Stress among allogeneic bone marrow transplantation patients

The symptom experience in the first 100 days following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)

“…These include pancytopenia, infection, bleeding, mucositis, weight loss or weight gain, esophagitis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, skin rash, graft failure, pain, mood disturbances and changes in body image and appearance. The symptom experience, in combination with biobehavioral factors unique to the patient and family, can result in a range of responses to treatment, including anxiety, depression, hopelessness, functional morbidity, and even premature withdrawal from treatment and/or nonadherence [4,5]. Reducing the burden of symptoms is therefore an important treatment goal.…”

110 Awakening From the Cocoon – Family Members Transitioning Through 100 days Post Stem Cell Transplant

“…The HSCT aroused their consciousness to the possibilities of life and imminent death because this medical procedure was to prolong their lives while at the same time possibly causing death. This consciousness is echoed in literature examining the impact of HSCT on caregivers and family members (Baker et al, 1999;Heinonen et al, 2005;Jones & Chapman, 2000;Rivera, 1997;Stephens, 2005). A family in Rivera's (1997) study revealed the SCT made them more aware of their mortality, echoing findings from a study of Jones and Chapman (2000).…”

“…Literature has highlighted that stem cell recipients' changes in physical appearance are a distressing event for both the recipients and caregivers (Baker, Zabora et al, 1999;Heinonen et al, 2005;Jones & Chapman, 2000;Russell, Harcourt, Henderson, & Marks, 2011). These changes in the recipients' physical appearance throughout transplantation have psychological and psychosocial ramifications on patients and family members.…”

“…The quality of these relationships were examined, and if they were deemed as a source of distress, anxiety or distraction for the patients and family members, these were disbanded. Negative social supports are often a source of stress among HSCT survivors (Heinonen et al, 2005). Focusing on valued relationships caused them to be closer and more rewarding for the patients and family members (Ho et al, 2002;Stephens, 2005;Wu et al, 2005) and allowed the participants to focus on the treatment, recovery and future.…”

Do ongoing lifestyle disruptions differ across cancer types after the conclusion of cancer treatment?

“…1) theorizes that disease and treatment factors (e.g., lingering side effects) interfere with the capacity to continue engaging in valued activities (e.g., work; recreation; familial, couple, and social relationships), thereby reducing subjective well-being and inducing emotional distress [10]. Illness intrusiveness likely reflects a powerful determinant of subjective well-being following cancer treatment: survivors report ongoing challenges in regaining premorbid employment and financial status [11][12][13], social life [13,14], family and other relationships [8,11,15], and sex life [13,[16][17][18]. These normal spheres of activity are essential to personal and social identity and to self-esteem, including during and after the cancer experience [19,20].…”