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Background: Physical inactivity is common in young adult cancer survivors (YACS), but evidence regarding effects of physical activity (PA) interventions among YACS is limited. The IMproving Physical Activity after Cancer Treatment (IMPACT) trial evaluated a theory-based mobile PA intervention on total PA minutes/week (primary) and secondary outcomes (moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], light PA, steps, sedentary behaviors) at 6 months in YACS., Methods: YACS (N = 280) were randomized to an intervention group or self-help group. All participants received digital tools (activity tracker, smart scale, access to arm-specific Facebook group) and an individual video chat session. Intervention participants also received a 6-month program with behavioral lessons, adaptive goal-setting, tailored feedback, tailored text messages, and Facebook prompts. PA was assessed via accelerometry and questionnaires at baseline and 6 months. Generalized estimating equation analyses tested between-group differences in changes over time., Results: Of 280 YACS, 251 (90%) completed the 6-month accelerometry measures. Accelerometer-measured total PA minutes/week changed from 1974.26 at baseline to 2024.34 at 6 months in the intervention (mean change, 55.14 [95% CI, -40.91 to 151.19]) and from 1814.93 to 1877.68 in the self-help group (40.94 [95% CI, -62.14 to 144.02]; between-group p = .84). Increases in MVPA were +24.67 minutes/week (95% CI, 14.77-34.57) in the intervention versus +11.41 minutes/week in the self-help (95% CI, 1.44-21.38; between-group p = .07)., Conclusion: Although the intervention did not result in significant differences in total PA, the increase in MVPA relative to the self-help group might be associated with important health benefits. Future research should examine moderators to identify for whom, and under what conditions, the intervention might be effective., Clinicaltrials: gov Identifier: NCT03569605., Plain Language Summary: Physical inactivity is common in young adult cancer survivors. However, few interventions have focused on helping young adult cancer survivors to get more physical activity. The IMproving Physical Activity after Cancer Treatment trial compared a mobile health physical activity intervention with a self-help group on total amount of physical activity at 6 months in a nationwide sample of young adult cancer survivors. Intervention participants did not improve their total amount of physical activity, but they did increase their moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity by twice as much as the self-help participants. This increase in activity may be associated with health benefits., (© 2022 American Cancer Society.)

Background: Young adult cancer survivors experience frailty and decreased muscle mass at rates equivalent to much older noncancer populations, which indicate accelerated aging. Although frailty and low muscle mass can be identified in survivors, their implications for health-related quality of life are not well understood., Methods: Through a cross-sectional analysis of young adult cancer survivors, frailty was assessed with the Fried frailty phenotype and skeletal muscle mass in relation to functional and quality of life outcomes measured by the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36). z tests compared survivors with US population means, and multivariable linear regression models estimated mean SF-36 scores by frailty and muscle mass with adjustments made for comorbidities, sex, and time from treatment., Results: Sixty survivors (median age, 21 years; range, 18-29) participated in the study. Twenty-five (42%) had low muscle mass, and 25 were either frail or prefrail. Compared with US population means, survivors reported worse health and functional impairments across SF-36 domains that were more common among survivors with (pre)frailty or low muscle mass. In multivariable linear modeling, (pre)frail survivors (vs nonfrail) exhibited lower mean scores for general health (-9.1; P = .05), physical function (-14.9; P < .01), and overall physical health (-5.6; P = .02) independent of comorbid conditions., Conclusions: Measures of frailty and skeletal muscle mass identify subgroups of young adult cancer survivors with significantly impaired health, functional status, and quality of life independent of medical comorbidities. Identifying survivors with frailty or low muscle mass may provide opportunities for interventions to prevent functional and health declines or to reverse this process., Lay Summary: Young adult cancer survivors age more quickly than peers without cancer, which is evidenced by a syndrome of decreased resilience known as frailty. The relationship between frailty (and one of its common components, decreased muscle mass) and quality of life among young adult cancer survivors was examined. Measuring decreased muscle mass and frailty identifies young survivors with poor quality of life, including worse general health, fatigue, physical function, and overall physical health, compared with nonfrail survivors. Interventions to address components of frailty (low muscle mass and weakness) may improve function and quality of life among young adult cancer survivors., (© 2022 American Cancer Society.)

Purpose: Social isolation is a prominent challenge for many young adults with cancer. Despite desires for peer-to-peer connections through technology, little is known about how young adults initiate or use social media for support over time., Methods: We interviewed young adults with cancer (n = 45; age 18-39, in or post cancer treatment) to explore their initiation of social media for support, changes in use over time, and types of connections sought., Results: Young adults with cancer learn about online support through individual personal recommendations, advocacy organizations, or searching on Google or social media. Most were reluctant to use social media support initially because of feeling overwhelmed-from diagnoses, abundance of online information, or demands of participation-and joined when informational and emotional needs arose. Many wished they had joined earlier. Some participants use social media to make close connections while others simply want to "see" others' shared experiences or crowdsource information., Conclusion: Young adults with cancer often haphazardly find online support from personal recommendations or Internet searches. Desires for social media connections are not one-size-fits-all; there are important audience segmentations for the degree and type of peer support., Implications for Cancer Survivors: Better promotion of online social support options and benefits-early in one's cancer timeline and systematically through healthcare providers, cancer organizations, or family and friends-could improve access to helpful peer-to-peer support., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: With a steadily increasing number of Latino/a cancer survivors, there is a need for supportive care programs for this underserved survivor subgroup., Methods: In this study, the authors culturally adapted an evidence-based survivorship program, Cancer Transitions: Moving Beyond Treatment (CT) for this population. Guided by Barrera and Castro's heuristic model for cultural adaptation of interventions, we conducted five focus groups (FG) among Latino/a cancer survivors (n = 54) in several US sites to inform the preliminary adaptation of program materials. We conducted four additional FGs (n = 38) to obtain feedback on adapted materials., Results: Common themes from initial FGs were related to program delivery and logistics, and general recommendations for CT modification. Program adaptations addressed information needs, including health care system navigation, employment concerns, and sexuality. Other adaptations included an emphasis on family, spirituality, culturally appropriate translation and features, and role plays. Participants in the second round of FGs confirmed adaptations incorporated earlier findings and suggested additional refinements., Conclusion: This project helps guide the cultural adaptation of survivorship programs for Latino/a cancer survivors., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Few studies have examined how patients understand and use genomic test results when deciding about treatment. This study examined how women receive and incorporate results of Oncotype DX, a genomic test that offers recurrence risk estimates, into decisions about adjuvant treatment for early stage breast cancer., Methods: Participants in the cross-sectional study were 77 women with early stage, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer with 0 to 3 positive lymph nodes who received Oncotype DX between 2004 and 2009. Mailed surveys, supplemented by medical chart review, assessed how women received and understood recurrence risk information based on the test., Results: The most common test results were low (50%, 34 of 68) or intermediate (37%, 25 of 68) breast cancer recurrence risk. Most women accurately recalled their recurrence risk based on the test (71%) and felt they understood much of what they were told about it (67%). Approximately 25% of women recalled experiencing test-related distress. Women's perceived recurrence risk was associated with their actual genomic-based recurrence risks, having had a previous cancer diagnosis, and worry about recurrence. Women with high recurrence risk typically had chemotherapy (78%, 7 of 9), whereas only 2 with a low recurrence risk did (7%, 2 of 30)., Conclusions: This is among the first studies to describe patients' experiences with genomic testing for recurrence risk. Although many women understood discussions about their genomic test results, a third reported not fully understanding these discussions, suggesting a need to aid and improve risk communication and treatment decision making., ((c) 2010 American Cancer Society.)