Psycho Oncology

The study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the implementation of a routine digital psychosocial screening combined with a psycho-oncological Navigation Call for cancer survivors after completion of primary treatment with the goal to improve identification of psychosocial needs and facilitate access to supportive care.

When diagnosed with cancer, patients or their relatives may, if they wish, on the recommendation of the treatment team and/or in cases of high stress, seek psycho-oncological support. This study investigates whether an initial consultation with a psycho-oncological specialist reduces anxiety and depression, improves quality of life, and whether patients subsequently make greater use of support services. Participants will be randomised, meaning they will be assigned to groups at random to ensure that the results are comparable. In the intervention group, participants will receive a detailed initial consultation with a psycho-oncology specialist and standard treatment. In the control group, participants receive standard treatment. To gather results, questionnaires are administered at regular intervals (at the start, after 3 and 6 months). The study lasts a total of 6 months. The study was developed by patients. It is being conducted simultaneously at several hospitals.

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of a web-based psychoeducation program on psychological well-being and quality of life in breast cancer survivors who completed active treatment at least one year earlier. Seventy-two women will be randomly assigned to either a 6-week online psychoeducation program plus standard care or standard care alone. The intervention consists of weekly 30-45 minute online sessions focusing on coping strategies, psychosocial adjustment, quality of life, and psychological well-being. Primary outcomes include psychological well-being, fear of cancer recurrence, quality of life, and hopelessness, assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up.

Since 2010, the field of immunotherapy has grown substantially, leading to a growing population of long-term cancer survivors treated with immunotherapy. Since cancer survivorship in immunotherapy is an emerging field, to date not much is known about psychosocial and neurocognitive survivorship-related issues in advanced cancer survivors treated with immunotherapy. Preliminary findings indicated significant psychosocial and cognitive problems in survivors of advanced melanoma persist after treatment with immunotherapy. The objective for this project is twofold. First, the investigators want to longitudinally identify survival-related problems in survivors of advanced cancer treated with immunotherapy. The second goal is to identify the efficacy of an Integrative Neuro-Cognitive Remediation Therapy (INCRT) program. The investigators will focus on the following outcomes: (1) Psychosocial consequences, such as emotional complaints, fatigue, fear of recurrence, (2) neurocognitive functioning, and (3) health-related quality of life. The INCRT combines personalized computerized cognitive training and neurocognitive strategy training, with group sessions of exercise, mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. We will have three cohorts: * Cohort 1: advanced cancer survivors treated with immunotherapy * Cohort 2: cancer survivors treated with cancer therapy of any kind (excluded immunotherapy), and who have subjective complaints and/or objective cognitive impairment * Cohort 3: cancer survivors of a central nervous system (CNS) tumor, who do not have active disease in the CNS, and who have subjective complaints and/or objective cognitive impairment In the first part of the study, survival-related problems will be evaluated in cohort 1, in a longitudinal manner by means of a semi-structured interview at baseline, various questionnaires and a computerized neuropsychological test battery. In the second part of the study, patients of cohort 1, 2 and 3 with subjective or objective cognitive dysfunction can follow the INCRT program. The efficacy of the INCRT is evaluated through a pre-INCRT and post-INCRT evaluation. This evaluation consist of several questionnaires and neuropsychological tests. Long-term efficacy will be evaluated by a follow-up evaluation six months after completion of the INCRT program.

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of a music therapy protocol on improving anxiety, symptom distress, and relaxation among cancer patients who are going through MRI scanning. Physiological data, such as pulse rates and respiration rates will be collected. Furthermore, data about scanning efficiency will be collected to assess if scanning efficiency is affected by the protocol implementation. The secondary study objective is to assess whether or not there is a relationship between patient attention to music during the intervention process and the changes in anxiety, symptom distress, and relaxation.