Health profiles in 5836 long‐term cancer survivors

Abstract

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.

Self-reported psychosocial needs and health-related quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors

“…Service planners and providers need to consider the health and social care requirements for cancer survivorship as cancer patients and their caregivers experience poorer health than the general population several years after treatment has ended (Santin et al, 2012, Santin et al, 2013, Elliott et al, 2011, Hewitt et al, 2003, Schultz et al, 2003, Yabroff et al, 2004, Deimling et al, 2005, Keating et al, 2005, Nord et al, 2005, Eakin et al, 2007and Reeve et al, 2009. There is common agreement that there is a need to reconfigure current follow-up services for cancer patients in order to improve the match between care needs and service responses and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the cancer care system.…”

A comparative analysis of the health and well-being of cancer survivors to the general population

“…There is limited empirical evidence regarding the long term health and wellbeing of cancer survivors, and even less information regarding health care needs and health service utilisation. The few international studies available [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] suggest that cancer survivors experience poorer health and wellbeing and have a higher level of health service utilization compared to the general population. These studies however are limited methodologically and there are no studies that have been undertaken in Northern Ireland or in the Republic of Ireland.…”

Cardiovascular Complications of Cancer Therapy

“…Many cancer survivors will actually be at as great a risk from cardiac disease as from recurrent cancer. 1 The therapeutic options for patients with cancer now include increasingly complex combinations of medications, radiation therapy, and surgical intervention. Many of these treatments have important potential adverse cardiac effects and are likely to have significant effects on patient outcomes.…”