Fear of cancer recurrence: Prevalence and its correlation with various clinical and psycho-social factors in a group of patients with breast cancer

Aim: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is one of the most important concerns for breast cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of FCR and to assess the factors related to FCR among Iranian women with breast cancer. Methods: Women with breast cancer who survived after...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychosomatic research 2019-06, Vol.121, p.140-140
Main Authors: Nejatisafa, Ali-Akbar, Rahmatian, Maryam, Omranipour, Ramesh, Kaviani, Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Breast cancer
Cancer
Clinical assessment
Demography
Family support
Fear
Fear & phobias
Mastectomy
Medical diagnosis
Mental depression
Mental disorders
Mental health
Mental health services
Patients
Psychosocial factors
Questionnaires
Recurrence
Response rates
Social factors
Survivor
Women
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Summary:Aim: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is one of the most important concerns for breast cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of FCR and to assess the factors related to FCR among Iranian women with breast cancer. Methods: Women with breast cancer who survived after cancer treatment was recruited from several breast cancer clinic in Tehran. The acceptable time period after treatment is 6 month to 5 years, and there was no objective markers of recurrence. Demographic and disease related features were documented and FCR intensity and its correlation with mental health, cancer and its treatment characteristics and demographic features were assessed. The FCR was measured by Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) and mental health was evaluated by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Results: Six hundred twenty seven patients were approached and 460 patients completed the survey (response rate: 73.36%). Prevalence of fear of cancer recurrence according to a cut-off point equal to 1SD more than mean was 15.71%. The FCR had a reverse correlation with family support and time passed after diagnosis and treatment. Anxiety, depression and complications of various treatment for breast cancer had positive correlation with FCR. Conclusion: FCR is a relatively prevalent phenomenon in patients with breast cancer. It could be suggested that assessment of FCR should be consider as a routine part of clinical evaluation of patients with breast cancer.
ISSN:0022-3999
1879-1360
DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.03.121