Geriatrics

Psychosocial Oncology: Recent Advances and Challenges

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Psychosocial oncology is coming of age. This multidisciplinary subdiscipline of cancer care encompasses a myriad of domains. such as anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence, depression, trauma, distress, cognitive function, fatigue, sexual function and intimacy, and sleep disturbance. In addition, there are many psychosocial aspects of coping with the physical sequelae of cancer and its treatments. Cardiovascular problems, lymphedema, pain, hormonal-related symptoms, infertility, and neuropathy are only a few of the many side effects. The improved detection of genetic syndromes predisposing patients and their families to cancer also have many psychosocial aspects. Indeed, psychosocial aspects are not limited to cancer patients but also to their families, friends, colleagues and even employers, and, finally, their caregivers.

Research is focusing on the understanding of all these aspects, and it is expected that this will lead to improved early detection, advanced effective treatments, and ultimately better prevention, as well as continuously updated international guidelines. Special attention is required for vulnerable patients groups such as the elderly and their caregivers.

For this Special Issue, we especially look for papers that deal with older cancer patients and provide insight into new and original research methodologies, improved early detection strategies, original treatment approaches, and organization of care.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Cancers.

Prof. Dr. Philip R. Debruyne
Prof. Dr. Patricia Schofield
Guest Editors

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9 pages, 2594 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Home Monitoring of Oxygen Saturation Using a Low-Cost Wearable Device with Haptic Feedback to Improve Sleep Quality in a Lung Cancer Patient: A Case Report

by Walter Lachenmeier and Dirk W. Lachenmeier

Geriatrics 2022, 7(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics7020043 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

This study reports the case of a lung cancer patient with increasing difficulties in falling asleep and frequent periods of wakefulness. Severe dyspnea related to pneumonitis caused as a side effect of immunotherapy worsened the situation. Eventually, a fear of falling asleep developed, including panic attacks and anxiety around choking, which was shown to lead to nights of complete wakefulness. The patient did not only sleep poorly; he did not sleep at all at night for several days, as evidenced by the notes he made during the night. Polygraphy showed no evidence of sleep-disordered breathing, but frequent periods of wakefulness and a reduced basal saturation of around 90% during sleep due to lung changes such as an extensive functional failure of the left upper lobe with position-dependent shunts. The authors hypothesized that the symptoms described were causally related to a drop in oxygen saturation in the patient’s blood. Therefore, they pursued the goal of finding a measurement technique that is as inexpensive as possible and that the patient can operate without outside assistance and great effort. Thus, the patient started using a low-cost wearable device that allows simultaneous measurements of blood oxygen content, pulse rate, and movement intensity. It consists of a finger ring with a pulse oximetry sensor and a wristband with a control unit containing a vibration motor. The described device reliably warned of disturbances in the oxygen concentration in the blood during the night with its vibration alarm. By use of that device during the whole night at home, the events of reduced oxygen saturation and anxiety symptoms were reduced. Sleep disturbances with sudden awakenings did not occur when using the device. The patient benefited from the security gained in this way and slept much more peacefully, and he could spend nights without waking up again. In conclusion, wearable oximeters with vibration alarms can be recommended for patients’ home care in lung cancer patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Oncology: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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