Childhood cancer profoundly affects the entire family. Parents experience substantial emotional, physical, and social burdens while managing their child's treatment and maintaining family life. Amid uncertainty, fear, and helplessness, they often neglect their own needs. Understanding parents' challenges and support needs is, therefore, essential for developing holistic, family-centered care. This study aimed to explore the challenges and support needs of parents caring for children diagnosed with cancer. A descriptive qualitative design was used. Parents of children with cancer hospitalized in a university pediatric hematology unit were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected from 19 parents via face-to-face, semistructured interviews conducted between August and December 2024, until data saturation. Content analysis was performed. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, and reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. The findings were grouped under 4 main themes: Challenges experienced, empowerment and coping strategies, support needs, and changes in family dynamics. Parents of children with cancer experience significant emotional burden, uncertainty, and social challenges, highlighting the need for psychosocial support, regular information, and coordinated care throughout treatment. Family-centered approaches, structured care coordination, and continuous communication are essential to strengthen parental coping and family cohesion. Healthcare professionals, particularly pediatric nurses, should routinely assess parents' support needs and provide empathic, holistic, family-centered care. Access to psychological counseling, structured informational support, and collaboration with social services for emotional and financial assistance should be integrated into care processes.

Caregivers of patients with cancer experience many emotional challenges. It is important for caregivers to cope with the difficult emotions they experience and to prepare for the grieving process. Nurses should support caregivers in managing negative experiences, crises, and difficult emotions. This study was conducted to determine the experiences of caregivers of individuals with hematological diagnoses. The study was designed using an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach. Eighteen informal caregivers were recruited through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview form. According to the content analysis, 3 themes (Barbed wire, Dead end, Stairway to endurance) and 7 subthemes (Infection focus, Cage, Life in the shadow of care, Mask, Positive suggestion, Solidarity, Reliance on God) emerged. The themes reflect the development of empowerment and the challenges experienced by caregivers of individuals diagnosed with hematological cancer. Caregivers of patients with hematological cancer need support in navigating the emotional, physical, and social dimensions of their role. Oncology nurses play a crucial role in effective communication and process management between patients and caregivers.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is among the most common complications associated with breast cancer treatment, yet the effectiveness of early preventive interventions remains unclear. To evaluate the effectiveness of early preventive interventions for preventing BCRL and explore the optimal intervention components and timing for initiation. Six English-language databases were systematically searched from inception to March 5, 2025. The primary outcome was the incidence of BCRL. The secondary outcomes were quality of life, upper limb function, and lymphedema-related symptoms. Data were synthesized using RevMan 5.4. A total of 1116 studies were identified, and 13 studies were included in the final analysis. Early preventive interventions significantly reduced the incidence of BCRL (relative risk = 0.48; 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.80, P =.005) and improved upper limb function (standardized mean difference = -1.65, 95% confidence interval: -2.79 to -0.51, P =.004). No significant improvement was observed in quality of life, and the effects on lymphedema-related symptoms remain inconclusive. Subgroup analyses did not show significant differences based on intervention component. Early preventive interventions not only effectively reduce the incidence of BCRL but also improve upper limb function. However, the optimal combination of interventions and the optimal timing for their initiation remain unclear. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to further validate these benefits and establish standardized, evidence-based guidelines for early prevention. Prevention strategies for BCRL should focus on optimizing intervention content, primarily including structured health education and personalized exercise prescriptions based on functional status and treatment history.

Postoperative pharyngeal pain is common in patients with thyroid cancer undergoing day-case surgery, with approximately 60%-90% affected. Wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) offers a potential alternative but lacks clinical validation in day surgery settings. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of WAA in reducing postoperative pharyngeal pain in patients with thyroid cancer undergoing day-case surgery. Seventy-two patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomized into the WAA experimental group (n = 36) or the control group (n = 36). The WAA experimental group received standardized care plus subcutaneous needle insertion at wrist points (Upper 1 and Upper 6) postoperatively, whereas the control group received standard care alone. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale at 3, 4, 9, and 27 hours, and predischarge. Secondary outcomes included the Houston Pain Outcome Instrument and the 15-item Quality of Recovery scale. At 9 and 27 hours post surgery, the experimental group reported significantly lower pain scores (P < .001); satisfaction with pain control was also significantly higher (P < .001). The WAA group had minor adverse events and no serious complications. Additionally, the experimental group experienced better postoperative sleep and overall health (P < .05). Wrist-ankle acupuncture significantly relieves postoperative sore throat in patients with thyroid cancer during day surgery. This work establishes a foundation for integrating WAA into modern surgical recovery pathways. However, larger randomized controlled trials are needed to determine effectiveness across different institutions and populations. Wrist-ankle acupuncture offers a nonpharmacological alternative for pain management in thyroid cancer surgery. Further studies are needed to confirm its broader applicability and effectiveness in diverse patient populations.

Background Suboptimal adherence to oral anticancer agents (OAAs) reduces therapeutic benefits among patients with gastrointestinal tract cancer. Self-regulation is an important mechanism to foster behavioral change, but little is known about how to utilize this mechanism to enhance adherence. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of an education program to promote self-regulation in managing adherence to OAAs. Methods A 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial was adopted. Twenty-four participants were randomized to the control or intervention group with a 1:1 ratio. The control group received usual care. The intervention group received usual care and 4 sessions of education to promote self-regulation. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes were evaluated using descriptive statistics and Cohen’s d. Results The consent and attrition rates were 64.86% and 8.33%, respectively. Most (83.33%) participants in the intervention group finished all education sessions. They were satisfied with the educational content and perceived the program as helpful. A favorable trend of better adherence (adherence rate: 90.91%), more self-management behaviors (Cohen’s d = 0.915), less negative illness perceptions (Cohen’s d = −0.714), higher medication self-efficacy (Cohen’s d = 0.431), and necessity beliefs (Cohen’s d = 0.451) was found in the intervention group. Conclusions The education program is considered feasible and acceptable. A full-scale randomized control trial is needed to explore its effectiveness in a larger sample. Implications for Practice This education program to promote self-regulation is promising to support adherence to OAAs, self-management behaviors, favorable illness perceptions, and medication self-efficacy.

Most studies to date exploring facilitators and barriers to adolescent and young adults' (AYAs') participation in clinical trials have been focused on external factors to AYAs' participation or recruitment strategies. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine AYA cancer survivors' preferences for oncology symptom management clinical trial participation. Semistructured interviews and conjoint analysis were conducted to clarify potential attributes (eg, characteristics) and levels (eg, value of the characteristic) that may be important to AYA cancer survivors when considering clinical trial participation (n = 19). The final list of attributes and levels was administered within a choice-based conjoint analysis survey (n = 52). The utility score for each level was analyzed using hierarchical Bayes estimation, and the feature importance for each attribute was quantified. The type of new treatment (22.9%) and perceived importance of study topic (19.5%) were the most important attributes identified by participants. The levels with the highest utility scores within each attribute included prescription medicine treatment with mild side effects, electronic surveys, under-30-minute study visits, no follow-up visits, 4-week treatment period, and once-a-week treatment frequency. The data support that study designs with low participant burden, interventions with few side effects, and the involvement of AYAs in determining the priority of the research topic are appealing to AYAs when considering participation in symptom management trials. AYA participation in clinical trials is necessary to develop new symptom management modalities. Clinicians may use the results to introduce clinical trials containing trial characteristics that appeal to AYA cancer survivors.

Despite Taiwan's advanced healthcare system, many women delay seeking medical attention for breast abnormalities, leading to worsened health outcomes and increased medical costs. To explore the psychological journeys of patients with breast cancer who delayed medical consultation and presented with large tumors. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling and semistructured interviews with 12 participants. Giorgi's phenomenological method guided the data analysis. Most participants (75%) were aged 50 or younger and had at least a high school education. Delays in seeking medical care ranged from 3 to 36 months, worsening disease severity, complicating treatment, and causing significant breast disfigurement. Four themes emerged from their journeys: being ignorant, inner turmoil, hesitation to move forward, and breaking through. Participants delayed care due to insufficient awareness, cognitive biases, emotional struggles, and reliance on self-treatment. Consequently, all participants were diagnosed at stage 3 or higher. Addressing barriers such as low health literacy, cultural stigmas, and limited access to care is essential to encourage early detection and timely medical consultation. To prevent delays in seeking care, healthcare systems should enhance education on low awareness, cognitive biases, and self-treatment. Targeted interventions can empower women to recognize early symptoms and seek timely care. Healthcare professionals should be trained to address patients' fears and hesitations with empathetic, culturally sensitive communication. Reducing barriers, such as low health literacy, cultural stigmas, and limited access to care through community outreach and improved screening services, is essential for early detection and better outcomes.

Character strengths-based intervention (CSI) has the potential to enhance self-esteem and reduce depression, leading to improved quality of life (QoL) for breast cancer patients. To explore the effects of an evidence-based and culturally appropriate CSI among Chinese female patients with breast cancer and their perceptions of the CSI. This study was a multisite assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. The CSI underwent multiple stages of modeling as cultural tailoring, supported by a self-produced booklet and self-monitoring tool for patients. The outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), immediately postintervention (T1), and 1 month postintervention (T2). Qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the experience and opinions among the CSI group. One hundred twenty-two participants were randomly assigned to receive either the CSI (the CSI group; n = 61) or an "early memories" program (the control group; n = 61). The results showed that the CSI significantly increased self-esteem and QoL at T1 and T2. In addition, the CSI significantly reduced depressive symptoms at T1 and T2. The qualitative findings encompassed 5 themes: acceptability of the CSI, perceived benefits of the CSI, facilitators of application of the CSI, barriers to application of the CSI, and recommendations for the CSI. This study demonstrated that the CSI enhanced self-esteem and QoL and alleviated the depressive symptoms of the CSI group. This study highlights the viability of nurses serving as implementers of the CSI and reveals the importance of professional training and resource support for nurses.

Improving family function and resilience among cancer caregivers is a vital clinical concern requiring thorough research. Psychosocial interventions are expected to enhance family function and strengthen resilience; however, the outcomes can differ significantly, highlighting the necessity for further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in enhancing family function and resilience among caregivers of cancer patients based on data derived from randomized controlled trials. A systematic review was performed by searching 6 electronic databases and clinical trial registries until July 12, 2024. Pairwise and network meta-analyses (NMA) were performed using the network package in STATA 16. This review identified 12 studies with a total of 1162 participants. The pairwise meta-analysis revealed a significant positive impact of psychosocial interventions on family function: standardized mean difference (SMD), 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-2.52. NMA showed family interaction approaches (SMD, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.22-1.15) and psychoeducation interventions (SMD, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.24-1.08) both led to improvements in family function. However, neither the pairwise meta-analysis nor the NMA revealed the positive effects of psychosocial interventions on resilience. Evidence suggests that psychosocial interventions can moderately improve family function. Among the various interventions explored, the family interactions demonstrated the most significant potential for effectiveness. However, resilience meta-analyses have not supported our psychosocial intervention recommendations. This study offers valuable insights for nursing practice, emphasizing the need for nurses to consider the relationships and resources available within the families of cancer patients while providing care.