title: Physical and mental health status and health behaviors of survivors of multiple cancers: a national, population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the unique experience of adults with a history of multiple cancer diagnoses (i.e., survivors of multiple cancers).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This research assessed the health status and health behaviors of survivors of multiple cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The health status and health behaviors of 8,734 survivors of multiple cancers, 47,562 survivors of a single cancer, and 348,229 non-cancer controls were compared using weighted data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survivors of multiple cancers reported poorer physical and mental health status outcomes (e.g., more mental distress and greater activity limitations) than survivors of a single cancer (all p's < 0.001) who reported poorer outcomes than controls (all p's < 0.001). Survivors of multiple cancers reported unhealthier behaviors than survivors of a single cancer and healthier behaviors than controls on most health behavior outcomes (e.g., alcohol use, tobacco use, and diet) (all p's < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggest the need for clinical interventions to enhance physical and mental health status and to increase adoption of healthier behaviors in survivors of multiple cancers.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors: Jessica L
authors: JL
authors: Burris
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Andrykowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006141:Guam / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult