with sexual drive and erection compared with controls. In multivariable models, cardiovascular disease was significantly associated with worse erectile function, while age > 55 years, chronic fatigue, and physical inactivity were significantly associated with lower sexual functioning overall. Chronic fatigue and anxiety were related to lower sexual satisfaction

Chronic fatigue is highly prevalent in survivors of autologous stem cell transplantation and associated with IL-6, neuroticism, cardiorespiratory fitness, and obesity

acceptedVersion© 2018. This is the authors' accepted and refereed manuscript to the chapter. Locked until 27.3.2019 due to copyright restrictions. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41409-018-0342-