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Patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors: a population-wide cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

There is a lack of robust population-based data regarding the lived experience of cancer survivors. This study assessed the quality of life (QoL) of survivors of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or melanoma 1, 3 and 5 years post-diagnosis. Associations between various demographic and disease-related factors and QoL were assessed.

Methods

A cross-sectional postal survey was undertaken. Eligible participants were identified from a population-based cancer registry. Patient-reported outcomes including QoL, symptom issues and information needs were collected using validated questionnaires.

Results

Difficulties with all QoL domains were more prevalent amongst cancer survivors compared with the general population, particularly difficulties with usual activities (28 vs 15%) and anxiety or depression (35 vs 22%). Symptoms such as trouble sleeping, always feeling tired, trouble concentrating and fear of cancer recurrence persisted up to 5 years post-diagnosis. Factors associated with reduced QoL included having another long-standing health condition, cancer not responding fully to treatment, not having or not being certain of having a written care plan and being female.

Conclusions

Cancer survivors experience inferior QoL and cancer-related symptoms for years following diagnosis. These results support further investigation into factors that contribute to poorer survivor outcomes and enhanced identification and intervention strategies for those requiring additional support.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.

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Correspondence to Michael Jefford.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Approval to conduct the study was granted on September 30, 2013, by the Cancer Council Victoria Human Research Ethics Committee (Project No: HREC 1307).

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

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

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Jefford, M., Ward, A.C., Lisy, K. et al. Patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors: a population-wide cross-sectional study. Support Care Cancer 25, 3171–3179 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3725-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3725-5

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