Background: Emotional disturbances such as anxiety and depression are common in breast cancer patients and may intensify during systemic therapy. This study aimed to assess changes in the severity of anxiety and depression among women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to identify factors influencing emotional outcomes. Methods: A total of 211 women with stage I–III breast cancer treated at the Podkarpackie Oncology Center in Brzozów, Poland, were included. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) one week before and three weeks after chemotherapy. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and descriptive statistics (STATISTICA v.13). Results: After chemotherapy, anxiety and depression levels increased significantly. Nearly half of the patients experienced clinically relevant anxiety, and over one-third showed symptoms of depression. The emotional burden appeared particularly high among women reporting financial difficulties. In contrast, no clear associations were found with marital status, place of residence, or cancer stage. Conclusions: Chemotherapy in breast cancer patients is associated with a significant increase in anxiety and depression severity. Routine psychological assessment and psycho-oncological support should be implemented as integral components of oncological care, with particular attention to patients in disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions.

Background/Objective: The study aimed to evaluate disease acceptance and quality of life in women with breast cancer before and after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: The study included 211 women diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant treatment. The following measures were utilized: the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 modules for quality of life assessment, the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) questionnaire for evaluating disease acceptance, and a proprietary questionnaire. Assessments were conducted one week before the first chemotherapy session and three weeks after completing the chemotherapy. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA v. 13. Results: The respondents exhibited an average acceptance of their disease, both before (28.2 pts) and after chemotherapy (25.5 pts). A decline in disease acceptance was observed in nearly 59.2% of the patients following chemotherapy. Higher levels of disease acceptance were associated with a better quality of life. The quality of life for the studied women decreased after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, particularly in the following areas: physical functioning (p = 0.0000), social functioning (p = 0.0000), body image assessment (p = 0.0000), sexual satisfaction (p = 0.0000), nausea and vomiting (p = 0.0000), fatigue (p = 0.0000), loss of appetite (p = 0.0000), insomnia (p = 0.0000), pain (p = 0.0000), hair loss (p = 0.0000), and side effects of systemic treatment (p = 0.0000). Conclusions: Post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a decline in disease acceptance and quality of life was observed among women with breast cancer in comparison with their pre-treatment status. Higher levels of disease acceptance were associated with a better quality of life. These findings may facilitate the creation of a more tailored care approach for women during and after chemotherapy.

Background/Objectives: Melanoma is a major and growing public health concern in Poland, with a five-year survival around 60–70%. While UV radiation and genetic susceptibility are well-known risk factors, lifestyle and environmental exposures may also contribute. This study examined how selected risk factors relate to one-year melanoma prevalence across Poland’s 16 voivodeships and assessed whether these factors can support short-term prediction. Methods: Annual melanoma prevalence for 2011–2021 was obtained from the Polish National Cancer Registry, and voivodeship-level estimates of metabolic risk factors, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, smoking, high BMI, air pollution, water pollution and limited data on UV exposure were used to build a general estimating equations model. Model predictions for 2020–2021 were compared with observed data, and forecasts were generated through 2030. Results: Melanoma cases increased in every voivodeship between 2011 and 2021. Metabolic risk factors, high BMI, low physical activity and smoking were associated with higher melanoma prevalence. When other factors were considered, air pollution showed an inverse association, suggesting complex relationships that warrant further analysis. Forecasts indicated increasing prevalence in all of 16 voivodeships through 2030, although three regions showed large prediction errors for 2020–2021. A key limitation was the lack of sufficient UV exposure data. Conclusions: The findings support further evaluation of public health actions targeting the reduction of unhealthy lifestyle regarding diet, low physical activity, and smoking to help slow the projected rise in melanoma.

Background/Objectives: Personal values shape appraisal of stress and life satisfaction. We examined the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction among uniformed personnel in outpatient mental health care, and the role of a personal values hierarchy in this context. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 183 uniformed personnel (34 females, 149 males, age 30–66 years, M = 44.72, SD = 5.84) diagnosed with bodily distress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder at a mental health clinic. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing perceived stress, satisfaction with life, coping styles, and personal values. For the Personal Value List, each value not selected by a participant was coded as 0 to avoid missing data; scores regarding symbols of happiness were not used. Reliability was evaluated via repeated measurement; two parts of a key instrument showed test–retest correlations of approximately 0.78 and 0.76. For assessing statistical significance, the bootstrap method was used (1000 resamples). Analyses were conducted in jamovi 2.3.28 using snowLatent (latent profile analysis) and medmod 1.1.0 (moderation analysis). Results: Perceived stress was negatively associated with satisfaction with life (B = −0.36, 95% CI [−0.48; −0.24], p < 0.001). Latent profile analysis extracted two personal values hierarchy profiles (AIC = 4237; BIC = 4587). Profile membership was not a significant predictor of satisfaction with life (p = 0.595) and did not moderate the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life (p = 0.907). Distraction seeking was significantly higher in profile 1 (p = 0.010). Conclusions: In treated uniformed personnel, higher perceived stress is linked to lower life satisfaction. The personal values hierarchy did not moderate this relationship and was not associated with satisfaction with life; however, the personal values hierarchy was related to coping, specifically distraction seeking.

Background/Objectives: Public health programmes for older adults aim to reduce hospital admissions and improve health outcomes. However, the effects of these programmes on the length of hospital stays for seniors remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the link between the number and type of public health initiatives implemented between 2017 and 2018, and the number of hospitalisations, as well as the duration of hospital stays in 2019 and 2020, among seniors with heart, digestive, and musculoskeletal diseases. Methods: A correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between the number of public health programmes and activities, and the number and length of hospitalisations among older adults. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01. Results: The analysis revealed positive correlations between the number of completed public health tasks and the length of hospital stay across the three disease groups. For heart disease, hospital stay length was correlated with the total number of programmes (r = 0.501, p < 0.05) and those specifically supporting medical services (r = 0.574, p < 0.05). In cases of digestive diseases, correlations were observed with the overall number of programmes (r = 0.623, p < 0.01), as well as programmes in the “general” category and ones supporting medical services (r = 0.544–0.601, p < 0.05). Regarding musculoskeletal diseases, the strongest correlation occurred with programmes that support medical services (r = 0.700, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that increased public health interventions may be associated with longer hospital stays among seniors, likely reflecting the emergence of more complex health needs and increased diagnostic intensity. At the same time, analysis based on ecological data does not allow for the establishment of causal relationships, emphasizing the need for further, more advanced research that controls for confounding factors.

Background/Objectives: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of breast cancer and improves oncological outcomes; however, its impact on patients’ psychosocial well-being remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess changes in life satisfaction and self-esteem in women with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 211 women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and self-esteem was measured with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Assessments were performed one week before initiation of chemotherapy and three weeks after its completion. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: A significant decrease in life satisfaction was observed after chemotherapy (mean 21.6 vs. 18.7; p < 0.001), indicating a shift from slight satisfaction to slight dissatisfaction. Self-esteem also significantly decreased (29.4 vs. 27.8; p < 0.001), although it remained within the average range. A decline in life satisfaction was reported in 60.7% of patients and a decrease in self-esteem in 50.2%. A significant positive correlation between life satisfaction and self-esteem was observed both before and after treatment. Financial status significantly differentiated both outcomes after chemotherapy. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a significant decline in life satisfaction and self-esteem in women with breast cancer, highlighting its psychosocial impact. These findings support the need for routine assessment of psychological well-being and the integration of psycho-oncological support into comprehensive cancer care. Because the post-treatment assessment was performed shortly after chemotherapy completion, the findings primarily reflect short-term changes during treatment phase.