Adult cancer survivors: how are they faring?

Frank Baker; Maxine Denniston; Tenbroeck Smith; Michele M West

doi:10.1002/cncr.21488

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Adult cancer survivors: how are they faring?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Adult cancer survivors: how are they faring?

Frank Baker, Maxine Denniston, Tenbroeck Smith and Michele M West

Cancer, Vol.104(11 Suppl), pp.2565-2576

12/01/2005

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21488

PMID: 16258929

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Abstract

This study identified the psychosocial problems that 752 patients from 3 states who had been diagnosed with 1 of the 10 most commonly occurring cancers indicated concerned them the most. Approximately 1 year after being diagnosed with cancer, 68.1% of patients were concerned with their illness returning, and more than half were concerned with developing a disease recurrence (59.8%) or had fears regarding the future (57.7%). In addition to these psychological problems focused on fear, approximately two-thirds (67.1%) of patients were concerned about a physical health problem, fatigue, and loss of strength. Two other physical health problems that concerned more than two-fifths of patients were sleep difficulties (47.9%) and sexual dysfunction (41.2%). More problems were reported by younger survivors (ages 18-54 yrs), women, nonwhites, those who were not married, and those with a household income of less than 20,000 US dollars a year. Those patients currently in treatment for cancer reported on average significantly more problems (P < 0.001) and on average had a higher Cancer Problems in Living Scale (CPILS) total score (P < 0.001) compared with those not currently in treatment. In a comparison of respondents with one of the four most common cancers, the most concerns regarding problems in living and highest mean CPILS scores were reported by those diagnosed with lung cancer, followed by survivors of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

Adolescent

Adult

Age Factors

Demography

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - psychology

Neoplasms - complications

Neoplasms - psychology

Pilot Projects

Quality of Life - psychology

Sex Factors

Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology

Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology

Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology

Sleep Wake Disorders - psychology

Survivors - psychology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Adult cancer survivors: how are they faring?
Creators: Frank Baker - American Cancer Society
Maxine Denniston - American Cancer Society
Tenbroeck Smith - American Cancer Society
Michele M West - State Health Registry of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Cancer, Vol.104(11 Suppl), pp.2565-2576
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21488
PMID: 16258929
ISSN: 0008-543X
eISSN: 1097-0142
Language: English
Date published: 12/01/2005
Academic Unit: Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9984368083602771

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