Prospective longitudinal study on fear of cancer recurrence in patients newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer: Course, trajectories, and associated factors.
Esther Deuning-Smit, José A E Custers, Špela Miroševič, Robert P Takes, Femke Jansen, Johannes A Langendijk, Chris H J Terhaard, Robert J Baatenburg de Jong, C René Leemans, Johannes H Smit, Linda Kwakkenbos, Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw, Judith B Prins
Author Information
Esther Deuning-Smit: Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. ORCID
José A E Custers: Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Špela Miroševič: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Robert P Takes: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. ORCID
Femke Jansen: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Johannes A Langendijk: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Chris H J Terhaard: Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Robert J Baatenburg de Jong: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Cancer Institute, ErasmusMC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
C René Leemans: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Johannes H Smit: Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Linda Kwakkenbos: Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Judith B Prins: Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
BACKGROUND: This study assessed the course of fear ofCancer recurrence (FCR) in patients newly diagnosed with head and neck Cancer (HNC), identified FCR trajectories and factors associated with FCR trajectories. METHODS: Six hundred and seventeen HNCpatients from the NET-QUBIC cohort study completed the Cancer Worry Scale-6 at diagnosis, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. FCR trajectories were identified using Latent Class Growth Analysis. Associations were explored between FCR trajectories and baseline demographic and medical variables, coping and self-efficacy. RESULTS: Overall, FCR decreased slightly between baseline and 3 months post-treatment and remained stable up to 6 months. Two FCR trajectories were identified: "high stable" (n = 125) and "low declining" (n = 492). patients with high stable FCR were younger, reported more negative adjustment, passive coping, and reassuring thoughts, and less avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of HNCpatients have low declining FCR after diagnosis, but one in five patients experience persistent high FCR up to 6 months post-treatment.
