title: Cancer-related concerns among women with a new diagnosis of gynecological cancer: an exploration of age group differences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to characterize cancer-related concerns among women with a new diagnosis of gynecological cancer from a developmental life stage perspective. The study compared the degree of cancer-related concern between young women (45 years or younger), middle age women (46-64 years), and older women (65 years or older).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from women (N = 243) with a condition diagnosed as primary gynecological cancer who were participating in a randomized control trial were analyzed. Women completed a measure that assessed the degree of concern in 12 cancer-related domains (physical functioning, cancer treatment, emotional functioning, sexual functioning, disease progression/death, own well-being, partner well-being, relationship with spouse/partner, body image, relationship with others, employment, and finances). Multivariate comparisons were made between the 3 age groups on the cancer-related concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were age group differences in overall cancer-related concern and specific cancer-related domains. Young women reported the greatest cancer-related concern (P < 0.001). They reported greater concern over emotional functioning (P < 0.001) and sexual functioning (P < 0.001) compared to the middle- and older-age groups. Older women reported less concern over the impact of cancer on finances (P = 007). There were no differences between age groups in concern over physical impairment, cancer treatment, disease progression/death, own well-being, partner well-being, relationship with spouse/partner, body image, and relationship with others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age may play an important role in the impact of a gynecological cancer diagnosis in domains of functioning, specifically emotional functioning, sexual functioning, and finances. Other cancer-related areas may represent more universal degree of impact. Professionals may benefit from considering the impact of cancer from a developmental life stage perspective.
authors.affiliation: *Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ; †Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; ‡Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; §University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; ∥Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; and ¶Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Myers Virtue
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Manne
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozga
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kissane
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.forename: Norm
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Graff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged