Daniela Doege1, Melissa Thong2, Lena Koch-Gallenkamp3, Heike Bertram4, Andrea Eberle5, Bernd Holleczek6, Mechthild Waldeyer-Sauerland7, Annika Waldmann7,8, Sylke Ruth Zeissig9, Hermann Brenner3,10,11, Volker Arndt2. 1. Unit of Cancer Survivorship, Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), P.O.B. 10 19 49, 69009, Heidelberg, Germany. d.doege@dkfz.de. 2. Unit of Cancer Survivorship, Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), P.O.B. 10 19 49, 69009, Heidelberg, Germany. 3. Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 4. Cancer Registry of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bochum, Germany. 5. Bremen Cancer Registry, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany. 6. Saarland Cancer Registry, Saarbrücken, Germany. 7. Hamburg Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health and Consumer Protection, Hamburg, Germany. 8. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. 9. Cancer Registry of Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz, Germany. 10. Division of Preventive Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 11. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Many long-term cancer survivors still have to adjust to possible adverse consequences of the illness or treatment. Resources can play an important role in this adjustment process, but research on this topic is limited, especially for very long-term survivors. This study explores, which resources are most frequently indicated by different subgroups of cancer survivors, and what role resources play for functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cancer survivors with and without recurrence. METHODS: The sample of 6030 breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors (5-16 years post-diagnosis) was recruited in a German multi-regional population-based study. Personal resources were assessed by a 27-item checklist; HRQL was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). General linear models were used to analyze associations of resources with HRQL. RESULTS: Participants indicated on average 11.4 (SD 5.1) resources as helpful. Family, activities with others, and partnership were indicated most commonly overall, but frequencies varied according to age, sex, and tumor site. Physical activity, health, professional help, calmness, hope, optimism, and hobbies were most important in explaining HRQL variance. Cancer survivors with recurrence and many resources were found to report similar HRQL as survivors without recurrence and only few resources. CONCLUSIONS: The study underlines the importance and situational variability of personal and social resources for cancer survivors' HRQL, even years post-diagnosis. Not only the availability, but also the individual perception and significance of resources should be considered in follow-up cancer care.
PURPOSE: Many long-term cancer survivors still have to adjust to possible adverse consequences of the illness or treatment. Resources can play an important role in this adjustment process, but research on this topic is limited, especially for very long-term survivors. This study explores, which resources are most frequently indicated by different subgroups of cancer survivors, and what role resources play for functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cancer survivors with and without recurrence. METHODS: The sample of 6030 breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors (5-16 years post-diagnosis) was recruited in a German multi-regional population-based study. Personal resources were assessed by a 27-item checklist; HRQL was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). General linear models were used to analyze associations of resources with HRQL. RESULTS:Participants indicated on average 11.4 (SD 5.1) resources as helpful. Family, activities with others, and partnership were indicated most commonly overall, but frequencies varied according to age, sex, and tumor site. Physical activity, health, professional help, calmness, hope, optimism, and hobbies were most important in explaining HRQL variance. Cancer survivors with recurrence and many resources were found to report similar HRQL as survivors without recurrence and only few resources. CONCLUSIONS: The study underlines the importance and situational variability of personal and social resources for cancer survivors' HRQL, even years post-diagnosis. Not only the availability, but also the individual perception and significance of resources should be considered in follow-up cancer care.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer survivorship; Health-related quality of life; Personal resources; Population-based; Resilience; Social resources
Authors: Carla Parry; Erin E Kent; Angela B Mariotto; Catherine M Alfano; Julia H Rowland Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: N K Aaronson; S Ahmedzai; B Bergman; M Bullinger; A Cull; N J Duez; A Filiberti; H Flechtner; S B Fleishman; J C de Haes Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 1993-03-03 Impact factor: 13.506