Fear of cancer recurrence promotes cancer screening behaviors among family caregivers of cancer survivors

Abstract

Background Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) has been associated with cancer screening behaviors among cancer survivors, but to the authors' knowledge, the question of whether the same is true for caregivers is unknown. The current study investigated the extent to which FCR among caregivers predicted their cancer screening behaviors years after their relatives' cancer diagnosis. Methods A total of 813 caregivers (67% of whom were female, mean age of 56 years, and 92% non‐Hispanic white) completed surveys 2 years (T1) and 8 years (T2) after their patients' cancer diagnosis. FCR, anxiety (Profile of Mood States‐Short Form [POMS‐SF]), and general mental health (Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey [MOS SF‐36]) were reported at T1; caregivers' engagement in screening for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers because of the patients' diagnoses were reported at T2. Results Caregivers were found to engage in cancer screening at rates similar to those of the national average. Controlling for covariates, hierarchical logistic regression modeling for each type of cancer screening demonstrated that greater FCR was linearly related to a higher likelihood of undergoing colorectal cancer screening (odds ratio [OR], 1.15) and maintaining prostate cancer screening (OR, 1.34), but a lower likelihood of maintaining breast cancer screening in an age‐appropriate manner (OR, 0.27). Examining curvilinear effects demonstrated that moderate levels of FCR were associated with a higher likelihood of maintaining age‐appropriate colorectal cancer screening (OR, 1.48). Conclusions The overall FCR among caregivers uniquely promotes their engagement in cancer screening behaviors. The role of caregivers' FCR in other types of cancer preventive behaviors and ways to channel FCR concerns into promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors should be investigated.

Fear of cancer recurrence and disease progression in long‐term prostate cancer survivors after radical prostatectomy: A longitudinal study

“…For instance, higher FCR predicted a higher likelihood of PCa screening maintenance among male caregivers. 30 In a longitudinal study investigating the trajectory of FCR from pretreatment to 1 year later in patients with PCa and their spouses, spouses experienced even greater FCR than patients with PCa over time. 31 Results of the current study revealed interesting findings concerning the role of BCR.…”

A systematic mixed studies review of fear of cancer recurrence in families and caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer

“…Most studies occurred in the USA (41%), followed by Australia (16%) and the UK (7%). Sample sizes ranged from five [21,22] to 1468 [23]. Most studies (36%) focused on caregivers of women with breast cancer or survivors with mixed diagnoses (26%).…”

“…Negative relationships between caregiver FCR and family QoL were also found [57,84]. One study found that greater caregiver FCR was associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing colorectal cancer screening and maintaining prostate cancer screening but a lower likelihood of maintaining age-appropriate breast cancer screening [23].…”

Effects of Mobile Application Program (App)-Assisted Health Education on Preventive Behaviors and Cancer Literacy among Women with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

“…Furthermore, in this study, among the subscale of attitude towards behavior change, cancer prevention and health promotion were also improved by the introduction of health education programs; this may be related to fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which is highly prevalent among adult survivors of cancer and known to have an impact on both cancer survivors and their caregivers [ 45 , 47 ]. Observed in other studies, FCR was noted to play a central role in the emotional distress and key health behaviors of either survivors of cancer or their caregivers, and also uniquely promoted their engagement in cancer screening behaviors [ 45 , 47 , 48 ].…”