Thyroid cancer survivors generally report good health long term but describe distinct, lasting medical problems including symptoms of thyroid dysregulation. The extent and manner in which cancer therapy contributes to the health profile of the group merits further inquiry.

Increasingly, prolonged survival follows the diagnosis of cancer. Cancer therapies result in complex and lasting health effects that create unique health-care needs for the survivors but are poorly understood (especially in survivors of adult cancers). Cancer survivors were asked to respond to a mailed health survey and provide medical and social information pertaining to their cancer experience. Information about demographics and perceived disease-related medical problems was analyzed. We analyzed the response of 5,836 survivors of adult cancers. Two-thirds of the responses came from women, and the response rate was 51% in both sexes. The mean interval since cancer diagnosis was 18.0 ؎ 8.5 years. Younger survivors and men were more likely to report that cancer had affected their health. The health effect most commonly reported by survivors was arthritis/osteoporosis (26% of respondents). Survivors of Hodgkin's disease prominently reported thyroid and lung problems (33.8% of responders with the diagnosis). Prior diagnosis of lymphoma was associated with frequent mention of memory loss (14.7%). The passage of time decreased some perceived effects (memory loss) but increased others (arthritis/osteoporosis, cataracts). Compared with the general population, the incidence of several age-and gender-adjusted health conditions in cancer survivors is different. This group of cancer survivors reported generally good health but outlined multiple lasting medical problems. The health survey described represents 1 approach to the development of comprehensive information about the health needs of cancer survivors.

2 0 0 5 ) Journal of Clinical Nursing 14, 204-211 Breast cancer: relationship between menopausal symptoms, physiologic health effects of cancer treatment and physical constraints on quality of life in long-term survivors Aims and objectives. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between menopausal symptoms, physiologic health effects of cancer treatment and the physical contributors to quality of life in long-term survivors of breast cancer. Background. The treatment of menopausal symptoms is hotly debated, especially for women with breast cancer. Common treatments for menopausal symptoms are considered to be contraindicated in women with breast cancer. Design. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of long-term breast cancer survivors; a subset of a study that responded to a mailed survey targeting long-term cancer survivors treated at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Methods. In 291 breast cancer patients information was available that included items that commonly relate to menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, painful sexual intercourse, inability to concentrate, fatigue and sleep disturbances. Results. Ninety per cent were Caucasian American and the mean time since diagnosis was 16 ± 8 years. All patients had been treated with surgery, (60%) with radiotherapy, (68%) with chemotherapy and (37%) with hormonal therapy. Forty-six per 204 Ó 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd cent of the breast cancer survivors indicated that having breast cancer affected their overall health. Self-reported health effects were more common in those survivors who had received a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A menopausal quality of life score was determined using the items about hot flushes, ability to concentrate, painful sexual intercourse, fatigue, unhappiness and sleep disturbances.Conclusions. This study reminds us that breast cancer and menopause are independent issues. Quality of life parameters need to be rigidly defined and time sensitive. There are complex interactions between quality of life indicators and specific physiologic consequences of treatment. However, menopausal signs and symptoms may not be different for the breast cancer survivor and they should not be confused with the quality of life/psychosocial issues of the cancer survivor.Relevance to clinical practice. Menopause is not a disease process but a normal developmental stage for women. It is important for nurses not only to understand the client needs of the menopausal woman, but also to be able to differentiate between quality of life issues related to menopause and to cancer treatment in order to provide holistic nursing care.

BACKGROUND.Over the past several decades, the incidence of prolonged survival after a diagnosis of cancer has increased; however, little is known regarding the long‐term health profiles of cancer survivors in general and of breast cancer survivors in particular. To obtain more information concerning the consequences of surviving breast cancer, the authors conducted a large‐scale health survey of patients who had been treated for the disease at their institution.METHODS.A descriptive analysis of information was provided by cancer survivors. Of the breast cancer survivors who were studied, 695 women were age <45 years, 580 women were between ages 46 years and 54 years, and 655 women were age > 55 years at the time of diagnosis. Their medical and psychosocial responses were analyzed and compared with those of age‐matched responders in a national survey.RESULTS.Younger breast cancer survivors received chemotherapy more often than older survivors and were more likely to report memory loss and that cancer had affected their overall health adversely. Several other differences in physiologic and psychosocial characteristics, such as interpersonal relationships, also emerged.CONCLUSIONS.Physiologic and psychosocial differences distinguished younger breast cancer survivors from older breast cancer survivors. The findings of this study suggested that a systematic analysis of cancer survivors is needed to understand their unique health profiles and needs. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.

Recognition and awareness of endocrine sequelae of cancer treatments may permit for early detection and appropriate follow-up care for cancer survivors, thus improving their overall health and quality of life.