Supportive Care

This clinical trial compares the impact of a tailored survivorship care plan (SCP) to a standard SCP on the understanding of and access to survivorship care in black or African American patients with prostate cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body (localized) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to a limited number of places in the body (oligometastatic). SCPs summarize treatment history and recommendations for monitoring and maintaining health, and may also include potential long term effects of treatments received. The intention of a SCP is to help patients participate in their own health care. However, many patients have below basic levels of health literacy, meaning, they have a lower ability to obtain, communicate, process and understand basic health information and services to make health decisions. In fact, poor health literacy has been linked with worse quality of life in prostate cancer survivors. A tailored SCP includes the addition of an educational supplement based on lower reading and writing skills (low literacy) and may address health literacy barriers to understanding of treatment options and side effects. A standard SCP uses a template based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines for prostate cancer. A tailored SCP with low literacy educational supplements may be more effective compared to a standard SCP in improving understanding and access to survivorship care in black or African American patients with localized or oligometastatic prostate cancer.

This clinical trial compares the effect of geriatric assessment (GA)-based management of supportive care to usual care in treating older patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and their family caregivers (FCG). At least one quarter of head and neck cancers patients are diagnosed at age 70 or older. Treatment for head and neck cancers usually include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Older adults are often at higher risk for functional problems, and may experience more side effects. In addition, there may be a lack of support mechanisms in place to address the needs of these older patients. Cancer not only affects the patients but the entire family, especially the family member who is the caregiver. Currently, all patients over 65 receive the same standard of care based on national guidelines, which include supportive care referrals. However, data suggests, that many patients may need more frequent and structured support. The Practical Geriatric Assessment (PGA) is a complete examination including evaluation of the physical and mental function as well as the emotional state of the older patient. PGA-based supportive care interventions may be safe, tolerable, and/or effective in managing treatment-related side effects and improving quality of life compared to usual care in older patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and their FCG.

This clinical trial studies whether an intervention supported by technology (blended e-health intervention) works to improve fear of progression (FOP) in women with gynecologic or breast cancer. FOP is the fear patients experience from the possibility that their cancer could grow, spread, or get worse. Managing FOP is a leading unmet concern of cancer patients. High levels of FOP are associated with distress, depression, and increased health care costs, despite this, access to resources to address FOP remain limited. The blended e-health intervention in this trial offers remote group sessions along with online sessions to help patients access the information. Session content incorporates values-based goal setting and skills practices to manage unhelpful beliefs about worry and promote helpful coping behaviors. The sessions may help patients recognize unhelpful thoughts and behaviors which reinforce worry. A blended e-health intervention may be an effective way to improve FOP in women with gynecologic or breast cancer.

This clinical trial studies whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can be used to help patients with glioblastoma manage their blood sugar (glucose) levels and improve survival. Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, with an average survival time of approximately 15-18 months despite therapy. Studies have shown that having a higher-than-normal amount of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) during radiation therapy is associated with poorer survival outcomes in glioblastoma patients. Hyperglycemia in glioblastoma patients is often driven by steroids that are commonly used during treatment. CGM uses a device that places a sensor under the skin that monitors glucose levels at regular intervals, providing real-time, or near real-time, glucose information. This can help to identify when a patient has changes in their glucose levels so they may receive necessary interventions or medications sooner. CGM may be an effective way for glioblastoma patients to manage their glucose levels, which may improve survival.