OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a potentially traumatic experience that may evoke posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among survivors. This paper describes the rates of endorsement of cancer-related PTSS along with the relationship of demographic, cancer, and combat variables on PTSS and quality of life. METHODS: Veterans (N = 166) with head and neck, esophageal, gastric, or colorectal cancers were recruited through tumor registries at two regional Veterans Administration Medical Centers. Standardized scales were used to assess self-report of PTSS, combat, and quality of life. RESULTS: Most participants (86%) reported experiencing at least some cancer-related PTSS; 10% scored above a clinical cutoff for probable PTSD. In linear regressions, younger age and current combat PTSS were associated with cancer-related PTSS, whereas disease and treatment characteristics were not; in turn, cancer-related PTSS were negatively associated with physical and social quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Individual characteristics and psychosocial factors may play a larger role than disease-related variables in determining how an individual responds to the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Given the rates of reported cancer-related PTSS in this sample, and other non-veteran samples, clinicians should consider screening these following diagnosis and treatment, particularly in younger adults and those with previous trauma histories.
OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a potentially traumatic experience that may evoke posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among survivors. This paper describes the rates of endorsement of cancer-related PTSS along with the relationship of demographic, cancer, and combat variables on PTSS and quality of life. METHODS: Veterans (N = 166) with head and neck, esophageal, gastric, or colorectal cancers were recruited through tumor registries at two regional Veterans Administration Medical Centers. Standardized scales were used to assess self-report of PTSS, combat, and quality of life. RESULTS: Most participants (86%) reported experiencing at least some cancer-related PTSS; 10% scored above a clinical cutoff for probable PTSD. In linear regressions, younger age and current combat PTSS were associated with cancer-related PTSS, whereas disease and treatment characteristics were not; in turn, cancer-related PTSS were negatively associated with physical and social quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Individual characteristics and psychosocial factors may play a larger role than disease-related variables in determining how an individual responds to the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Given the rates of reported cancer-related PTSS in this sample, and other non-veteran samples, clinicians should consider screening these following diagnosis and treatment, particularly in younger adults and those with previous trauma histories.
Authors: Cheryl Koopman; Lisa D Butler; Catherine Classen; Janine Giese-Davis; Gary R Morrow; Joan Westendorf; Tarit Banerjee; David Spiegel Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2002-08
Authors: Ryan D Nipp; Areej El-Jawahri; Sara M D'Arpino; Andy Chan; Charn-Xin Fuh; P Connor Johnson; Daniel E Lage; Risa L Wong; William F Pirl; Lara Traeger; Barbara J Cashavelly; Vicki A Jackson; David P Ryan; Ephraim P Hochberg; Jennifer S Temel; Joseph A Greer Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-06-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Nathanael R Fillmore; Clark DuMontier; Cenk Yildirim; Jennifer La; Mara M Epstein; David Cheng; Diana Cirstea; Sarvari Yellapragada; Gregory A Abel; J Michael Gaziano; Nhan Do; Mary Brophy; Dae H Kim; Nikhil C Munshi; Jane A Driver Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2021-08-02 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Carolyn L Qian; Emilia R Kaslow-Zieve; Chinenye C Azoba; Nora Horick; Irene Wang; Emily Van Seventer; Richard Newcomb; Barbara J Cashavelly; Vicki A Jackson; David P Ryan; Joseph A Greer; Areej El-Jawahri; Jennifer S Temel; Ryan D Nipp Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 3.603