PURPOSE-This paper describes the ethnic and socioeconomic correlates of psychosocial functioning in a cohort of long-term nonrecurring breast cancer survivors and determines the contribution of ongoing difficulties, including symptoms and concerns about cancer, to the ethnic and socioeconomic differences in functioning levels.METHODS-Participants (n=804) in this study were women from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study, a population-based, multicenter, multiethnic, prospective study of women newly diagnosed with in situ or Stages I to IIIA breast cancer. Measurements occurred at three timepoints following diagnosis (average 6.1 months following diagnosis, at approximately 30.5 months post diagnosis, at approximately 40.6 months post diagnosis). Outcomes included standardized measures of functioning (MOS SF-36).RESULTS-Overall, these long-term survivors reported values on two physical function subscales of the SF-36 slightly lower than population norms. Black women reported statistically significantly lower physical functioning scores (p=0.01), compared with White and Hispanic women, but higher mental health scores (p<0.01) compared with White and Hispanic women. In the final adjusted model, race was significantly related to physical functioning, with Black participants and participants in the "Other" ethnic category reporting poorer functioning compared to the White referent group (p<0.01, 0.05). Not working outside the home, being retired or

Primary treatment is not associated with 2-year general HRQOL outcomes in prostate cancer. Although both sexual and urinary function and bother are associated with quality of life, men who are more bothered by their urination or impotence are more likely to report worse quality of life. This implies that future research should be directed toward finding ways to improve treatment-related outcomes or help patients better cope with their posttreatment urinary or sexual dysfunction.