Fear of Recurrence, Emotional Well-Being and Quality of Life Among Long-Term Advanced Ovarian Cancer Survivors

Authors

Kathryn Osann
Lari Wenzel
Chelsea McKinney
Lynne Wagner
David Cella
Giulia Fulci
Mary J Scroggins
Heather A Lankes
Victoria Wang
Kenneth P Nephew
George L Maxwell
Samuel C Mok
Thomas P Conrads
Austin Miller
Michael Birrer

Publication Date

4-1-2023

Journal

Gynecologic Oncology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer is widely considered life-threatening, 17% of women with advanced disease will survive long-term. Little is known about the health-related quality of life (QOL) of long-term ovarian cancer survivors, or how fear of recurrence might affect QOL.

METHODS: 58 long-term survivors with advanced disease participated in the study. Participants completed standardized questionnaires to capture cancer history, QOL, and fear of recurrent disease (FOR). Statistical analyses included multivariable linear models.

RESULTS: Participants averaged 52.8 years at diagnosis and had survived >8 years (mean:13.5); 64% had recurrent disease. Mean FACT-G, FACT-O, and FACT-O-TOI (TOI) scores were 90.7 (SD:11.6), 128.6 (SD:14.8), and 85.9 (SD:10.2) respectively. Compared to the U.S. population using T-scores, QOL for participants exceeded that of healthy adults (T-score (FACT-G) = 55.9). Overall QOL was lower in women with recurrent vs. non-recurrent disease though differences did not reach statistical significance (FACT-O = 126.1 vs. 133.3, p = 0.082). Despite good QOL, high FOR was reported in 27%. FOR was inversely associated with emotional well-being (EWB) (p < 0.001), but not associated with other QOL subdomains. In multivariable analysis, FOR was a significant predictor of EWB after adjusting for QOL (TOI). A significant interaction was observed between recurrence and FOR (p = 0.034), supporting a larger impact of FOR in recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION: QOL in long-term ovarian cancer survivors was better than the average for healthy U.S. women. Despite good QOL, high FOR contributed significantly to increased emotional distress, most notably for those with recurrence. Attention to FOR may be warranted in this survivor population.

Keywords

Adult, Humans, Female, Quality of Life, Cancer Survivors, Ovarian Neoplasms, Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial, Fear, Ovarian cancer, Long-term survival, Fear of recurrence, Quality of life, Emotional well-being

Comments

PMID: 36905875