BACKGROUND: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common problem amongst survivors. Past research has shown that young women with breast cancer are particularly vulnerable to FCR, yet few previous studies have specifically examined FCR in this subgroup. AIMS: The aim of the study is to explore the relationship between FCR, psychological morbidity and social factors. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between clinical levels of FCR and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and hypochondriasis. METHOD: Two hundred eighteen breast cancer survivors (aged 18-45 years at diagnosis) diagnosed at least 1 year prior were recruited through seven metropolitan oncology clinics and two breast cancer consumer groups. Participants completed a web-based questionnaire, which assessed FCR, psychological functioning, generalised anxiety, hypochondriasis and items exploring past cancer-related experiences, attitudes to future childbearing, social support and correlates were identified using linear regression. RESULTS: Psychological morbidity scales measuring anxiety and psychological functioning and stressful life events were significantly associated with FCR in adjusted and unadjusted models (p < 0.0001). Past cancer experiences, children, social support and attitudes to childrearing were not associated with FCR. Among those with clinical levels of FCR (n = 152), 43% met screening criteria for hypochondriasis, and 36% met screening criteria for GAD. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows psychological morbidity is associated with FCR, but the majority of women with high levels of FCR do not also meet the criteria for a clinical level of GAD or hypochondriasis. Understanding the factors that make young women vulnerable to FCR is important to help guide the development of FCR-specific interventions for this subgroup.
BACKGROUND: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common problem amongst survivors. Past research has shown that young women with breast cancer are particularly vulnerable to FCR, yet few previous studies have specifically examined FCR in this subgroup. AIMS: The aim of the study is to explore the relationship between FCR, psychological morbidity and social factors. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between clinical levels of FCR and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and hypochondriasis. METHOD: Two hundred eighteen breast cancer survivors (aged 18-45 years at diagnosis) diagnosed at least 1 year prior were recruited through seven metropolitan oncology clinics and two breast cancer consumer groups. Participants completed a web-based questionnaire, which assessed FCR, psychological functioning, generalised anxiety, hypochondriasis and items exploring past cancer-related experiences, attitudes to future childbearing, social support and correlates were identified using linear regression. RESULTS: Psychological morbidity scales measuring anxiety and psychological functioning and stressful life events were significantly associated with FCR in adjusted and unadjusted models (p < 0.0001). Past cancer experiences, children, social support and attitudes to childrearing were not associated with FCR. Among those with clinical levels of FCR (n = 152), 43% met screening criteria for hypochondriasis, and 36% met screening criteria for GAD. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows psychological morbidity is associated with FCR, but the majority of women with high levels of FCR do not also meet the criteria for a clinical level of GAD or hypochondriasis. Understanding the factors that make young women vulnerable to FCR is important to help guide the development of FCR-specific interventions for this subgroup.
Authors: S Sarkar; A Scherwath; L Schirmer; F Schulz-Kindermann; K Neumann; M Kruse; A Dinkel; S Kunze; F Balck; N Kröger; U Koch; A Mehnert Journal: Bone Marrow Transplant Date: 2014-07-07 Impact factor: 5.483
Authors: Andrea A Cohee; Rebecca N Adams; Shelley A Johns; Diane Von Ah; Kathleen Zoppi; Betsy Fife; Patrick O Monahan; Timothy Stump; David Cella; Victoria L Champion Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2015-10-21 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Juan Ignacio Arraras; Jose Juan Illarramendi; Esteban Salgado; Susana de la Cruz; Gemma Asin; Ana Manterola; Berta Ibañez; Uxue Zarandona; Miguel Angel Dominguez; Ruth Vera Journal: Contemp Oncol (Pozn) Date: 2016-06-14
Authors: Belinda Thewes; Suzanne E J Kaal; Jose A E Custers; Eveliene Manten-Horst; Rosemarie Jansen; Petra Servaes; Winette T A van der Graaf; Judith B Prins; Olga Husson Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-11-22 Impact factor: 3.603