Purpose: To assess Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR)-its prevalence, trajectory, and relationship to several demographic and clinical characteristics, and quality of life-in a sample of peritoneal malignancy survivors, up to 5 years post-surgery.
Methods: The Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF) and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used to collect cross-sectional data from peritoneal malignancy survivors to assess their Fear of Cancer Recurrence and quality of life respectively as well as other demographic and clinical data.
Results: The results show that more than two-thirds of the participants (N = 301) experience severe/clinical FCR. FCR is relatively stable over time. Younger patients who are struggling with anxiety or depression or receiving professional mental health support at the time of the surgery are at a higher risk of FCR. FCR is associated with a worse quality of life.
Conclusions: Peritoneal malignancy survivors are at a high risk of FCR, and it compromises their psychological, mental, and social well-being (quality of life).
Implications for cancer survivors: Raise awareness about the high risk of FCR in this population and the demographic and clinical factors that are associated with it. Encourage peritoneal malignancy services and health professionals to address FCR in this population by normalizing it and providing support for those struggling with it.
Keywords: CRS and HIPEC; FCR; Fear of Cancer Recurrence; Peritoneal malignancy; Quality of life; Surgery.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.