BACKGROUND: The population of people surviving cancer is continually increasing and currently cancer survivors represent approximately 3.7% of the American population and 3% of the UK population. There is limited and inconclusive empirical evidence regarding the long-term health and well-being of cancer survivors. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-nine cancer survivors and 262 matched-age and sex patients from the same group of General (primary care) Practices completed postal questionnaires measuring health and well-being, health service utilisation and satisfaction and health care needs. MAIN RESULTS: Cancer survivors reported poorer health and well-being and health service utilisation than the general population. Despite this poorer health, the majority of cancer survivors reported satisfaction with services and almost two-thirds of the survivors did not report any needs. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of cancer survivors do not appear to require additional support services. There is, however, a subgroup of survivors who warrant specialist support, particularly survivors who are older, experience late effects and have had adjuvant treatments. Future research should focus on developing methods that could be used in routine clinical practice to identify 'at risk' or vulnerable patients and to provide appropriate and timely support.
BACKGROUND: The population of people surviving cancer is continually increasing and currently cancer survivors represent approximately 3.7% of the American population and 3% of the UK population. There is limited and inconclusive empirical evidence regarding the long-term health and well-being of cancer survivors. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-nine cancer survivors and 262 matched-age and sex patients from the same group of General (primary care) Practices completed postal questionnaires measuring health and well-being, health service utilisation and satisfaction and health care needs. MAIN RESULTS:Cancer survivors reported poorer health and well-being and health service utilisation than the general population. Despite this poorer health, the majority of cancer survivors reported satisfaction with services and almost two-thirds of the survivors did not report any needs. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of cancer survivors do not appear to require additional support services. There is, however, a subgroup of survivors who warrant specialist support, particularly survivors who are older, experience late effects and have had adjuvant treatments. Future research should focus on developing methods that could be used in routine clinical practice to identify 'at risk' or vulnerable patients and to provide appropriate and timely support.
Authors: Floortje Mols; Kazimier A Helfenrath; Ad J J M Vingerhoets; Jan Willem W Coebergh; Lonneke V van de Poll-Franse Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2007-08-15 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Maria Antonietta Annunziata; Barbara Muzzatti; Cristiana Flaiban; Lorena Giovannini; Matilde Carlucci Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2016-03-01 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Maria Antonietta Annunziata; Barbara Muzzatti; Cristiana Flaiban; Katiuscia Gipponi; Carlo Carnaghi; Paolo Tralongo; Michele Caruso; Raffaele Cavina; Umberto Tirelli Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-09-16 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Barbara Muzzatti; Cristiana Flaiban; Antonella Surbone; Maria Antonietta Annunziata Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2014-10-24 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Crystal L Park; Emily Fritzson; Katherine E Gnall; Caroline Salafia; Kaleigh Ligus; Sinead Sinnott; Keith M Bellizzi Journal: Res Hum Dev Date: 2021-08-02