Cancer-related Fears Research Articles

Current Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

The management of breast cancer is a significant public health issue. Early detection of breast cancer through screening mammography, physician clinical examination and breast self-examination can reduce breast cancer mortality by approximately 30%. Most major health organisations agree that yearly mammographic screening should begin at the age of 40 years, although there is some controversy about the need for mammography between the ages of 40 and 49 years. The use of mammographic screening is influenced by physician recommendation, cancer-related fears, time constraints and patient age. Genetic screening is appropriate for patients with familial cancer syndromes and certain high-risk population groups such as Ashkenazi Jews.

The Impact of Pain and Impaired Role Performance on Distress in Persons with Cancer

The observed upward trend in the incidence of many cancers is expected to continue for the next 20 years despite monumental basic research efforts. There are interpersonal and intrapsychic complications associated with cancer and its treatment leading to considerable distress which, in extreme cases, becomes clinical depression and anxiety. Pain and impaired role performance have been cited as being important sources of distress in people with cancer. This paper presents data from a community sample of 1,309 people living with cancer in Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Quebec and examines risk factors for cancer-related distress. In the model tested in this paper, pain and other symptoms and treatment side-effects as well as cancer-related fears were seen to have direct and indirect effects on psychological symptoms of distress. Impaired role performance was a central mediator for the indirect effects. The model explained 34% of the variance in distress scores (General Health Questionnaire) and was equally applicable to all three study sites, both male and female subjects, rural and urban settings, and to all stages of illness. Pain was the single most important explanatory variable. Impaired role performance had a negative effect on distress over and above the effect of pain. The results suggest that interventions directed at reducing distress in cancer should also address interpersonal issues such as the impact of the illness on family, social network a work.