A retrospective cross-sectional survey of symptoms, comorbidities, return to work, and financial problems experienced by cancer survivors up to 10 years post-diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To capture self-reported symptoms, comorbidities, financial problems, and to explore predictive factors for symptoms and return-to-work.

METHODS

A retrospective survey was conducted with cancer survivors diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer, lymphoma or myeloma between one and five (group A) or six and ten years (group B) ago. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network survivorship patient assessment and the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire were used, with additional questions on return to work, and financial challenges. Five-point Likert-like scales, numeric scales ranging from 0 to 10, and yes/no answers were used. All scales were dichotomized for group comparisons. Regression analysis predicted symptoms by the time since diagnosis, adjusted for confounders. The study has been registered with the ISRCTN Registry.

RESULTS

A total of 335 participants, with an average age of 62, completed the survey (42% response rate). Long-term symptoms did not diminish over ten years. A significant difference between the two groups was only observed for hormone-related symptoms and sexuality. Participants reported an average of two comorbidities. The mean fatigue score (5.2, SD 8.7) and the mean pain score (3.8, SD 7.9) remained above the intervention threshold. Survivors with symptoms tended to be older than those without. Around a third of participants reduced their workload, and around a fifth stopped working altogether. Age and comorbidities were significantly associated with symptoms and age with return-to-work.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptom prevalence is similar in both groups, and many survivors live with comorbidities. Nurses are well placed to identify unmet needs, particularly in elderly cancer survivors.