Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases
Year:2020 | Volume:12 | Issue:4 (47) |Papers Count:7

Introduction: Self-efficacy refers to an individual’ s belief in their capacity to execute a specific behavior. Believing that individuals themselves are responsible for their health can lead to the adoption of health behaviors. This study aimed to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis of a Cancer Behavior Inventory (CBI) for Iranian female breast cancer patients. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study. First, we establishing the content and face validity of the instrument. Then, 345 breast cancer patients were selected from cancer treatment centers of Kerman city by convenience sampling to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument. The participants completed the CBI and the General Self-efficacy Scale. The instrument validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (structural validity) and correlational methods (concurrent validity), and the internal and external reliability were evaluated by calculating Cronbach’ s alpha coefficients and using the test-retest method, respectively. Analyses were performed using SPSS 19 and AMOS software packages. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis of the 31-item questionnaire, consisting of 7 subscales, was conducted after removing items 3 and 5. A significant correlation between each subscale and the General Self-efficacy Scale and also between the overall scale and the General Self-efficacy Scale confirmed the concurrent validity of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed based on a Cronbach’ s alpha coefficient value of 0. 75 (ranging from 0. 69 to 0. 74 for the seven factors). The 1-month test-retest reliability, assessed by readministering the test to 30 cancer patients, ranged between 0. 67 and 0. 74 (P < 0. 01), which shows acceptable reliability of the CBI over time. Conclusion: The CBI has acceptable validity and reliability. The seven factors extracted for the CBI matched those identified in the original version. The present study introduces a tool that can be useful in assessing and evaluating the self-efficacy of breast cancer patients during treatment.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among females, which requires an exploration for markers to propose a more specific categorization of this cancer. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), the main subset of noncoding transcripts, are involved in tumorigenic processes. In this study, we investigated the expression of the fer-1– like family member 4 (FER1L4) lncRNA and its competitive endogenous RNA network target gene, RB transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1), in ductal carcinoma (invasive and in situ) tissue and its adjacent noncancerous tissue (ANCT). Furthermore, associations of FER1L4 and RB1 with various clinical features of the patients were analyzed. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of the mentioned genes in 61 samples of ductal carcinoma and their ANCTs, and the data were analyzed using ANOVA and t tests. Results: FER1L expression was not significantly different in breast tumor samples compared with their ANCT samples, while RB1 showed significant downregulation in tumor tissues (P = 0. 008). In addition, increased expression of FER1L4 and decreased RB1 expression were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: FER1L4 is not upregulated in breast cancer tissue. However, RB1 expression is significantly downregulated.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and one of the leading causes of death in women. Identification of factors affecting the survival rate of these patients is important for the prevention of breast cancer progression and better treatment. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed on 493 women with breast cancer referred to Imam Khomeini clinic in Hamadan between 2001 and 2018. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to estimate the survival rate and factors affecting patient survival. All analyses were performed using SPSS 21. Results: The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 49. 75 (11. 34) years, and the 5-and 10-year survival rates were 61% and86%, respectively. The Cox proportional hazards model showed a significant relationship between age(HR (%95 CI)=1. 53(1. 23-2. 78)) and tumor size (HR (%95 CI)=1. 49(1. 16-2. 89)) and mortality risk (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: Age and tumor size are associated with survival in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, increasing women’ s awareness of the benefits of periodic examinations and early diagnosis can contribute to early detection of the disease and improved survival.

Introduction: The effects of breast cancer and mastectomy on sexuality, an important aspect of personality, emphasize the need for psychological treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on sexual desire in breast cancer patients after mastectomy. Methods: This was a semiexperimental study with an experimental and a control group with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population included all women with breast cancer in the Isfahan province who had come to Alla charity center in 2017. A sample of 26 women with breast cancer was selected through available sampling and assigned randomly to two groups of 13 subjects each. The experimental group received ACT over 8 sessions and the control group remained on the waiting list until the end of the study. The measurement tool was the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Desire administered before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 using an analysis of covariance test. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean scores on sexual desire between the two groups (F = 7. 99, p = 0. 014). The mean score on sexual desire improved from 0. 85 to 1. 23 in the treatment group, but there was no change in the control group (1. 17 in the pretest vs 1. 16 in the posttest). In general, ACT was effective in improving sexual desire in patients (p < 0. 05, effect size: 0. 48). Conclusion: In general, according to the findings of this research, ACT seems to be effective in improving psychological problems in women with breast cancer.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of narrative therapy and rational emotive behavior therapy on Resilience in women with breast surgery experience. Methods: This was a semi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest, controlled design with follow-up. The study population consisted of all women with breast cancer who were undergoing postmastectomy radiotherapy in Tabriz in 2018. In total, 30 women were selected by a purposive sampling method, and divided into three groups of narrative therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and control. The intervention groups received their respective treatments over 8 sessions of 1. 5 hours. The groups were assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale before, after, and four months after the treatment. Results: The mean postintervention resilience scores for the narrative therapy and rational emotive behavior therapy groups (66. 4 and 79. 9, respectively) were significantly greater compared with the control group (51. 9) (P < 0. 001). Similar results were observed at the 4-mont followup indicating a lasting effect. Also, the effect of rational emotive behavior therapy on resilience was greater than that of narrative therapy both after the intervention and at 4-month follow-up (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: Narrative therapy and rational emotive behavior therapy increased resiliency in women with breast surgery experience.

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) is negatively associated with mortality. Decrease in HRV is common in cancer patients. The association between HRV and general survival in cancer patients has made HRV a valuable biomarker for evaluation of the disease prognosis. Exercise is considered an interventional strategy to improve various outcomes in cancer patients. The present paper provides a descriptive review of the literature regarding the effect of exercise interventions on HRV in cancer patients. Methods: A systematic search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in PubMed and Google Scholar, from inception since 1950 till October 15, 2018. The terms exercise, training, cancer, neoplasms, heart rate variability, and HRV were used in the search. Eligible studies were those trials using structured exercise intervention and having untrained adult cancer patients. Only English-language papers were included in the review. Results: Eight studies were included in the review. Of the various HRV parameters, 2 in the time domain (SDNN and RMSSD) and 3 in the frequency domain (LF, HF, and LF/HF) were commonly reported in the studies. Exercise intervention increased SDNN, RMSSD, and HF in all the studies, although the difference did not reach statistical significance in some cases. The results regarding LF and LF/HF were not consistent. Conclusion: In general, exercise intervention can improve HRV in cancer patients. It is suggested that SDNN, RMSSD, and HF parameters be used in the evaluation of exercise effects on HRV because these parameters a) have prognostic value and b) more suitably reflect the effects of exercise training in these patients.