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Purpose: The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted many facets of life. We evaluated pandemic‐related health care experiences, COVID‐19 prevention behaviors and measures, health behaviors, and psychosocial outcomes among rural and urban cancer patients. Methods: Among 1,472 adult cancer patients, who visited Huntsman Cancer Institute in the past 4 years and completed a COVID‐19 survey (August‐September 2020), we assessed the impact of the pandemic on medical appointments, prevention/health behaviors, and psychosocial factors, stratified by urbanicity. Findings: Mean age was 61 years, with 52% female, 97% non‐Hispanic White, and 27% were residing in rural areas. Rural versus urban patients were more likely to be older, not employed, uninsured, former/current smokers, consume alcohol, and have pandemic‐related changes/cancellations in surgery appointments (all P<.05). Changes/cancellations in other health care access (eg, doctor's visits) were also common, particularly among urban patients. Urban versus rural patients were more likely to socially distance, use masks and hand sanitizer, and experience changes in exercise habits and in their daily lives (all P<.05). Less social interaction and financial stress were common among cancer patients but did not differ by urbanicity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the COVID‐19 pandemic had a substantial impact on cancer patients, with several challenges specific to rural patients. This comprehensive study provides unique insights into the first 6 months of COVID‐19 pandemic‐related experiences and continuity of care among rural and urban cancer patients predominantly from Utah. Further research is needed to better characterize the pandemic's short‐ and long‐term effects on rural and urban cancer patients and appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer‐related fatigue is one of the most common side effects of colorectal cancer treatment and is affected by biomedical factors. We investigated the association of inflammation‐ and angiogenesis‐related biomarkers with cancer‐related fatigue. Pre‐surgery (baseline) serum samples were obtained from n = 236 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients. Meso Scale Discovery assays were performed to measure levels of biomarkers for inflammation and angiogenesis (CRP, SAA, IL‐6, IL‐8, MCP‐1, sICAM‐1, sVCAM‐1, TNFα, VEGFA and VEGFD). Cancer‐related fatigue was assessed with the EORTC QLQ‐30 questionnaire at baseline and 6 and 12 months post‐surgery. We tested associations using Spearman's partial correlations and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, sex and body mass index. sICAM‐1 and VEGFD showed a significant positive correlation with cancer‐related fatigue at baseline and 6‐, and 12‐month follow‐up (sICAM‐1: r = 0.19, p = 0.010; r = 0.24, p = 0.004; r = 0.25, p = 0.006; VEGFD: r = 0.20, p = 0.006; r = 0.15, p = 0.06; r = 0.23, p = 0.01 respectively). Biomarkers of inflammation and angiogenesis measured prior to surgery are associated with cancer‐related fatigue in colorectal cancer patients throughout various time points. Our results suggest the involvement of overexpressed sICAM‐1 and VEGFD in the development of fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lung cancer is a significant burden on societies worldwide, and the most common cause of death in patients with cancer overall. Exercise intervention studies in patients with lung cancer have consistently shown benefits with respect to physical and emotional functioning. However, to date, exercise training has not been consistently implemented into clinical practice given that interventions have been costly and not aligned with clinical care., Methods/design: The Precision-Exercise-Prescription (PEP) study is a prospective randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and feasibility of a personalised intervention exercise programme among patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery. Two-hundred patients who are diagnosed with stage primary or secondary lung cancer and are eligible to undergo surgical treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute comprise the target population. Patients are randomised to either the (1) outpatient precision-exercise intervention group or (2) delayed intervention group. The intervention approach uses Motivation and Problem Solving, a hybrid behavioural treatment based on motivational interviewing and practical problem solving. The dosage of the exercise intervention is personalised based on the individual's Activity Measure for Post-Acute-Care outpatient basic mobility score, and incorporates four exercise modes: mobility, callisthenics, aerobic and resistance. Exercise is implemented by physical therapists at study visits from presurgery until 6 months postsurgery. The primary endpoint is the level of physical function assessed by 6 min walk distance at 2 months postsurgery. Secondary outcomes include patient-reported outcomes (eg, quality of life, fatigue and self-efficacy) and other clinical outcomes, including length of stay, complications, readmission, pulmonary function and treatment-related costs up to 6 months postsurgery., Ethics/dissemination: The PEP study will test the clinical effectiveness and feasibility of a personalised exercise intervention in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery. Outcomes of this clinical trial will be presented at national and international conferences and symposia and will be published in international, peer-reviewed journals. Ethics approval was obtained at the University of Utah (IRB 00104671)., Trial Registration Number: NCT03306992., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)