Evaluating knowledge of young women regarding breast cancer prevention

Introduction: Regular screening for breast cancer allows to detect the disease at an early stage and to introduce breast-conserving surgical treatment more commonly in patients.Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of young women regarding risk factors of breast cancer as well as methods of early detection of pathological masses.Materials and methods: The study included 159 females aged 18 to 30 presenting to the gynecologist at the non-public healthcare center Endo-Medica in Bydgoszcz. The diagnostic survey was conducted using our own questionnaire. The study was conducted anonymously between November 2016 and February 2017.Results: It was stated by 68.6% of respondents that self-examination of the breasts should be initiated at the age of 20. Also, 66.7% correctly indicated the day of the menstrual cycle, when the examination should be performed. Although the majority of participants (62.9%) were familiar with the self-examination technique, less than a half reported regular checking. As the major factor of developing breast cancer, they pointed out genetic predisposition. Considering breast cancer symptoms, the respondents listed nodules, axillary masses and nipple discharge. Insufficient amount of knowledge was observed regarding the National Early Breast Cancer Detection Program.Conclusions: The results suggest the need of intensive oncologic education among young women in order to raise awareness about environmental factors promoting development of breast cancer as well as methods of its early detection

Assessment of quality of life and selected aspects of physical, psychological, social, and environmental functioning in patients treated for breast cancer 5 years after breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in well-developed countries. Modern treatment for breast cancer is multimodal, with surgery being the mainstay of treatment. The aim of the study was to assess quality of life, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life in patients treated for breast cancer with two different surgery types. Materials and methods: This study involved 360 women – 120 after mastectomy (MAS), 120 after breast-conserving surgery (BCT), and 120 healthy controls (CG). The standardized WHOQOL-BREF (abbreviated form) questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used for measuring quality of life Results: As regards physical, psychological, social, and environmental functioning (WHOQOL-BREF), women after mastectomy had the worst scores (

Quality of life at 3 to 5 years after surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma – a pilot cross-sectional study

Introduction. The predicted distant health-related quality of life is one of the key elements in the long-term assessment of the effectiveness of therapy and a factor to be taken into account when deciding upon the choice of therapeutic options in modern cancer surgery. To assess the quality of life of patients having undergone surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of 44 (17 NR, 27 NSS) patients having received surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma at the Department of Urology of the University Hospital no. 2 in Bydgoszcz. The control group consisted of 24 subjects within a matching age range. The standardized WHOQOL BREF questionnaire was used as the study tool. Results. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed with regard to the subjectively assessed quality of life depending on the type of surgery performed, i.e. RN vs. NSS. A positive correlation was observed between the higher scores within the Social (p = 0.0453) and Environmental (p=0.0156) domains and the laparoscopic approach. Lower scores within the somatic (p = 0.0023), environmental (p = 0.0189) and emotional (p = 0.0356) scale domains were observed in female patients. A statistically significant inverse relationship was observed between the cancer stage and the self-assessed overall health scores (p = 0.0025). Conclusions. Minimally invasive surgical techniques open up the potential for the achievement of better quality of life of patients after surgery. Clinical and demographic variables influence the long-term health-related quality of life scores

Assessment of Postural Balance in Women Treated for Breast Cancer

Background and objectives: Surgery is the primary and most effective treatment of breast cancer. Unilateral mastectomy disrupts the distribution of muscle tension between the right and the left sides of the body. The aim of the study was to evaluate postural balance in patients treated for breast cancer by mastectomy. Materials and methods: A controlled clinical study was conducted on 90 patients who have undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer (mastectomy) 5–6 years prior (Breast Group—BG). The control group (CG) consisted of 74 healthy female volunteers. Analysis of balance was performed using the Alfa stabilography platform. A static test (Romberg’s test) with open and closed eyes was used to assess balance. The following balance parameters were analyzed: path length, statokinesigram area, parameters of deflection and velocity of the foot pressure center. Results: The study demonstrated that patients from BG (5–6 years after surgery) obtained worse results in both tests with open (maximum back deviation, maximum forward deviation, average Y deviation, average Y velocity, path length and path surface area) (p < 0.05) as well as with closed eyes (maximum backward deviation, maximum forward deviation, mean Y deviation and path length) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that women 5–6 years after surgery for breast cancer have impaired balance compared to healthy women, despite physiotherapy

Highly Selective Vapor and Liquid Phase Transfer Hydrogenation of Diaryl and Polycyclic Ketones with Secondary Alcohols in the Presence of Magnesium Oxide as Catalyst

MgO has been shown to catalyze an almost quantitative hydrogen transfer from 2-octanol as the hydrogen donor to benzophenone to form benzhydrol, a useful intermediate product in the pharmaceutical industry. The hydrogen transfer from a series of alcohols to the carbonyl group of benzophenone, its ten derivatives, four polycyclic ketones, and 2-naphthyl phenyl ketone was carried out in liquid (LP) or vapor phase (VP). The dependence of reactivity on the structure of the hydrogen donor, reaction temperature, donor-acceptor ratio, amount of catalyst, and the type and position of substituents has been established. For both reaction modes, optimal conditions for selective synthesis of the alcohols were determined and side reactions were investigated. The results indicate that the reactivity of the ketone is suppressed by the presence of a methyl substituent in the ortho position to a much greater extent in LP mode. A scale-up was demonstrated in the liquid phase mode

Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Truly Adversely Affect Disease Progress and Therapeutic Options in Breast Cancer Patients? A Single-Centre Analysis

Purpose: The uncontrolled spread and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infections has disrupted most areas of social and economic life all over the world. The most important changes concern problems related to the functioning of healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical consequences associated with the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, treated at our centre. Methods: The study participants were patients first time diagnosed with breast cancer, treated between January 2019 and March 2021, who were provided any type of cancer treatment at our centre. The study determined the grade of clinical and pathological progress of the disease and types of cancer treatment applied in patients. Results: In total, 2863 patients were included in the analysis. The number of hospitalized patients was 1228 (1123 treated surgically, 105 receiving conservative treatment) in 2019, 1318 (1206 and 112 patients, respectively) in 2020, and 317 (288 and 29 patients, respectively) in 2021. Conclusions: Despite many hazards associated with the new epidemiological situation, we were able to maintain the continuous operation of our centre. We have achieved a measurable success, and even managed to increase the number of treated breast cancer patients

Quality of Life in Women Subjected to Surgical Treatment of Breast Cancer Depending on the Procedure Performed within the Breast and Axillary Fossa—A Single-Center, One Year Prospective Analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients undergoing surgical treatment of breast cancer depending on the type of procedure involving the breast (mastectomy vs. breast conserving treatment) and axillary fossa (sentinel lymph node biopsy vs. axillary lymph node dissection). The prospective study was carried out in a group of 338 females undergoing breast cancer treatment. Study variables were assessed by means of a diagnostic survey using standardized QLQ C30 and BR23 questionnaires as well as the Acceptance of Illness Scale and Mini-MAC scales. The quality of life was assessed at threetime points: on the day before the surgical procedure (I assessment) as well as three and 12 months after surgery (II and III assessment). Statistically significant differences between study groups were observed in the overall quality of life subscale (I, II, III—p < 0.0001), physical functioning (I—p < 0.0001; II—p = 0.0413; III—p < 0.0001), role functioning (I—p = 0.0002; III—p < 0.0001), emotional functioning (III—p = 0.0082), cognitive functioning (I—p = 0.0112; III—p < 0.0001), social functioning (III—p < 0.0001), body image (I, II, III—p < 0.0001), and sexual functioning (I—p = 0.0233; III—p = 0.0011). In most symptomatic scales, significant (p < 0.05) differences were also noted. Mastectomy and limfadenectomy patients were significantly (p < 0.0001) more prone to present with destructive coping strategies one year after surgery. Breast conserving therapy is associated with better quality of life outcomes as compared to mastectomy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is associated with a lower intensity of adverse changes in multiple dimensions of patients’ functioning

The Impact of Surgical Techniques in Patients with Rectal Cancer on Spine Mobility and Abdominal Muscle Strength—A Prospective Study

The aim of this non-randomized study was to evaluate the impact of spine joint mobility and chest mobility on inhalation and exhalation, and to assess the abdominal muscle strength in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer with one of the following methods: anterior resection, laparoscopic anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection. In patients who were successively admitted to the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, the impact of spine joint mobility, muscle strength and chest mobility on inhalation and exhalation wasassessed three times, i.e., at their admission and three and six months after surgery. The analysis included 72 patients (18 undergoing abdominoperineal resection, the APR group; 23 undergoing laparoscopic anterior resection, the LAR group; and 31 undergoing anterior resection, the AR group). The study groups did not differ in terms of age, weight, height, BMIor hospitalization time (p > 0.05). Three months after surgery, reductions in spine joint mobility regarding flexion, extension and lateral flexion, as well asreductions in the strength of the rectus abdominis and oblique muscles, were noted in all study groups (p < 0.05). In comparison between the groups, the lowest values suggesting the greatest reduction in the range of mobility were recorded in the APR group. Surgical treatment and postoperative management in colorectal cancer patients caused a reduction in spine mobility, abdominal muscle strength and chest mobility. The patients who experienced those changes most rapidly and intensively werethose undergoing abdominoperineal resection

Prospective Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Patients after Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer: A 12-Month Cohort Observation

This study constitutes a prospective, three-stage evaluation of quality of life among patients receiving surgical treatment for colorectal cancer depending on the type of surgery performed (open anterior resection, laparoscopic anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, or Hartmann’s procedure). The study included 82 patients treated at the Surgical Oncology Outpatient Department of the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz from June 2019 to August 2021. The study tools consisted of diagnostic surveys and analyses of medical records. The standardized study tools were the surveys EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29. In addition, a proprietary questionnaire was developed to collect demographic data. Quality of life was measured at three time-points: the day before the surgery and 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the domains of role functioning (III, p = 0.030), body image (II, p < 0.001; III, p < 0.001), sexual functioning (II, p = 0.037), buttocks/anal area/rectum pain (III, p = 0.031), and embarrassment (II, p = 0.022; III, p = 0.010). Statistically significant differences in the functional and symptom scale scores were also observed within each group at different stages of cancer treatment. As shown by our study, the quality of life of patients treated for colorectal cancer is determined not only by the operating technique but also by sociodemographic and clinical factors. The use of minimally invasive surgical techniques enables patients to return to their social roles more quickly and improves their self-assessment of body image