A qualitative exploration of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) amongst Australian and Canadian breast cancer survivors

Current directions in research and treatment of fear of cancer recurrence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

An expert meeting in Ottawa in 2015 galvanized efforts to answer key questions relevant to the understanding and management of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). The aim of this review is to summarize key developments.

RECENT FINDINGS

A consensus on the definition of FCR has helped to further research in this area. There have been a number of theories put forward to account for the development of FCR, all of which share key components. Importantly, a number of important trials have been published that confirm both brief and more intensive interventions can successfully treat FCR.

SUMMARY

The consensus definition of FCR is an important development, as is the development of treatments for FCR. There are now evidence-based options for the management of patients with clinical levels of FCR. Future research priorities include determining the optimal cut-off points for identifying clinically significant FCR, testing the major tenets of the recent theoretical formulations of FCR; and determining the relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of different treatment approaches for managing FCR.

Fear of Recurrence in Turkish Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Purpose: Fear of recurrence (FOR) of cancer is a distressing symptom and can negatively affect breast cancer survivors’ quality of life and psychological well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Turkish breast cancer survivors’ experiences related to FOR. Design: The data were collected through semistructured interviews, which were conducted with 12 breast cancer survivors. Results: The data were categorized into four themes: the quality of fear, triggers, effects on life, and coping. FOR survivors’ lives in multiple aspects, and the women found it difficult to manage their fear. Implications: Nurses should be aware of FOR in survivors during follow-up care. In addition, it is essential to consider the impact of FOR on life, and survivors should be referred to appropriate resources and support services.

Use of Breast Imaging After Treatment for Locoregional Breast Cancer (AFT-01)

BACKGROUND

Annual mammography is recommended after breast cancer treatment. However, studies suggest its under-utilization for Medicare patients. Utilization in the broader population is unknown, as is the role of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Understanding factors associated with imaging use is critical to improvement of adherence to recommendations.

METHODS

A random sample of 9835 eligible patients receiving surgery for stages 2 and 3 breast cancer from 2006 to 2007 was selected from the National Cancer Database for primary data collection. Imaging and recurrence data were abstracted from patients 90 days after surgery to 5 years after diagnosis. Factors associated with lack of imaging were assessed using multivariable repeated measures logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. Patients were censored for death, bilateral mastectomy, new cancer, and recurrence.

RESULTS

Of 9835 patients, 9622, 8702, 8021, and 7457 patients were eligible for imaging at surveillance years 1 through 4 respectively. Annual receipt of breast imaging declined from year 1 (69.5%) to year 4 (61.0%), and breast MRI rates decreased from 12.5 to 5.8%. Lack of imaging was associated with age 80 years or older and age younger than 50 years, black race, public or no insurance versus private insurance, greater comorbidity, larger node-positive hormone receptor-negative tumor, excision alone or mastectomy, and no chemotherapy (p < 0.005). Receipt of breast MRI was associated with age younger than 50 years, white race, higher education, private insurance, mastectomy, chemotherapy, care at a teaching/research facility, and MRI 12 months before diagnosis (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Under-utilization of mammography after breast cancer treatment is associated with sociodemographic and clinical factors, not institutional characteristics. Effective interventions are needed to increase surveillance mammography for at-risk populations. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02171078.

Prevalence and correlates of high fear of cancer recurrence in late adolescents and young adults consulting a specialist adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer service

OBJECTIVE

High fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a frequently reported problem among cancer patients. Previous research has shown that younger age is associated with higher levels of FCR. However, little attention has been given to date about how FCR manifests itself among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. This study explores the prevalence, correlates of high FCR, and its association with HRQoL in cancer patients in their late adolescence or young adulthood.

METHODS

Seventy-three AYA cancer patients, aged 18-35 years at diagnosis, consulted the AYA team of the Radboud University Medical Center completed questionnaires including the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS), Quality of Life-Cancer Survivors (QOL-CS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sociodemographic and medical data was collected by self-reported questionnaire.

RESULTS

Forty-five participants experienced high FCR (62%), which was higher than the 31-52% reported in previous studies among mixed adult cancer patient samples. Sociodemographic and medical variables were not associated with levels of FCR. High FCR was significantly associated with lower levels of social and psychological functioning and overall HRQoL and higher levels of anxiety and psychological distress.

CONCLUSION

Results illustrate that FCR is a significant problem among AYA cancer patients consulting an AYA team, with participants reporting higher levels of FCR than cancer patients of mixed ages. Health care providers should pay specific attention to this problem by screening and the provision of appropriate psychosocial care when needed.

Outcome and late effects among acute myeloid leukemia survivors: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Understanding of pathogenesis and treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is growing. However, studies regarding the outcomes and late effects among AML survivors are relatively limited.

METHODS

This nationwide population-based study used medical records from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 3356 AML patients diagnosed from 2000 to 2008 were analyzed. The physiological and psychological morbidities in AML survivors were compared to those identified from a normal population. This study also compared late effects among AML survivors treated by intensive chemotherapy alone and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

RESULTS

The incidence of AML in Taiwan has increased from 1.07 per 100,000 persons in 2000 to 2.17 per 100,000 persons in 2008 (p < 0.0001). With the median overall survival (OS) time of 0.98 years, 25.0 % of AML patients in this study cohort received best supportive care alone. Compared to the normal population, AML survivors had higher rates of hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] 1.69; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.42; p < 0.01), cardiovascular disease (HR 2.53; 95 % CI 1.39-4.61; p < 0.01), diabetes (HR 2.27; 95 % CI 1.48-3.48; p < 0.001), and psychological disorders (HR 1.45; 95 % CI 1.04-2.04; p < 0.05). Although patients undergoing allo-HSCT had a better OS than did patients treated with intensive chemotherapy alone (median not reached vs. 1.53 years; p < 0.0001), diabetes was found more often among allo-HSCT recipients than among patients receiving intensive chemotherapy only (HR 2.93; 95 % CI 1.21-7.08; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Regular physical and psychological surveillance of AML survivors is needed especially for those receiving allo-HSCT.

When fear of cancer recurrence becomes a clinical issue: a qualitative analysis of features associated with clinical fear of cancer recurrence

PURPOSE

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common experience for cancer survivors. However, it remains unclear what characteristics differentiate non-clinical from clinical levels of FCR. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential hallmarks of clinical FCR.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 40 participants (n = 19 female) was drawn from another study (Lebel et al. in Qual Life Res 25:311-321. doi: 10.1007/s11136-015-1088-2 , 2016). The semi-structured interview for fear of cancer recurrence (Simard and Savard in J Cancer Surviv 9:481-491. doi: 10.1007/s11764-015-0424-4 , 2015) was used to identify participants with non-clinical and clinical FCR and qualitative analysis of these interviews was performed.

RESULTS

Individuals with clinical FCR reported the following features: death-related thoughts, feeling alone, belief that the cancer would return, experiencing intolerance of uncertainty, having cancer-related thoughts and imagery that were difficult to control, daily and recurrent, lasted 30 minutes or more, increased over time, caused distress and impacted their daily life. Triggers of FCR and coping strategies did not appear to be features of clinical FCR as they were reported by participants with a range of FCR scores.

CONCLUSIONS

While features of clinical FCR found in this analysis such as intrusive thoughts, distress and impact on functioning confirmed previous FCR research, other features spontaneously emerged from the interviews including "death-related thoughts," "feeling alone," and "belief that the cancer will return." The participants' descriptions of cancer-specific fear and worry suggest that FCR is a distinct phenomenon related to cancer survivorship, despite similarities with psychological disorders (e.g., Anxiety Disorders). Future research investigating the construct of FCR, and the distinguishing features of clinical FCR across a range of cancer types and gender is required.