Background Oral targeted therapy is increasingly used worldwide to treat patients with advanced lung cancer. The adverse skin toxicity that is associated with treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors often results in acneiform rash, dry skin (xerosis), pruritus, and paronychia, which may cause discomfort in patients and affect their quality of life. Purpose This study was designed to explore changes in skin toxicity and quality of life (measured overall by three subscales) as well as the correlation between skin toxicity and overall quality of life over a 3-month period for patients with advanced lung cancer receiving oral targeted therapy. Methods This study used a longitudinal research design. Baseline data were collected before initiating targeted therapy. Data for the effects of targeted therapy on skin toxicity and quality of life were collected at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after therapy initiation. Data on skin toxicity were collected using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.03, and quality of life was measured using the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor-18 questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to measure the correlation between skin toxicity and quality of life. Results Thirty-two patients participated in this study. The symptoms of skin toxicity that increased over the 3-month study period included xerosis and paronychia, whereas acneiform rash and pruritus fluctuated during this period. Over the study period, more than 70% of the participants exhibited symptoms of skin toxicity. Skin toxicity was the greatest and quality of life was the lowest, respectively, at the end of the study. All of the symptoms of skin toxicity were significantly correlated with quality of life, although each varied over time (r = .36–.61, p < .05). Conclusions/Implications for Practice The results of this study indicate that healthcare providers should consider the impact of skin toxicity on quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer who are receiving oral targeted therapy. These findings may be used to design interventional measures for skin and medical care to improve quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Background Sleep problems cause physical and mental distress and may influence the survival of cancer patients. Objectives This study aimed to explore the efficacy of exercise intervention to improve sleep in cancer patients. Methods Published papers from 1980 to 2018 were searched. Results The major findings included (a) exercise intervention had small positive effects on enhancing total subjective sleep quality (TSSQ; g = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.21–0.54) and objective sleep onset latency (g = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.01–0.41). (b) The characteristics in subgroups in regarding the small to large effects of an exercise programme on sleep were identified. First, the groups of a home‐based exercise and a supervised exercise combined with a home‐based exercise had a medium effect on TSSQ than the usual group. Second, interventions with aerobic exercise, especially the 4‐ to 8‐week programmes and those with weekly volume of 80–149 min per week for cancer patients with ongoing or completed treatment also had a medium to large positive effect on TSSQ. Finally, patients with breast cancer and haematologic malignancies contributed a small effect in this meta‐analysis. Conclusions Maintaining regular aerobic exercises, even of different durations and weekly volumes, benefits patient sleep quality.

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Background Most advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients received targeted therapies of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, few studies reported the relationships between adverse events (AEs) and psychological distress. Objectives The aims of this study were to (1) examine the differences in the incidence of AEs, fear of progression (FoP), anxiety, and depression among 3 generations of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (first, gefitinib and erlotinib; second, afatinib; third, osimertinib) and (2) examine the difference in levels of FoP, anxiety, and depression between the presence and absence of AEs in NSCLC patients. Methods This study used a cross-sectional study design. Patients with NSCLC (N = 120) were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan. Adverse events, FoP, anxiety, and depression were assessed by questionnaires. Results The incidence rates of photosensitivity, mouth and throat sores, and diarrhea were significantly high in the gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib groups, respectively. A lesser proportion of patients experienced AEs in the osimertinib group, compared with those in the gefitinib and erlotinib, and afatinib groups. The incidence rates of FoP, anxiety, and depression were 13.8% to 26.0%, 24.1% to 40.4%, and 17.6% to 40.0%, respectively. Patients with photosensitivity, paronychia, and alopecia had significantly higher levels of FoP, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion This study confirmed the priorities of care among 3 generations of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in NSCLC patients, using both the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 4.03) and PRO-CTCAE 1.0. Photosensitivity, paronychia, and alopecia were associated with higher levels of FoP, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, these AEs require further management. Implications for Practice Our study suggests a follow-up to address AEs and psychological distress.

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