J Gynecol Oncol.  2017 Nov;28(6):e72. 10.3802/jgo.2017.28.e72.

Fear of cancer recurrence and its predictors among cervical cancer survivors

• Hanprasertpong J
• Geater A
• Jiamset I
• Padungkul
• Hirunkajonpan P
• Songhong N

• KMID: 2413199
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2017.28.e72

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To identify the characteristics of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in cervical cancer survivors (CCSs) and investigate the relationship of FCR with demographic and medical characteristics, level of quality of life (QOL), and psychological distress. We also aimed to determine the predictors of FCR.
METHODS
The short version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP-Q-SF), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cervical (FACT-Cx) questionnaire were administered to 699 CCSs who had complete treatment at Songklanagarind Hospital between 2006 and 2016. Analysis was performed to determine potential predictors associated with FCR.
RESULTS
Among the 12 items of the FoP-Q-SF, the 3 greatest fears were 1) worrying about what would happen to their family; 2) being afraid of pain; and 3) fear of disease progression. The prevalences of anxiety and depression disorder were 20.46% and 9.44%, respectively. CCSs who had FCR at the 5th quintile were more likely to have medical co-morbidities, low FACT-Cx scores in all domains and a high HADS scores (anxiety and depression disorder). Multivariate analysis showed that only anxiety disorder (odds ratio [OR]=4.99; p<0.001) and low FACT-Cx score (total) (OR=6.14; p<0.001) were identified as independent predictors for FCR at the 5th quintile.
CONCLUSION
FCR is an important problem in cervical cancer which should be addressed during post-treatment care. Only anxiety disorder and low QOL were independently associated with high FCR.

Keyword

Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Survivors; Fear; Recurrence; Risk Factors

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology/psychology
Cancer Survivors/*psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder/epidemiology/psychology
Fear/*psychology
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*psychology
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Stress, Psychological/epidemiology/*psychology
Thailand/epidemiology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*psychology
Young Adult