Fear of cancer recurrence: A study of the experience of survivors of ovarian cancer
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to better understand fear of cancer (FCR) through the experience of ovarian and fallopian tube cancer survivors. METHODS: This study used a descriptive qualitative design. Twelve participants in remission from ovarian or fallopian tube cancer were recruited. Researchers conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews and the content, transcribed verbatim, underwent content analysis. RESULTS: FCR has been identified as a significant concern for women in remission from ovarian cancer. Four themes emerged from the participants' FCR experience: (a) uncertainty surrounding recurrence; (b) varied beliefs and sources of worry; (c) perceived risk of recurrence; (d) management of FCR. IMPLICATIONS: Survivorship support can be optimized by nurses by screening for FCR, offering psychosocial support for women at risk for FCR, teaching and reinforcing adaptive coping strategies.
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FCR is related to high intolerance to uncertainty.
“It is also related to high intolerance to uncertainty [23, 24].”
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 [24]
In “Theme 1: Feeling Certainly Uncertain” (page unavailable), intolerance of uncertainty appears in participants’ accounts of FCR, but only three of the 12 women identified as intolerant; nine described themselves as tolerant. “Implications for Research and Practice” says differences associated with FCR severity were not measured or analyzed, so the paper does not establish a relationship specifically with high intolerance of uncertainty. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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- Authors
- Kyriacou, J., Black, A., Drummond, N., Power, J., & Maheu, C.
- Affiliations
- McGill University Health Centre (CA)
- ORCID
- Maheu, Christine
- Venue
- Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal
- Publisher
- Pappin Communications
- Published
- 2017-07-28
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 236-242
- ISSN
- 1181-912X (ISSN-L)
- 2368-8076
- PMC
- PMC6516398
- OpenAlex
- W2744326576
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
- Keywords
- fear of cancer recurrence, ovarian cancer survivors, fallopian tube cancer, cancer survivorship, coping strategies, psychosocial support
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