Cancer survivors most frequently seek information about recurrence

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published online first in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers from the University of Pennsylavnia's Annenberg School of Communication have found that cancer survivors most frequently seek information about cancer recurrence, but information needs vary depending on cancer type.

For the study, researchers surveyed over 2,000 cancer survivors three times over a 3-year period. Participants were survivors of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Results showed that across all participants, decreasing the risk for cancer recurrence was the most frequently researched topic.

In addition, survivors of breast cancer were more likely to seek information about late effects and their family members' risks than colon and prostate cancer survivors and were less likely to seek information about their risks of cancer recurrence in later years than during the year following diagnosis.

Researchers found that female colon cancer survivors were more likely to seek information about certain topics in later years than female breast cancer survivors, which may be due to more information about breast cancer and survivorship resources for breast cancer survivors being readily available.

The findings demonstrate various points that health care providers can educate their patients on cancer recurrence and survivorship.