Fear of recurrence, secondary cancers, and health problems in long-term survivors of childhood cancer: Findings from a Canadian cohort.
| Journal | Cancer |
| Study Type | Cohort |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
Survivors of childhood cancer are at lifelong risk for health problems, secondary cancers, and recurrence. However, little is known about their fears related to these risks nor the factors associated with them. A Canadian cohort of childhood cancer survivors (n = 284; 51.1% male; mean age = 22.3 years, mean time off treatment = 12.4 years) reported on their fears of health problems, secondary cancers, and recurrence; physical functioning; psychosocial symptoms; and substance use. The relationship between their fears and various demographic, physical, and psychosocial variables was assessed through multivariate logistic regression analyses. Thirty-seven percent of survivors reported at least one cancer fear. Fear of secondary cancer was the most reported (25.0%), followed by fear of future health problems (24.6%) and fear of recurrence (21.8%). Survivors who reported having ever drunk to intoxication were more likely to report all three cancer fears (ps < .01-<.05) and those who endorse
“This is a development worth tracking. The clinical implications will become clearer as more evidence accumulates.”
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FAQ
Survivors of childhood cancer face lifelong risk of health problems, secondary cancers, and recurrence. However, little has been known about their fears related to these risks or the factors associated with those fears. This Canadian cohort study, published in the journal Cancer, set out to measure those fears and what they were linked to.
Who was included in the Canadian childhood cancer survivor cohort?
The cohort included 284 childhood cancer survivors, 51.1% male, with a mean age of 22.3 years and an average of 12.4 years since finishing treatment. They reported on cancer fears, physical functioning, psychosocial symptoms, and substance use, and researchers analyzed these using multivariate logistic regression.
Thirty-seven percent reported at least one cancer fear. Fear of a secondary cancer was the most common (25.0%), followed by fear of future health problems (24.6%) and fear of recurrence (21.8%). These fears were reported well after treatment, since survivors averaged 12.4 years off treatment.
Yes. Survivors who reported ever having drunk to intoxication were more likely to report all three cancer fears: fear of secondary cancer, fear of future health problems, and fear of recurrence. This is an association from regression analysis and does not show that drinking causes these fears.
