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Fear of cancer recurrence at 2.5 years after a cancer diagnosis: a cross-sectional study in Denmark

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to investigate the characteristics of cancer survivors with high levels of fear of cancer recurrence, and how such fear is associated with their needs for care.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was based on survey data from Danish cancer survivors at 2.5 years after a cancer diagnosis. These data were linked to nationwide register data. We used the 7-item Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCR7) to measure fear of cancer recurrence, focussing on emotional, cognitive and behavioural reactions to such fear. The FCR7 score was dichotomised at the 75th percentile. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the associations between a high level of fear of cancer recurrence and (1) characteristics of patient and primary cancer and (2) cancer survivors’ statements concerning follow-up for cancer.

Results

We included 1538 cancer survivors in the study. The median FCR7 score was 18 (interquartile interval: 13–21), and 366 (23.8%) respondents had an FCR7 score of > 21, defined as a high level of fear. In the adjusted analyses, a high level of fear was associated with female sex, younger age, comorbidity, advanced tumour stage and negative statements concerning follow-up, including feeling less safe in the follow-up programme. Fear was not related to the professional background of care providers involved in cancer follow-up.

Conclusion

Fear of cancer recurrence was associated with female sex, younger age, comorbidity, advanced tumour stage and discontent with cancer follow-up.

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Data availability

The data supporting the findings of this study are stored and maintained electronically on servers at Statistics Denmark. The data are only accessible through a secure virtual private network (VPN) and only for pre-approved collaborative partners. The data are not publicly available due to the Danish data protection legislation as the data contain information that could compromise the privacy of the research participants.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Funding

The study was supported by the Research Foundation for General Practice in the Central Denmark Region. The funder was not involved in any aspects of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit for General Practice, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    Linda Aagaard Rasmussen, Henry Jensen, Anette Fischer Pedersen & Peter Vedsted

Authors
  1. Linda Aagaard Rasmussen
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  2. Henry Jensen
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  3. Anette Fischer Pedersen
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  4. Peter Vedsted
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Contributions

AFP, LAR and HJ conceived the concept of the study. LAR was responsible for the statistical analyses and for drafting the manuscript. All authors contributed with input to and critical revision of the statistical analyses and the contents of the paper. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Aagaard Rasmussen.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

The project is approved and registered in the Record of Processing Activities at the Research Unit for General Practice in Aarhus in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). According to Danish law, the study required no approval from the Committee on Health Research Ethics of the Central Denmark Region as no biomedical intervention was performed.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Rasmussen, L.A., Jensen, H., Pedersen, A.F. et al. Fear of cancer recurrence at 2.5 years after a cancer diagnosis: a cross-sectional study in Denmark. Support Care Cancer 30, 9171–9180 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07335-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07335-5

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