You have probably seen the social media posts by mesothelioma survivors saying they have “scanxiety” when they mention their three-month follow up with their oncologists. Although the term is often used in jest, recent research says fear of cancer recurrence is no laughing matter.
Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia report that over half of all cancer survivors constantly worry about the return of their cancer, and for some patients, the thoughts can be debilitating. Building on previous studies that found relaxation techniques can improve anxiety and depression among cancer patients, the team set out to determine whether similar techniques could reduce the fear of recurrence among survivors.
“Fear of cancer relapse is associated with a poorer quality of life, greater distress, lack of planning for the future, avoidance of, or excessive, screening, and greater health care utilization,” said lead study author Jane Beith, MD, PhD, a Medical Oncologist at the University of Sydney in Australia according to an Aug. 10 article in Oncology Times.
To assess whether giving patients access to trained therapists would make a difference to the patients, the team developed a phase II psychological intervention clinical trial called Conquer Fear. For the study, 222 cancer survivors (breast, colorectal and melanoma) who had completed treatment from two months to five years prior, and who had a high fear of cancer recurrence were assigned to either the Conquer Fear intervention technique or to relaxation training. Over a 10-week period the groups received one-on-sessions and at-home exercises targeted to their respective technique.
Results of the trial, presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, found that Conquer Fear techniques “substantially lowered fear of recurrence immediately after the intervention, and three and six months later.” In addition, general anxiety, cancer-specific distress, and quality of life were better in the Conquer Fear group.
“The reduction in fear of recurrence in the psychological intervention group was large enough to improve survivors’ psychological and emotional wellbeing,” said Dr. Beith. “The majority of participants were young women with breast cancer, but we expect the intervention may be appropriate for other patients who have moderate to high fear of recurrence.”
Once treatment has ended, cancer patients are watched closely by their oncologists to check for possible return of the cancer. More than likely, mesothelioma patients will experience some amount of nervousness when it comes time for their next scan. To help ease that stress, experts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology suggest being aware of symptoms that could mean cancer has returned, getting regular checkups with medical history and physical exam, and to contact your doctor with any concerns.
“We need more interventions, and we need to recognize that there are things that our patients go through after cancer that are real, that are significant, and that cannot only impact their lives but also the lives of their families, ” said Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, ASCO Expert.
The authors concluded the intervention was beneficial, however, it is also labor-intensive limiting its use in many places.
Mesothelioma patients are encouraged to keep open communication with their care team, and to reach out for support as needed for their continued well-being.
See more about the study in the Aug. 10, 2017, issue of Oncology Times.
The post Mesothelioma “Scanxiety” Should Not Be Taken Lightly appeared first on MesotheliomaHelp.org Cancer Organization.
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