title: Fear of Cancer Recurrence and its Predictive Factors among Iranian Cancer Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fear of cancer recurrence (FOCR) is one of the most important psychological problems among cancer patients. In extensive review of related literature there were no articles on FOCR among Iranian cancer patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of present study was to investigation FOCR and its predictive factors among Iranian cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive-correlational study 129 cancer patients participated. For data collection, the demographic checklist and short form of fear of progression questionnaire was used. Logistic regression was used to determine predictive factors of FOCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean score of FOCR among participants was 44.8 and about 50% of them had high level of FOCR. The most important worries of participants were about their family and the future of their children and their lesser worries were about the physical symptoms and fear of physical damage because of cancer treatments. Also, women, breast cancer patient, and patients with lower level of education have more FOCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is immediate need for supportive care program designed for Iranian cancer patients aimed at decreasing their FOCR. Especially, breast cancer patients and the patient with low educational level need more attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza Mohajjel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aghdam
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Azad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra Kochaki
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Nejad
authors.affiliation: Center of Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department Human Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadpoorasl
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sanaat
keywords: Cancer; Cancer recurrence; Fear of progress; Fear of recurrence; Iran