Intro:
Post-treatment cancer survivors routinely endorse fear of recurrence as a salient and ongoing stressor (Koch et al., 2012). Despite this, there is a paucity of information regarding the impact of recurrent disease on psychosocial outcomes (Vivar et al., 2008), and the most appropriate manner by which to provide support. The current study examines the psychosocial outcomes and support preferences of long-term survivors with and without recurrent disease.
Method:
A sample of 327 cancer survivors (N(Recurrence)=85, M age=62.8 years, female=70%, M years since initial treatment=10), completed demographic and health history information forms by mail as part of a larger study. Participants reported symptom burden, psychosocial stressors and whether they would like to follow-up with a health professional, in addition to psychosocial outcomes.
Results:
There were no significant differences across demographic variables between those with and without recurrence. Long-term survivors under treatment for disease recurrence reported significantly higher rates of symptom burden (p<.01), but not higher rates of psychosocial stressors (p=.16) or desire for referral (p=.27). ROC analysis suggested that for survivors, regardless of recurrent disease status, the number of psychosocial stressors endorsed remained the most accurate predictor of desiring support referral, beyond screening measures of depression, anxiety and acute distress.
Discussion:
Fear of recurrence can be a salient and ongoing concern for many cancer survivors. As expected, those who were receiving treatment for recurrence endorsed higher rates of symptomatology; yet recurrence was not associated with a greater number of psychosocial stressors or need for support compared to those who were not coping with recurrence. These preliminary results indicate that psychosocial stress may be critical in discerning need for supportive services.