Cancer survivors face unmet disease- and treatment-related physical, mental needs

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to new study published in the journal Cancer, researchers from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, have found that many cancer survivors face disease- and treatment-related physical and mental challenges even decades after being cured of their disease.

For the study, researchers sought to investigate the unmet needs of cancer survivors. They analyzed American Cancer Society survey responses from over 1,500 cancer survivors. Participants responded to just one question: "Please tell us about any needs you have now as a cancer survivor that are not being met to your satisfaction." Results showed that 38% of patients reported physical problems were a concern.

Of note, prostate cancer survivors most commonly reported physical problems associated with sexuality and incontinence. In addition, 20% of participants, especially Black and Hispanic respondents, reported treatment-related financial issues persisting long after treatment. Many patients also experienced anxiety about cancer recurrence.

The findings suggest that improvements in public awareness of cancer survivors' physical and mental problems are necessary in order to help cancer survivors deal with ongoing challenges related to their disease and treatment.