title: Fear of cancer recurrence after curative pancreatectomy: a cross-sectional study in survivors of pancreatic and periampullary tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fear of disease recurrence is well documented among cancer survivors, but its significance among patients treated for solid pancreatic and periampullary neoplasms is unknown despite the known risk of recurrence associated with these tumors. We hypothesized that fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) represents a common source of psychosocial distress in this population and sought to characterize subgroups for whom FCR might represent a target for intervention to improve quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of FCR in patients who were disease-free after potentially curative pancreatectomy for ductal or periampullary adenocarcinoma or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. We assessed seven discrete dimensions of FCR using the Fear of Recurrence Inventory and evaluated quality of life and psychosocial distress using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 354 eligible patients, 240 (68 %) participated in the study a median of 48 months after potentially curative pancreatectomy. An FCR severity score indicative of frequent fearful thoughts, emotional disturbance and functional impairment was identified in 37, 28, and 35 % of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, nonpancreatic periampullary adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, respectively. Anxiety (P < 0.001) and low quality of life (P = 0.028) were independently associated with a clinically significant level of FCR, but histopathologic diagnosis and clinicopathologic markers of prognosis were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FCR represents a significant concern for one-third of patients after curative surgery for a pancreatic or periampullary tumor, regardless of their actual likelihood of recurrence or disease-related death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Maria Q B
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Petzel
authors.forename: Nathan H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simard
authors.forename: Graciela M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Nogueras-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Peter W T
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Pisters
authors.forename: Jean-Nicolas
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Vauthey
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Matthew H G
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology*; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*