Fear of recurrence among head and neck cancer survivors: longitudinal trends
Abstract
Background: Fear of recurrence (FoR) following head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment is a major patient concern but is infrequently discussed in outpatient settings and may cause significant detrimental effect on patient psychological well‐being. Aim: The aim of this paper is to determine longitudinal trends and predictors of significant FoR. Method: Prospective data collection was obtained in 189 post‐treatment HNC patients with 456 clinic attendances from October 2008 to January 2011. All patients completed Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI), University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire version 4 and the FoR questionnaires using a combination of paper and touch‐screen technology. Results: The prevalence of significant FoR was 35%, which was stable longitudinally. Logistic regression‐delineated predictors of significant FoR were young age (<65 years), anxiety/mood and patient‐reported FoR. Conventional prognostic factors including standard clinicopathological factors, treatment modality and length of follow‐up did not predict significant FoR. Over time, 20% of patients reported significant FoR intermittently, whereas 30% experienced it consistently. The remaining 50% did not experience significant FoR. Discussion: Patient‐related characteristics were more important than clinicopathological prognostic factors in predicting significant FoR, potentially creating a mismatch between the doctors' perception of patient's experience of FoR with what patients may experience. In the long term, FoR is expressed across a spectrum extending from ‘normal’ FoR to persistent significant FoR with an intermediate category of intermittent significant FoR. Those patients experiencing intermittent and consistent levels of significant FoR may benefit from psychological support. This study confirmed that self‐reported screening FoR using the PCI is a valuable tool in identifying significant FoR. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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High/clinical FCR tends to remain stable over time in a large proportion of patients, even in those with a favorable cancer prognosis.
“high/clinical FCR tends to remain stable over time in a large proportion of patients, even in those with a favorable cancer prognosis [5–7].”
From Fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors carrying a BRCA1 or 2 genetic mutation : a cross-sectional study (2024) · cites this paper as [7]
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“Although other evolutions are possible, high/clinical FCR tends to remain stable over time in a large proportion of patients, even in those with a favorable cancer prognosis [5–7].”
Background
- Authors
- Ghazali, N., Cadwallader, E., Lowe, D., Humphris, G., Ozakinci, G., & Rogers, S. N.
- Affiliations
- Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Edge Hill University (GB)
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- School of Medicine University of St Andrews North Haugh, St Andrews UK
- Corresponding author
- Ghazali, Naseem
- Venue
- Psycho-Oncology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-03-27
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 807-813
- ISSN
- 1057-9249 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1611
- OpenAlex
- W1622845597
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psycho-Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Edge Hill University Research Information Repository (Edge Hill University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Keywords
- fear of recurrence, head and neck cancer, cancer survivors, longitudinal trends, psychological well-being, psychological support, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Age Factors, Anxiety, Attitude to Health, Fear, Female, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Prevalence, Logistic Models, Survivors
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