Posttreatment problems afflict 1 in 3 survivors
Over one-third of the 12.6 million cancer survivors in the United States face physical or mental issues that put their overall health in danger, according to a study published in the October issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center discovered that poor physical health is an issue for 25% of cancer survivors, and 10% of survivors face poor mental health. In comparison, only 10% of adults without cancer report poor physical health and 6% report poor mental health.
The study’s lead author, Kathryn Weaver, PhD, assistant professor of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest Baptist, said, “This information should help doctors and researchers identify groups of survivors who may be at risk for long-term problems after cancer. In addition, it can help us know if some of the national efforts to improve life for cancer survivors are making a difference.”
For the study, researchers examined data from a 2010 nationwide health survey that included data specific to cancer survivors collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute. The scientists compared 1822 cancer survivors with 24,804 adults with no history of cancer.
Health-related quality-of-life levels for survivors of breast cancer, melanoma, and prostate cancer were equivalent to or better than those of adults with no cancer history, according to the study.
However, 40% of blood, cervical, and colorectal cancer survivors plus survivors of cancers with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25% (including cancers of the liver, lung, and pancreas) were more likely to report physical problems causing a negative impact on their quality of life. In addition, these survivors were more likely to report negative effects on their day-to-day lives as a result of mental health issues.
In the United States, approximately 3.3 million cancer survivors experience poor physical health-related quality of life, and nearly 1.4 million have poor mental health-related quality of life, according to the researchers.
Weaver said, “Identifying what symptoms or problems cancer patients are facing after treatment (fatigue, pain, depression, sleep, and cognition problems) and connecting them with the right resources or treatments is key to improving their long-term health.”
Source: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.