Open AccessFear of Cancer Progression and Health Behaviors in Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Author(s) -
Jarosław Ocalewski,
Patrycja Michalska,
Paweł Izdebski,
Michał Jankowski,
Wojciech Zegarski
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of health behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.591
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1945-7359
pISSN - 1087-3244
DOI - 10.5993/ajhb.45.1.11
Subject(s) - colorectal cancer , medicine , cancer , alcohol intake , affect (linguistics) , health behavior , physical activity , alcohol , physical therapy , environmental health , psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , communication
Objectives: Preparation of patients for colon tumor resection, which involves giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake, having a proper diet, and increasing physical activity, significantly shortens the hospitalization period. In this study, we aimed at determining the relationship between the fear of cancer progression (FoP) and health behaviors among people with colon cancer. Methods: Participants were patients a week before a colon tumor surgery and 6 months after. Measured variables included smoking, alcohol intake, anti-health products intake (anti-health behaviors), physical activity, pro-health products intake (pro-health behaviors), and fear of progression cancer. Results: Comparing the week before the surgery and 6 months after revealed a decrease in smoking (η 2 = .02), alcohol intake (η 2 = .03), anti-health products intake (η 2 = .06) and physical activity (η 2 = .06). A higher level of fear of cancer progression is related to decrease in anti-health behaviors, but does not affect the change in health-promoting behaviors among patients with colorectal cancer. Conclusions: FoP is an important factor facilitating the limitation of anti-health behaviors such as alcohol and anti-health products intake. Symptoms of colorectal cancer have negative influence on physical activity and intake of pro-health products.