title: Factors associated with breast cancer worry 3 years after completion of adjuvant treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although many survivors continue to worry about cancer years after completing treatment, little is known about factors associated with cancer worry. This study examined associations between breast cancer worry and demographic and clinical variables, as well as fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception in a sample of breast cancer survivors 3 years post-adjuvant treatment. We hypothesized that after controlling for demographic and treatment factors, a significant proportion of variance in cancer worry would be explained by greater fatigue severity, more symptom burden, and greater perceived risk of recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stage 0-II breast cancer patients (N = 202) completed measures of risk perception, cancer worry (modified Lerman's Cancer Worry Scale), symptom burden (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale), and fatigue severity (Fatigue Symptom Inventory) 3 years after completing adjuvant treatment. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the proportion of variance in cancer worry accounted for by fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception after controlling for demographic and clinical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception each explained a significant proportion of variance in cancer worry (p < 0.05). Fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception together accounted for 27% of the variance in cancer worry after controlling for demographic and clinical factors (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis was supported that fatigue, symptom burden, and risk perception are associated with cancer worry among breast cancer survivors. It is possible that lingering fatigue and other symptoms may remind breast cancer survivors of their disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: McGinty
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Heather S L
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jim
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minton
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Andrykowski
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome