Background: Cervical cancer is a global health problem, by year 2020 around 600,000 women were suffering from cervical cancer. The contagious infection Human Papillomavirus causes the majority of cervical cancers worldwide. The impact of cervical cancer on women contributes to changes in their social and sexual relations in which women finds themselves. 

Aim: The aim was to describe women's experiences of living with cervical cancer.

Method:The method used in this study was literature-based. Friberg's five-step model was used to analyze the selected scientific articles used for the result.

Results: Based on the analysis work, three themes emerged: the intimate relationship, being affected by cervical cancer and a second chance. Seven subthemes were compiled in coding: the experience of changed sexuality and femininity, to feel loneliness in the disease, to find support in the environment, to feel bad about what is to be cured, a constant worry, see life with new eyes, find comfort in religion and faith, there is a future.

Conclusion: Women's lives after suffering from cervical cancer changed drastically and affected their health.

BACKGROUND: This article reports on patient-reported sexual dysfunction and micturition symptoms following a randomized trial of laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer.

METHODS: Patients in the COLOR II randomized trial, comparing laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer, completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-CR38 questionnaire before surgery, and after 4 weeks, 6, 12 and 24 months. Adjusted mean differences on a 100-point scale were calculated using changes from baseline value at the various time points in the domains of sexual functioning, sexual enjoyment, male and female sexual problems, and micturition symptoms.

RESULTS: Of 617 randomized patients, 385 completed this phase of the trial. Their mean age was 67·1 years. Surgery caused an anticipated reduction in genitourinary function after 4 weeks, with no significant differences between laparoscopic and open approaches. An improvement in sexual dysfunction was seen in the first year, but some male sexual problems persisted. Before operation 64·5 per cent of men in the laparoscopic group and 55·6 per cent in the open group reported some degree of erectile dysfunction. This increased to 81·1 and 80·5 per cent respectively 4 weeks after surgery, and 76·3 versus 75·5 per cent at 12 months, with no significant differences between groups. Micturition symptoms were less affected than sexual function and gradually improved to preoperative levels by 6 months. Adjusting for confounders, including radiotherapy, did not change these results.

CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction is common in patients with rectal cancer, and treatment (including surgery) increases the proportion of patients affected. A laparoscopic approach does not change this.

Objective Stomach cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, especially in developing countries. Incidence has been associated with poverty and is also reported to disproportionately affect indigenous peoples, many of whom live in poor socioeconomic circumstances and experience lower standards of health. In this comprehensive assessment, we explore the burden of stomach cancer among indigenous peoples globally.Design The literature was searched systematically for studies on stomach cancer incidence, mortality and survival in indigenous populations, including Indigenous Australians, Maori in New Zealand, indigenous peoples from the circumpolar region, native Americans and Alaska natives in the USA, and the Mapuche peoples in Chile. Data from the New Zealand Health Information Service and the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were used to estimate trends in incidence.Results Elevated rates of stomach cancer incidence and mortality were found in almost all indigenous peoples relative to corresponding non-indigenous populations in the same regions or countries. This was particularly evident among Inuit residing in the circumpolar region (standardised incidence ratios (SIR) males: 3.9, females: 3.6) and in Maori (SIR males: 2.2, females: 3.2). Increasing trends in incidence were found for some groups.Conclusions We found a higher burden of stomach cancer in indigenous populations globally, and rising incidence in some indigenous groups, in stark contrast to the decreasing global trends. This is of major public health concern requiring close surveillance and further research of potential risk factors. Given evidence that improving nutrition and housing sanitation, and Helicobacter pylori eradication programmes could reduce stomach cancer rates, policies which address these initiatives could reduce inequalities in stomach cancer burden for indigenous peoples.

Previous studies have shown that in both the absence of the Ncf1 gene or in the presence of a loss-of-function SNP, mice have a lower tumor burden when compared to wildtype animals. Here, we investigate a formyl peptide receptor (FPR) agonist in this setting and demonstrate that it promotes tumor immune evasion through an immune-Ncf1/ROS-dependent mechanism. We observed an increased colonization of B16F10 tumor cells in the lungs of FPR-agonist-treated wildtype C57BL6N mice compared to vehicle-control-treated mice. A significant reduction in tumor burden was expectedly seen in the Ncf1*/* mutant strain compared to the wildtype. However, FPR-agonist treatment did not promote tumor growth in Ncf1*/* treated mice when compared to vehicle-control-treated Ncf1*/* mice. These results suggest that FPR agonists can promote tumor evasion by acting through FPRs on immune cells in a NOX2/ROS-independent fashion and in a fashion independent of FPRs on the tumor.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe the sexual health of men having sex with men after prostate cancer treatment.

Methods: A snowball sampling was conducted via clinicians and gatekeepers to the community. After consenting to participate, a semi-structured interview was conducted based on a questionnaire related to symptoms and issues and the help asked for and received. The interviews were approximately one hour and took place via digital platforms. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed using content analysis. The following themes emerged during the analysis: A predominant heteronormative care, A situation of suffering and possibilities, A window of peer support system emerged.

Results: The men described how their sexuality had been severely affected by their treatments. Bodily changes with decreased penis size, difficulties maintaining an erection, and less pleasure from anal sex. However, they also described the benefit of being men who had sex with men. They described being accustomed to exploring new ways of expressing and exploring their sexualities due to a lack of sexual scripts. The prostate cancer treatment had given them a new reason to explore new sexualities and sexual practices. In contacts with urology and oncology departments, both physicians and nurses, the men described a heteronormative environment. Albeit same-sex partners could be asked for in intake notes, no one reflected on what non-penovaginal sexuality could look like. Therefore, getting the appropriate care for the men after prostate cancer treatment did not involve erectile dysfunction medications was challenging. Instead, their friends and ability to find alternative ways to valid information became important.

Conclusion: The result shows that predominantly heteronormative care exists for men who have sex with men. The new insight of the treatment is regarded as a situation of suffering and new possibilities. To conclude, men who have sex with men describe care that was well-meaning but heteronormative. The men described being men having sex with men as something that had made them explore unscripted sexual practices and had given them a broader sexual repertoire that was helpful for their sexual health. Furthermore, the support they received emerged from a peer support system in their private life.

Pancreatic cancer is a form of severe neoplasm with a swift disease progression and a high rate of mortality. It is the 12th leading cause of death globally for all cancer-related mortalities. Diagnosis is often late in the disease progression due to the late manifestation of symptoms which limits curative treatment options, resulting in primary palliative treatments. Patients experience a broad variety of symptoms that affect their physical and mental health causing a tremendous symptom burden. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the patient’s experience of living with pancreatic cancer. A literature review of qualitative and quantitative research articles was conducted to answer the purpose of this study. Data was collected through Cinahl, PsycINFO and PubMed and generated eleven articles which were analyzed, nine qualitative and two quantitative.

The results were presented in two categories living in uncertainty which presented the patients emotions associated with getting the diagnosis together with unmeet informational needs and living with an unwell body which presented the physical bodily changes.

This study concluded that pancreatic cancer has a significant impact on both the patients’ physical and mental health. Furthermore, there was a correlation between physical and psychological symptoms that all affected the patients' state of well-being. Moreover, patients experienced a lack of sufficient information concerning the disease. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the patient is seen as a whole entity by the healthcare personnel to meet the individual care needs that arise from the illness.

This study investigated whether endorsement of personal values is associated with willingness to pay more for mobile phones with an environmental or social sustainability label. Participants were students in Sweden, Norway and Germany. A self-report inventory was used to measure willingness to pay and the importance attached to values of Schwartz's circular model. In Sweden and Norway, participants were willing to pay, on average, 18% extra for a mobile phone with labels for environmental or social sustainability. In Germany, the corresponding share was 12%. To strive for self-enhancement values, that is, social status and prestige, as well as control and dominance over people and resources, was associated with a lower willingness to pay for mobile phones with labels for environmental or social sustainability in all three countries. Furthermore, women were willing to pay more than men for mobile phones with both kinds of sustainability labels. In Sweden and Norway, participants were, on average, willing to pay more for a mobile phone with a label for social sustainability compared to a mobile phone with a label for environmental sustainability. © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Sex-driven immune differences can affect tumor progression and the landscape of the tumor microenvironment. Deeper understanding of these differences in males and females can inform patient selection to improve sex-optimized immunotherapy treatments. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing and protein analyses uncovered a subpopulation of myeloid cells in pancreatic lesions associated with an immune-excluded tumor phenotype and effector T-cell exhaustion exclusively in females. This myeloid subpopulation was positively correlated with poor survival and genetic signatures of M2-like macrophages and T-cell exhaustion in females. The G-protein coupled receptor formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) mediated these immunosuppressive effects. In vitro, treatment of myeloid cells with a specific FPR2 antagonist prevented exhaustion and enhanced cytotoxicity of effector cells. Proteomic analysis revealed high expression of immunosuppressive secretory proteins PGE2 and galectin-9, enriched integrin pathway, and reduced proinflammatory signals like TNFα and IFNγ in female M2-like macrophages upon FPR2 agonist treatment. In addition, myeloid cells treated with FPR2 agonists induced TIM3 and PD-1 expression only in female T cells. Treatment with anti-TIM3 antibodies reversed T-cell exhaustion and stimulated their ability to infiltrate and kill pancreatic spheroids. In vivo, progression of syngeneic pancreatic tumors was significantly suppressed in FPR2 knockout (KO) female mice compared with wild-type (WT) female mice and to WT and FPR2 KO male mice. In female mice, inoculation of tumors with FPR2 KO macrophages significantly reduced tumor growth compared with WT macrophages. Overall, this study identified an immunosuppressive function of FPR2 in females, highlighting a potential sex-specific precision immunotherapy strategy.

Background: In the year of 2020 approximalety 10 million people passed away due to cancer which is the leading cause of death worldwide. About 60% of those suffering from cancer was treated with palliative care before succumbing to the disease. Palliativ care is to be used when there are no longer any currative treatments available. The registered nurse has an importent roll in the palliative care of cancerpatients which is just as meaningsful as it is challenging. 

Aim: The aim of the study was to describe nurses' experiences of caring for patients with cancer at the end of life.

Method: A literature-based study was used, based on qualitativ data. Twelve articles were analysed according to Friberg´s five-step model.

Results: Through the analysis two main categories and six subcategories were developed. The main categories were: challenges for the nurse and support for patients and relatives.

Conclusion: Nurses working in palliative care experienced different emotional impressions daily. It was important to find a balance between the professional role as a nurse and the personal challenges.

Illness is constituted by subjective experiences of symptoms and their psychosocial consequences. Illness perceptions concern people’s lay beliefs about understandings and interpretation of a disease and expectations as to disease outcome. Our knowledge about illness perceptions and coping in relation to the cancer care context among persons with colorectal cancer (CRC) and their partners is incomplete. The aim of the present study was to explore illness perceptions in relation to contemporary cancer care settings among CRC survivors and partners. The present research focused on illness rather than disease, implying that personal experiences are central to the methodology. The grounded theory method used is that presented by Kathy Charmaz. The present results explore illness perceptions in the early recovery phase after being diagnosed and treated for cancer in a contemporary cancer care setting. The core category outlook on the cancer diagnosis when quickly informed, treated, and discharged illustrates the illness perceptions of survivors and partners as well as the environment in which they were found. The cancer care environment is presented in the conceptual category experiencing contemporary cancer care settings. Receiving treatment quickly and without waiting was a positive experience for both partners and survivors; however partners experienced the information as massive and as causing concern. The period after discharge was being marked by uncertainty and loneliness, and partners tended to experience non-continuity in care as more problematic than the survivor did. The results showed different illness perceptions and a mismatch between illness perceptions among survivors and partners, presented in the conceptual category outlook on the cancer diagnosis. One illness perception, here presented among partners, focused on seeing the cancer diagnosis as a permanent life-changing event. The other illness perception, here presented among survivors, concentrated on leaving the cancer diagnosis behind and moving forward. The importance of illness perceptions among survivors, and the differences in illness perceptions between survivors and partners, should be recognized by healthcare professionals to achieve the goals of person-centered contemporary cancer care.

Background When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it affects the whole family, not least the parents. The parents can feel multiple different feelings, and each parent´s reaction to the situation is individual. It is the nurse´s job to identify and pay attention to the parent´s wellbeing during their hospital visits and to act on the individual needs of each parent. 

Aim The aim of this study was to describe parents’ experiences of living with a child with cancer. 

Method The method that has been used is a literature study which has included systematic searches and a quality assessment.

Results The themes present different kind of feelings and changes that occur of the parents´ with their child´s cancer diagnosis. How the situation affects their social lives, their economics, the parents´ suffering, hope, dare to trust someone else, impotence, and the parents´ responsibility and treatments were presented. The study has three main themes where the first main theme is “Everyday changes”. This main theme includes two subthemes; “The social life” and “Economic impact”. The second main theme is “Feelings of the parents´” which includesfour subthemes; “Suffering”, “Hope”, “Dare to trust someone else” and “Impotence”. The third and last main theme is “Care of the sick child” which has two identified subthemes; “Parental responsibility” and “Treatments”.

Conclusion Parents experience all types of feelings from hope to devastation during this time of their child´s sickness. A good relationship between the parents and the nurse is one of the most important aspects in this case and each parent is in need of individual support depending on what needs they have and therefore the nurse has to look after what each and every individual parent need. To achieve this the nurse have to get an understanding of what these parents go through.

Background: As a nurse, when caring for children with cancer, you need to offer the best care for the child and in the meantime focus on family centered care in order to meet the thoughts and wishes the family carries. Caring for children with cancer might contain many obstacles and difficulties. Communication, education and to understand one's role as a nurse is important when caring for these children.

Aim: To identify nursing experience when caring for children with cancer.

Method: A literature overview has been done and ten studies were gathered through the databases PubMed and Cinahl. The analysis of these studies created four categories with associated subcategories.

Results: It came through those nurses faced difficulties in pediatric care in different situations. These situations created categories which were: Ethical issues, Education, Cooperation with the family and Nurses emotions and support.

Conclusion: Factors found in this study were nurses' experience of lacking the necessary preparation, the need of emotional support and the importance of working close to the families. It is found that nurses felt unprepared for their work and dealing with tough situations. The relationship between the nurse and the patient's family is important to provide high quality care. Nurses expressed the need for support from colleagues and family members in order to grow as a nurse and as a person.

Background: Nurses has a great responsibility and based on the professional ethical approach, build trusting and caring relationships. Through person-centered care, partnerships will be built. Working in a palliative care unit is a challenge and there are communication difficulties that the nurse needs to handle. Communication has a significant role and is of great importance, it is a key function of the caring relationship. 14 percent of the population receive palliative care, of which 34 percent are diagnosed with cancer.

Aim: The aim of this study was to highlight how the nurse's way of communicating can promote caring relationships with patients in palliative care diagnosed with cancer.

Method: A literature-based study with thirteen qualitative articles from the academic databases CINAHL and PubMed. The analysis was designed based on Friberg's five-step model.

Results: Two themes were identified: Dare to care with dignity and the significance of the approach. Five sub-themes were designed: Respectful meeting, hope versus honesty, presence and emotional support, information and education and humor as a tool.

Conclusion:For nurses to provide appropriate support, well-developed communication skills are needed to meet the suffering in the person-centered care and promote quality of life and well-being in the caring relationship. The results of this study showed that the nurse's communication could promote a meaningful relationship. As nurses work from an ethical value base and nursing knowledge, it is important to have specific communication tools to promote the caring relationship.

Background: Almost one child a day gets diagnosed with cancer in Sweden and due toresearch and national quality registers, prosurvival has increased significantly over the past 50 years and is now up to 85 %. As more children survive cancer, research has focused more on life after the end of treatment. Late complications resulting from the cancer-diagnose and treatment are common, and the child often needs support and adaptations to compensate forthese.Aim: The aim of the study was to identify what caring needs cancer-treated children have in school and how these can be supported by student health and educators.Method: Qualitative design with inductive reasoning was used in the study. Nine semi structured interviews with consult nurses were used to collect the data. Qualitative content analysis was then used to analyze the information.Results: The results revealed four categories of needs, needs for rest, eating, staying in coherence, and feeling safe. Here, the concept of SOC connects the importance of remaining in its coherence with the challenges and difficulties it can entail to stay in the school environment after suites from cancer and its treatment. Collaboration between school staff and with the child´s family is a prerequisite for giving the child support and the opportunity to be in school and meet the child´s needs. Conclusion: In the school context, learning is central, but health is an important prerequisite for acquiring knowledge. Children who have been treated for cancer often have latecomplications which affect the energy level and cognition and therefore they need adjustments that reduce the consequences of these impairments for the school to be manageable.

Background: Every year, hundreds of children are diagnosed with cancer. This affects the whole child's family, which means that the nurse during the child's cancer care must be there to support the whole family. The parent needs to feel involved in the child's care and have a trusting relationship with the nurse. As a parent, you have to go through a great deal of suffering, which requires the nurse to adapt her support to the needs of the parent and the child.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to shed light on how a parent with a child with cancer experiences the nurse's support during and after cancer care.

Method: A literature-based study was conducted. Ten qualitative articles were selected and analyzed, based on Friberg's analysis step model. This participates in three categories and a total of eight subcategories.

Results: The results showed that the nurse's support was an important factor in an attempt to reduce the parent's suffering. This support could be divided into three categories: Cooperation between nurse and parent, parent's need for support and accessibility and communication.

Conclusion: Pediatric cancer affects the whole child's family, and the parent is in great need of support to deal with their suffering and at the same time support their child. During their child’scancer care, the parent goes through many feelings of no longer recognizing their own child, as well as being helpless in their parenting role. By the nurse working in an empathetic and inclusive way where there is an opportunity to build meaningful and strengthening relationships between the parent and the nurse and that the parent's needs are also met, the parent's suffering can be reduced with the help of the nurse's support.

Objective: The aim of our study is to assess the association between preoperative level of activity and recovery after breast cancer surgery measured as hospital stay, length of sick leave and self-assessed physical and mental recovery. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Patients included were those scheduled to undergo breast cancer surgery, between February and November 2013, at two participating hospitals in the Western Region of Sweden. Participants: Patients planned for breast cancer surgery filled out a questionnaire before, as well as at 3 and 6 weeks after the operation. The preoperative level of activity was self-assessed and categorised into four categories by the participants using the 4-level SaltinGrimby Physical Activity Level Scale (SGPALS). Main outcome measure: Our main outcome was postoperative recovery measured as length of sick leave, in-hospital stay and self-assessed physical and mental recovery. Results: 220 patients were included. Preoperatively, 14% (31/220) of participants assessed themselves to be physically inactive, 61% (135/220) to exert some light physical activity (PA) and 20% (43/220) to be more active (level 3+4). Patients operated with mastectomy versus partial mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection versus sentinel node biopsy were less likely to have a short hospital stay, relative risk (RR) 0.88 (0.78 to 1.00) and 0.82 (0.70 to 0.96). More active participants (level 3 or 4) had an 85% increased chance of feeling physically recovered at 3 weeks after the operation, RR 1.85 (1.20 to 2.85). No difference was seen after 6 weeks. Conclusions: The above study shows that a higher preoperative level of PA is associated with a faster physical recovery as reported by the patients 3 weeks post breast cancer surgery. After 6 weeks, most patients felt physically recovered, diminishing the association above. No difference was seen in length of sick leave or self-assessed mental recovery between inactive or more active patients.

Introduction: An increasing interest is seen in the role of preoperative physical activity (PA) in enhancing postoperative recovery. The short-term effect of preoperative PA on recovery after colorectal cancer is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the preoperative level of PA with postoperative recovery after surgery due to colorectal cancer disease. Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study, with 115 patients scheduled to undergo elective colorectal surgery. The self-reported level of preoperative PA was compared to measures of recovery. Results: Regular self-reported preoperative PA was associated with a higher chance of feeling highly physically recovered 3 weeks after surgery (relative chance 3.3, p = 0.038), compared to physical inactivity. No statistically significant associations were seen with length of hospital stay, self-assessed mental recovery, re-admittances or with re-operations. Discussion: In clinical practice, evaluating the patients’ level of PA is feasible and may potentially be used as a prognostic tool for patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Given the study design, the results from this study cannot prove causality. Conclusion: The present study found that the preoperative level of PA was associated with a faster self-assessed physical recovery after colorectal cancer surgery. PA did not show any associations with the primary outcome measure length of hospital stay or any of the other secondary outcome measures. Assessment of PA level preoperatively could be used for prognostic reasons. If systematic preoperative/postoperative physical training will enhance recovery, this remains to be studied in a randomized controlled study. Highlights: We examined preoperative physical activity and the recovery after colorectal cancer surgery.Physically active individuals had faster self-assessed physical recovery.Assessment of preoperative physical activity may provide prognostic clinical information. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death. For this reason, cancer is commonly perceived as a potentially fatal disease that causes both current and future existential suffering. In recent years, research has revealed that patients' implementation of coping strategies has increased the manageability and control of cancer.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine which coping strategies adult patients with malignant diseases/cancer use, and how their coping strategies affect their health.

Method: A literature review was conducted. The articles were analyzed through a four-step model and based on four qualitative and four quantitative scientific articles in order to contribute to evidence-based knowledge. Two themes and seven subthemes were analysed in the result.

Results: What emerged in the results showed that the patient's external resources as the environment was an important support, followed by internal resources as personal abilities where faith and hope were central components. Seven subthemes were identified consisted of seeking professional support, find support from social networks, self-destruction, maintain a positive attitude, self-efficacy, acceptance and turn to their faith. Patients experienced improved health during the disease progression when using coping strategies.

Conclusion: Coping strategies improve the patient's health by managing the disease and suffering, which may be accomplished using the patient's internal and external resources for management. By assisting the patient in employing appropriate coping mechanisms, the nurse can promote a higher quality of life, reduce suffering, and promote health. 

Background The BRCA mutation is the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer. To reduce the risk of developing cancer prophylactic surgery can be performed. The procedure involves major changes for the woman which can lead to anxiety. Some women choose surgery and others do not. The nurse needs to provide support for women in their decision-making regarding prophylactic surgery.

Aim The aim of this literature based study was to describe what influences women's decision making towards prophylactic surgery in BRCA 1 or 2.

Method The method used in this literature study was analysis of qualitative scientific articles. Twelve qualitative articles were used for the result which was analysed in five step model.

Results The results of this study show the factors that influence women in their decision about prophylactic surgery. Two main themes emerged: Personal factors and Environmental factors. In addition, four sub-themes were formed: Emotions in relation to screening and prophylacticsurgery, Emotions towards a changed body, The family and relatives' significance for decisions and The need for information and support in decisions. Conclusion The prophylactic surgery affects the woman through life and is a decision that is difficult to make. Several life-determining factors influence the decision. It is important that the nurse has knowledge of these factors to be able to support the women.

Background

Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer (PC) is inefficient due to a highly immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) orchestrated by myeloid suppressor cells, which limit the infiltration and function of cytotoxic immune cells. We have evidence that accumulation of a subpopulation of myeloid cells in human pancreatic lesions is associated with immune-exclusive tumor phenotype and effector T cell exhaustion by mechanisms involving the G-coupled protein receptor formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2), exclusively in women. We hypothesize that female FPR2+ myeloid cells in tumors induce immune exhaustion and contribute to immune-cold tumor phenotype.

Methods

To test our hypothesis, we first investigated the FPR2 RNA and protein expression in PC transcriptomic data and in murine and human PC tissues. Further, in vitro cytokine differentiated, alternatively tumor conditioned myeloid cells (TCM) were co-cultured with T cells to mimic their interaction in the TME. In vivo, PC cells were injected subcutaneously in FPR2 WT and KO mice to study tumor progression and the immune landscape in male vs. female mice. Later, human myeloid cells were treated with FPR2 agonists and antagonists to study the interaction mechanisms in detail.

Results

We found high FPR2 expression in tumor compared to healthy tissues and higher in women compared to men. In mice and human, FPR2+ myeloid cells were associated with immune cold-exclusive and cold-ignored tumor phenotype in women and men, respectively. Notably, analysis in PC and other gastrointestinal (GI)-tract cancers revealed a significant association of FPR2 expression and poor survival only in women, emerging the potential impact of sex factors in the TME. Such sexual dimorphism in the TME was associated with T cell exhaustion apparent by high expression of TIM3 and PD1. In vitro, FPR2-agonist treated myeloid-suppressive cells induced TIM3 and PD1 expression in T cells specifically in female T cells. However, a significant repression of TIM3 and a trend of PD1 expression was observed in T cells when interacting with FPR2-inhibited or -deficient myeloid cells. Finally, tumor progression was significantly slower in FPR2 KO female mice compared to WT and male FPR2 WT and KO mice.

Conclusions

In this study, we have shown that sex differences are involved in shaping the TME in PC, where sexual dimorphism is still a largely unknown area allowing novel personalized/sex-specific immunotherapies. We found that FPR2 is highly involved in T cell exhaustion and can potentially be a therapeutic target for immunotherapy in women developing PC and other GI-tract cancers.

Factors as age, sex, smoking, duration of leg pain, working status, type/level of disc herniation and psychosocial factors have been demonstrated to be of importance for short-term results after lumbar discectomy. There are few studies with long-term follow-up. In this prospective study of lumbar disc herniation patients undergoing surgery, the result was evaluated at 2 and 5-10 (mean 7.3) years after surgery. Predictive factors for satisfaction with treatment and objective outcome were investigated. Out of the included 171 patients undergoing lumbar discectomy, 154 (90%) patients completed the 2-year follow-up and 140 (81%) completed the long-term follow-up. Baseline data and questionnaires about leg- and back pain intensity (VAS), duration of leg pain, disability (Oswestry Disability Index), depression (Zung Depression Scale), sick leave and employment status were obtained preoperatively, at 2-year- and long-term follow-up. Primary outcome included patient satisfaction with treatment (at both time points) and assessment of an independent observer at the 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes at 2-year follow-up were improvement of leg and back pain, working capacity and the need for analgesics or sleeping pills. In about 70% of the patients excellent or good overall result was reported at both follow-ups, with subjective outcome measurements. The objective evaluation after 2 years was in agreement with this result. Time on sick leave was found to be a clinically important predictor of the primary outcomes, with a potential of changing the probability of a satisfactory outcome (both objective and subjective) from around 50% (sick leave >3 months) to 80% (sick leave <2 months). Time on sick leave was also an important predictor for several of the secondary outcomes; e.g. working capacity and the need for analgesics.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and it usually affects elderly women. However, there are between 600-700 cases per year in Sweden where women under the age of 45 are diagnosed. Removal of the breast or part of the breast, hair loss, fatigue and nausea as a result of the breast cancer treatment has an emotional and physical impact on the women’s lifeworld. The nurse should build a relationship with the women to identify and meet their needs. 

Aim: To describe younger women’s experiences of getting a breast cancer diagnosis and life afterwards.

Method: Four biographical books were analyzed to match the aim of the study.

Result: The findings were that the women experience similar thoughts and feelings when it comes to living with a cancer diagnosis. Feelings such as fear, anger and distress were expressed in the biographies. To be able to fight against the disease the women highlighted the importance of support from family members and the medical staff.

Conclusion: The women’s describes both physical and mental changes due to treatment, a strong influence on the woman’s lifeworld. It is therefore important that the nurse support, comfort and assist the patient during the entire course of the disease. It might help the woman to find bright spots in life and maintain hope for the future.

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PURPOSE: Most of the patients who receive myeloablative therapy prior to stem cell transplantation develop oral mucositis (OM). This adverse reaction manifests as oral mucosal erythema and ulcerations and may require high doses of morphine for pain alleviation. OM may also interfere with food intake and result in weight loss, a need for parenteral nutrition, and impaired quality of life. To date, there have been very few studies of evidence-based interventions for the prevention of OM. Cryotherapy, using ice chips, has been shown to reduce in an efficient manner the severity and extent of OM, although clinical applications are still limited due to several shortcomings, such as adverse tooth sensations, problems with infectious organisms in the water, nausea, and uneven cooling of the oral mucosa. The present proof-of-concept study was conducted to compare the tolerability, temperature reduction, and cooling distribution profiles of an intra-oral cooling device and ice chips in healthy volunteers who did not receive myeloablative treatment, and therefore, did not experience the symptoms of OM.

METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers used the cooling device and ice chips for a maximum of 60 min each, using a cross-over design. The baseline and final temperatures were measured at eight intra-oral locations using an infra-red thermographic camera. The thermographic images were analysed using two digital software packages. A questionnaire was used to assess the tolerability levels of the two interventions.

RESULTS: The intra-oral cooling device was significantly better tolerated than the ice-chips (p = 0.0118). The two interventions were equally effective regarding temperature reduction and cooling distribution.

CONCLUSIONS: The intra-oral cooling device shows superior tolerability in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, this study shows that temperature reduction and cooling distribution are achieved equally well using either method.