Many cancer survivors struggle with significant, often untreated psychological distress: the fear that their cancer will return. Researchers found a way to tell which patients are most vulnerable to severe distress, which can be debilitating. Harvard Public Health spoke with one of the researchers, Gozde Ozakinci of the University of Stirling’s natural sciences faculty.
Why study this subject?
We utilized data from the Head and Neck 5000 Study that followed patients for years, assessing clinical, physical, and psychological outcomes, including fear of cancer recurrence. We analyzed how anxiety and depression at diagnosis and the progression of these feelings over time impact fears of cancer recurrence within the first year after diagnosis.
What did you find?
Our results showed that higher anxiety at diagnosis and increased anxiety over the first four months were strongly linked to heightened fears of cancer recurrence from four to 12 months—an expected finding given the known relationship between anxiety and recurrence fears. Interestingly, we did not observe the same pattern with depression. This might be due to how depression was measured, as the scale used may not capture aspects like rumination that could influence cancer-related fears. These results highlight the need for more refined measures of depression that better capture its nuances in relation to fear of recurrence.
What would you like to see happen based on the study’s results?
Early intervention is key. Addressing anxiety at diagnosis can provide critical support to patients, potentially preventing further mental health issues and fears of cancer recurrence. But we need to make sure that we offer evidence-based support and resources for those experiencing high anxiety levels once they are identified. Being proactive could greatly improve patient outcomes by addressing psychological concerns early in the cancer care process.
—Paul Adepoju
(Study in Health Psychology, August 2024)
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