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Factors associated with breast cancer worry 3 years after completion of adjuvant treatment
Author(s) -
Phillips Kristin M.,
McGinty Heather L.,
Gonzalez Brian D.,
Jim Heather S. L.,
Small Brent J.,
Minton Susan,
Andrykowski Michael A.,
Jacobsen Paul B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3066
Subject(s) - worry , breast cancer , medicine , cancer , risk perception , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , perception , anxiety , neuroscience
Objective Although many survivors continue to worry about cancer years after completing treatment, little is known about factors associated with cancer worry. This study examined associations between breast cancer worry and demographic and clinical variables, as well as fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception in a sample of breast cancer survivors 3 years post‐adjuvant treatment. We hypothesized that after controlling for demographic and treatment factors, a significant proportion of variance in cancer worry would be explained by greater fatigue severity, more symptom burden, and greater perceived risk of recurrence. Methods Stage 0‐II breast cancer patients ( N = 202) completed measures of risk perception, cancer worry (modified Lerman's Cancer Worry Scale), symptom burden (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale), and fatigue severity (Fatigue Symptom Inventory) 3 years after completing adjuvant treatment. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the proportion of variance in cancer worry accounted for by fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. Results Age, fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception each explained a significant proportion of variance in cancer worry ( p < 0.05). Fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception together accounted for 27% of the variance in cancer worry after controlling for demographic and clinical factors ( p < 0.01). Conclusions The hypothesis was supported that fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception are associated with cancer worry among breast cancer survivors. It is possible that lingering fatigue and other symptoms may remind breast cancer survivors of their disease. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.