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Objectives: This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a behavioral activation (BA) program for the bereaved of cancer patients toward reducing depressive symptoms., Methods: The BA program for the bereaved was a partially modified version for cancer patients. This program encompassed a preinterview and seven 50-minute sessions every 1-2 weeks, using worksheets, with homework assignments each day. To examine feasibility, the completion rates of intervention and 3 months of follow-up were examined. To examine the preliminary effectiveness, psychological symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; primary outcome) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) for depression and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety. These were evaluated 3 times: before, immediately after, and 3-month post-intervention. Non-parametric tests were used for comparison of scores at 3 time points and calculation of effect size., Results: Of the 42 bereaved who were contacted, 21 were eligible and 20 were participated, while 19 and 18 were in the completed intervention and completed 3-month post-intervention categories (intervention completion rate was 95% and follow-up completion rate was 90%). PHQ-9, BDI-II, and GAD-7 showed significant reductions immediately and 3 months after the intervention compared to pre-intervention, and the effect sizes were all large after 3 months, although they were less than immediately after (PHQ-9: 0.89, 0.71; BDI-II: 0.88, 0.67; GAD-7: 0.57, 0.53)., Significance of Results: This study indicated that the BA program for the bereaved of cancer patients was feasible and effective vis-à-vis reducing depressive symptoms.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term results of radical radiation therapy (RT) for cervical cancer in elderly patients., Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 727 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical RT at the Tokushima University Hospital and compared the treatment results of three age groups: /=75 years (older group [OG], 132 patients)., Results: At the last follow-up, 155 YG (46%), 77 YOG (30%), and 48 OG patients (36%) had died of cervical cancer; the median follow-up periods were 82, 87, and 68 months, respectively. The 5-/10-year disease-specific survival rates were 60%/52% in YG, 76%/68% in YOG, and 66%/57% in OG. Differences between OG and the other groups were not significant. The 5-/10-year disease-specific survival rate of YOG was significantly superior to that of YG (p<0.001). Clinical stage was the only significant prognostic variable (p<0.001). Late radiation morbidity of grades 2-4 in the bladder and/or rectum occurred in 22% of YG, 31% of YOG, and 8% of OG patients., Conclusions: RT was well tolerated in elderly patients, and age was not a significant prognostic factor. In the management of cervical cancer, advanced age is not a contraindication to radical RT.