Oncofertility is any therapeutic intervention to safeguard the fertility of cancer patients. Anti-cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc.) entail the risk of reproductive disorders through cytotoxic effects on gamete-building cells, especially those not yet fully developed. This literature review analyzes the available data on securing fertility in pediatric and adolescent populations to identify the methods used and describe aspects related to financing, ethics, and the perspective of patients and their parents. Topics related to oncofertility in this age group are relatively niche, with few peer-reviewed articles available and published studies mostly on adults. Compared to pubertal individuals, a limited number of fertility preservation methods are used for prepubertal patients. Funding for the procedures described varies from country to country, but only a few governments choose to reimburse them. Oncofertility of pediatric and adolescent patients raises many controversies related to the decision, parents’ beliefs, having a partner, ethics, as well as the knowledge and experience of healthcare professionals. As the fertility of young cancer patients is at risk, healthcare professionals should make every effort to provide them with an opportunity to fulfill their future reproductive plans and to have a family and offspring. Systemic solutions should form the basis for the development of oncofertility in pediatric and adolescent populations.

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Background: Dermatological conditions extend beyond physical symptoms, profoundly impacting the psychological well-being of patients. This study explores the intricate relationship between depressive symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and personality traits in individuals diagnosed with specific genodermatoses. Methods: The study cohort comprised 30 patients with genodermatoses treated at the dermatology clinic, and a healthy control group. Standardized survey questionnaires: The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) were employed for assessments. Results: The findings indicate a significantly elevated risk of severely or very severely reduced QoL in the study group compared to matched controls (OR = 22.2, 95% CI: 2.7–184.8). Specifically, individuals with ichthyosis exhibited a staggering 131-fold higher risk of diminished QoL compared to the control group. Furthermore, the prevalence of depression was higher in the study group than in the control group (36.7% vs. 10%; p = 0.0086). A detailed analysis revealed that patients with low or average agreeableness exhibited a notably higher incidence of depression compared to those with high agreeableness (100% or 75% vs. 28.6%; p = 0.0400). Similarly, individuals with high levels of neuroticism had a significantly higher incidence of depression compared to those with average or low levels of neuroticism (rates: 66.7% vs. 9.1% or 0%, respectively; p = 0.0067). Conclusions: The study underscores a substantial correlation between genodermatoses and the mental health of affected individuals, underscoring the imperative consideration of psychological factors in the management of hereditary skin disorders. Our study’s primary limitation is the small sample size, stemming from difficulties in recruiting participants due to the rare nature of the studied conditions.

Understanding the impact of cancer on the experience of time is crucial in the context of hope and recovery. This study, a follow-up to a previous qualitative study of ovarian cancer patients – explored two types of such experiences—the memory of past happiness and the limited future planning. A sociodemographic questionnaire with nine questions about the experience of time was used on a convenience sample of 202 patients with various cancers, predominantly women with breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer. It was found that the respondents experienced increased focus on the present, decreased focus on the future, and a sense of unpredictability, with a relatively short temporal horizon measured in weeks and months, not years. Almost half of the respondents (46%) measured time during treatment by the rhythm of chemotherapy and check-ups, which thus appeared as the most meaningful events. The increase in the frequency with which patients underwent chemotherapy mildly affected their focus on the present (R = 0.25, p < 0.05), likely because of the discomfort of the side effects. The correlations between age and time in treatment, on the one hand, and the experience of time, on the other, were negligible. Changed temporal experience during chemotherapy is a factor that can have an impact on patients’ well-being and ability to cope with the disease. It thus should be taken into account when planning oncology care.

Background: Epidermal differentiation disorders (EDDs) are rare, chronic skin diseases with significant psychosocial impact on patients and families. Their daily management requires complex care, placing caregivers at risk of stress and anxiety. Few studies have systematically examined anxiety and coping strategies in this group. Objectives: To compare anxiety levels and coping styles between caregivers of children with syndromic or nonsyndromic EDD and caregivers of healthy children. Methods: In this cross‐sectional case‐control study, 39 caregivers of children with EDD and 39 matched controls were recruited from a dermatology clinic. Anxiety was assessed with the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and coping styles with the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Results: Caregivers of children with EDDs reported significantly higher trait anxiety than controls (79.5% vs. 53.8%; p = 0.017). Task‐oriented coping (TOC) was less frequent among EDD caregivers, with more than half showing low TOC compared with less than one‐third of controls (56.4% vs. 28.6%; p = 0.019). High avoidance‐oriented coping (AOC) was observed more often in controls (21.4% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.044). Anxiety was greater among caregivers of boys than girls (95.7% vs. 56.2%; p = 0.003). Avoidant coping was associated with greater child symptom severity, including pruritus and redness. Conclusions: Caregivers of children with EDD experience high anxiety and rely less on adaptive coping strategies. These findings emphasize the need for early, family‐centered psychosocial interventions to support caregiver well‐being and improve outcomes for affected children.

Introduction: The diagnosis of a serious illness in a family affects all members. The child is a special subject, as he cannot yet understand many aspects of life at such a high perceptual level as an adult. Communicating difficult information is part of the doctor's task and is one of the most difficult parts of the therapeutic process. The aim of the study: To analyze the methodology of communicating difficult information to pediatric oncology patients. Material and method: Polish and English-language scientific literature from 2012 - 2022 from databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, Web of Science was reviewed. Searches were conducted according to keywords: communicating difficult information, oncology, pediatrics, physician. Results and conclusions: One of the most well-known protocols for communicating difficult information is SPIKES. It describes the basic and necessary steps for properly informing parents and the child about the diagnosis, for example. Healthy siblings should also learn about their brother's illness, but this task falls to the parents. Psycho-oncological support for both the child and parents should be holistic, based on best practices, and tailored to the family's needs.