This literary review aims to gain more knowledge on the prevalence of malignant cancer in ancient humans and past populations. The focus during this research remains on malignant cancers as they...Show moreThis literary review aims to gain more knowledge on the prevalence of malignant cancer in ancient humans and past populations. The focus during this research remains on malignant cancers as they are significantly more impactful in the quality of life and mortality statuses in past societies. Therefore to address these challenges and contribute to a better understanding of cancer in the past, present, and future, this thesis aimed to accomplish the following: 1. Provide a comprehensive review of all published cases of malignant cancer in ancient populations to create a clearer picture of the occurrence and distribution of cancer in different time periods and geographical regions. 2. Explore potential biomolecular methods for cancer research in the archaeological record. While such techniques have been successfully used for studying ancient infections, their application to cancer remains limited. Investigating the feasibility of biomolecular approaches in paleo-oncology could open new avenues for understanding the evolution and prevalence of cancer in antiquity. By combining osteoarchaeological data with emerging biomedical approaches, this research intended to enhance our knowledge of cancer in ancient populations, contribute to a deeper understanding of its historical context and evolution, and potentially impact future biomedical research. In the end, an updated version of the CRAB Database was used to provide the comprehensive overview. Although some assumptions were produced, there were not distinctive conclusions to be made on the identification of recognisable patterns of cancer prevalence in the past, as the values of the recorded individuals is simple to low along with other limitations. The incorporation of biomolecular approaches, on the other hand, have concluded that these are able to be used on archaeological remains and aid researchers in the detection of cancer and subsequently the deeper understanding of cancer prevalence in the past. These techniques are therefore recommended to use in future researches and to re-evaluate previous studies to increase the accuracy of detection and diagnosis.Show less
Background: Communication is important, especially in cancer care. Good communication can positively influence patient outcomes, whereas poor communication can cause harm. Due to COVID- 19 physical...Show moreBackground: Communication is important, especially in cancer care. Good communication can positively influence patient outcomes, whereas poor communication can cause harm. Due to COVID- 19 physical contact decreased leading to remote communication. In addition, general health care was downscaled, resulting in patients potentially receiving limited information about (treatment) changes. Currently, we do not know whether these changes are considered harmful and whether that depends on certain characteristics. Objective: This study aims to determine to which extent communication themes and communication situations within these two themes, are deemed harmful and by whom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the relationship between patients’ age, gender, education and information need, and the changed communication (remote consultations and limited information about (treatment) changes) and specific communication situations. Methods: An online survey study was conducted based on a scoping review and input from researchers, clinicians, and patient representatives. Participants were eligible if they were 18 years or older, had advanced (incurable) cancer and had sufficient command of the Dutch language. Participants were presented with six potentially harmful communication situations (grouped under the themes remote consultations and limited information about (treatment) changes) which they assessed as harmful or not (yes/no). The background characteristics were dichotomised, and the relationships were measured using (logistic) regression analyses. Results: The sample existed of 47 participants, aged between 44-81. Most participants (57%–87%) perceived the communication situations as harmful. The relationships between age, gender, education, and information need and remote consultations, limited information about (treatment) changes and specific communication situations were all non-significant (p > .01). The relationship between education and not checking if the discussed information is remembered was marginally significant, c2(1, N = 46) = 6.21, p = .013 and recorded an odds ratio of 7.29 (95% CI: 1.31 – 40.54). Conclusions: As we suspect telehealth to increase, we suggest creating specific guidelines for remote contact using harmful communication examples and helpful alternatives. Furthermore, we advise physicians to provide explanations about treatment changes and as to why patients are not (or less) involved in decision-making when information provision is limited. Larger and more representative research is needed to replicate and substantiate our findings.Show less
While the Anglo-Saxon medical text corpus has received increasing scholarly attention over the past few decades, no in-depth study of the Anglo-Saxon understanding of the diseases that are known...Show moreWhile the Anglo-Saxon medical text corpus has received increasing scholarly attention over the past few decades, no in-depth study of the Anglo-Saxon understanding of the diseases that are known today under the umbrella term “cancer” has yet been conducted. The Anglo-Saxon text corpus contains a substantial number of texts that deal with the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. This thesis examines what materials were available to the Anglo-Saxon læce [leech] when encountering cancer. Using both literary and medical texts as sources, my thesis explores the understanding the Anglo-Saxons had of different types of cancer, what remedies they used, and how effective these remedies can be said to have been in light of today’s medical knowledge.Show less
The experience of illness produces profound disturbances in a person’s sense of self and integrity. Beyond the uncertainty caused by the incongruence between the sickened person’s self-concept and...Show moreThe experience of illness produces profound disturbances in a person’s sense of self and integrity. Beyond the uncertainty caused by the incongruence between the sickened person’s self-concept and his or her state of illness, there comes also an experience of uncertainty over the concept and potential prospect of death. The process of autopathography—defined by Smith and Watson as “[creating] first-person illness narratives”—often serves as a therapeutic outlet for those stricken by serious illnesses, allowing for them to both reflect on the past, as well as prompt for social change within the greater society. With reference to Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, and their resultant “virtues”, the study considers the tramatized’s intrapsychic and social orientations. It describes a functional method for analyzing autopathographical works for evidence of their authors’ working through of their trauma from these dimensions. Aude Lorde’s “The Cancer Journals” is used as a proof-of-concept case study.Show less
