Sarcomas are rare cancers with a spectrum of clinical needs and outcomes. We investigated care experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in sarcoma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with appointments during the first two months of the UK lockdown were invited to complete a survey. Questions included views on care modifications, COVID-19 worry and psychosocial impact, and EORTC-QLQ-C30 items. 350 patients completed the survey; median age 58 (16–92) years. Care modifications included telemedicine (74%) and postponement of appointments (34%), scans (34%) or treatment (10%). Most felt the quality of care was not affected (72%), however, social life (87%) and emotional wellbeing (41%) were affected. Worry about COVID-19 infection was moderately high (mean 5.8/10) and significantly related to higher cancer-related worry; associated with lower emotional functioning irrespective of treatment intent. Curative patients (44%) with low resilient coping scores had significantly higher COVID-19 worry. Patients who did not know their treatment intent (22%) had significantly higher COVID-19 worry and insomnia. In summary, care experiences were generally positive; however, cancer-related worry, low resilient coping and uncertainty about treatment intent were associated with COVID-19 worry. These patients may benefit from additional psychological support during the pandemic and beyond.

Purpose This study aimed to develop and examine the acceptability, feasibility and usability of a text messaging, or Short Message Service (SMS), system for improving the receipt of survivorship care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer. Methods Researchers developed and refined the text messaging system based on qualitative data from AYA survivors in an iterative 3-stage process. In stage 1, a focus group (n=4) addressed acceptability; in stage 2, key informant interviews (n=10) following a 6-week trial addressed feasibility; and in stage 3, key informant interviews (n=23) following a 6-week trial addressed usability. Qualitative data were analyzed using a constant comparative analytic approach exploring in-depth themes. Results The final system includes programmed reminders to schedule and attend late effects screening appointments, tailored suggestions for community resources for cancer survivors, and messages prompting participant feedback regarding the appointments and resources. Participants found the text messaging system an acceptable form of communication, the screening reminders and feedback prompts feasible for improving the receipt of survivorship care, and the tailored suggestions for community resources usable for connecting survivors to relevant services. Participants suggested supplementing survivorship care visits and forming AYA survivor social networks as future implementations for the text messaging system. Conclusions The text messaging system may assist AYA survivors by coordinating late effects screening appointments, facilitating a partnership with the survivorship care team, and connecting survivors with relevant community resources. Implications for Cancer Survivors The text messaging system has the potential to improve the receipt of survivorship care.

Objective Adolescents and young adults with cancer face unique psychosocial and practical issues. However, patients across this group encounter different life experiences, cancer diagnoses and treatment settings given the tailored services for patients ages 15 to 24. Here, we qualitatively explore the psychosocial experiences and practical challenges of young adults (YAs) with cancer diagnosed between ages 25 and 39 in the United Kingdom. Methods We invited YAs diagnosed with cancer in the 5 years prior to enrolment at participating sites to take part in semi‐structured interviews or focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Two YA patients reviewed the results to ensure robustness. Results Sixty‐five YAs with varied diagnoses participated. Participants struggled to balance work, childcare and financial solvency with treatment. The halt in family and work life as well as changes in image and ability threatened participants’ identity and perceived ‘normality’ as a YA, however, these also stimulated positive changes. YAs experienced social isolation from friends and family, including children. Many struggled to cope with uncertainty around treatment outcomes and disease recurrence. Conclusion The disruption of family and work life can lead to age‐specific issues in YAs diagnosed with cancer. Age‐tailored psychological and practical services must be considered.

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) is a rare, soft-tissue tumour. These tumours do not metastasize, but their local aggressive tumour growth and unpredictable behaviour can have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Little is known about which DTF patients are particularly affected by an impaired HRQoL. The objectives of this study were to assess HRQoL among different groups of DTF patients and to investigate which socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with DTF-specific HRQoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted among DTF patients from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), accompanied by the DTF-QoL to assess DTF-specific HRQoL. The scores were compared amongst subgroups, based on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of DTF patients. Multiple linear regression analyses with a backward elimination were conducted to identify the factors associated with DTF-specific HRQoL. A total of 235 DTF patients completed the questionnaires. Female patients, patients with more than two comorbidities, or patients who received treatment other than only active surveillance (AS) or surgery scored significantly worse on the subscales of both the EORTC QLQ-C30 and DTF-QoL. Patients that were ≥ 40 years scored significantly worse on the physical functioning scale of the EORTC QLQ-C30, while younger patients (18–39 years) scored significantly worse on several DTF-QoL subscales. Differences in the DTF-QoL subscales were found for tumour location, time since diagnosis and the presence of recurrent disease. Furthermore, treatments other than AS or surgery only, female sex, younger age and the presence of comorbidities were most frequently associated with worse scores on the DTF-QoL subscales. This study showed that (DTF-specific) HRQoL differs between groups of DTF patients. Awareness of these HRQoL differences could help to provide better, personalised care that is tailored to the needs of a specific subgroup.

Sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) is a rare soft tissue tumour with an unpredictable clinical course. These tumours are incapable of metastasising, but their local aggressive tumour growth and tendency to recur locally can result in a substantial symptom burden. Measuring the impact of DTF on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can be challenging due to the variable clinical presentation of the disease. Therefore, a HRQoL instrument assessing DTF-specific issues is needed. The QUALIFIED study aims to (1) pre-test a previously developed DTF-specific HRQoL tool (the DTF-QoL); (2) evaluate prevalence of HRQoL issues in adult DTF patients; and (3) identify subgroups at risk of impaired HRQoL. This study (NCT04289077) is an international, multicentre, cross-sectional, observational cohort study. Patients ≥ 18 years with sporadic DTF from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom will be invited to complete a set of questionnaires specifically composed for this patient group. Questionnaires will be completed using PROFILES (Patient Reported Outcomes Following Initial treatment and Long-term Evaluation of Survivorship). Analyses will include testing the psychometric properties of the DTF-QoL and evaluating the prevalence of HRQoL issues using the DTF-QoL, EORTC QOL-C30 and EQ-5D-5L, among other questionnaires. This study will provide insight into HRQoL issues experienced by patients with DTF. Awareness of these issues and the implementation of the DTF-QoL in research and clinical practice can help to improve overall HRQoL and to provide personalised care.