Psychological morbidity and stress but not social factors influence level of fear of cancer recurrence in young women with early breast cancer: results of a cross‐sectional study. Issue 12 (23rd August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thewes, B.; Bell, M. L.; Butow, P.; Beith, J.; Boyle, F.; Friedlander, M.; McLachlan, S. A.
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 22:Issue 12(2013)
• Page Start: 2797
• Page End: 2806
• Publication Date: 2013-08-23
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3348
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3348-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3348-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3348-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3348-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Psychological morbidity scales measuring anxiety and psychological functioning and stressful life events were significantly associated with FCR in adjusted and unadjusted models (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). Past cancer experiences, children, social support and attitudes to childrearing were not associated with FCR. Among those with clinical levels of FCR (<italic>n</italic> = 152), 43% met screening criteria for hypochondriasis, and 36% met screening criteria for GAD.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3348-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>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. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>