Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T12:48:00.629Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A systematic review of ovarian cancer and fear of recurrence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2015

Melissa Ozga*
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Carol Aghajanian
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Shannon Myers-Virtue
Affiliation:
Temple University and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Glynnis McDonnell
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York St. John's University, Queens, New York
Sabrina Jhanwar
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Shira Hichenberg
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Isabel Sulimanoff
Affiliation:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Melissa Ozga, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10022. E-Mail: ozgam@mskcc.org

Abstract

Objective:

To assess demographic, medical, and psychological factors that are associated with fear of recurrence (FCR) in ovarian cancer patients.

Method:

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. For PubMed, a search using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) was run, as well as a text-word search from 1990 to July of 2014. The search terms used consisted of ovarian terms, fear terms, and recurrence/progression themes. Title and abstract reviews were conducted by two independent reviewers to determine eligibility, and discrepancies were decided by a third reviewer. Full-text reviews of potentially eligible articles were conducted by the review team, which met regularly to ensure the reliability of eligibility ratings across all articles.

Results:

A total of 15 articles met our inclusion criteria. Nine were quantitative studies that utilized a cross-sectional design, and the other six included three qualitative studies, two small intervention studies, and one study that utilized content analysis to explore written correspondence among ovarian cancer patients. FCR was reported as a significant concern for both older and younger women at both early and advanced stages. Women were distressed about recurrence at various times during their treatment and posttreatment. FCR was noted to be prevalent around cancer follow-up examinations. Many women reported not receiving adequate support for recurrence. FCR was also shown to be linked in some way to hopelessness, faith/spirituality, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). FCR was also linked to patients' anxiety about death and dying and uncertainty about the future of their medical health.

Significance of Results:

This review demonstrates that FCR is prevalent in the ovarian cancer population. Moreover, cancer recurrence fears are not adequately assessed or treated. More information is needed on the factors that may be related to women's fears about recurrence of ovarian cancer. In addition, a validated measure of FCR among ovarian cancer patients as well as a treatment intervention are needed.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

American Cancer Society (2014). When cancer doesn't go away. Available from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorshipduringandaftertreatment/when-cancer-doesnt-go-away.Google Scholar
Armstrong, D., Bundy, B., Wenzel, L., et al. (2006). Intraperitoneal cisplatin and paclitaxel in ovarian cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine, 354, 3443.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baker, F., Denniston, M., Smith, T., et al. (2005). Adult cancer survivors: How are they faring? Cancer, 104(11 Suppl.), 25652576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butow, P.N., Bell, M.L., Smith, A.B., et al. (2013). Conquer fear: Protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a psychological intervention to reduce fear of cancer recurrence. BMC Cancer, 13, 201. Available from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/13/201.Google Scholar
Cesario, S.K., Nelson, L.S., Broxson, A., et al. (2010). Sword of Damocles cutting through the life stages of women with ovarian cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(5), 609617.Google Scholar
Cox, A., Bull, E., Cockle-Hearne, J., et al. (2008). Nurse-led telephone follow-up in ovarian cancer: A psychosocial perspective. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(5), 412417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crist, J.V. & Grunfeld, E.A. (2013). Factors reported to influence fear of recurrence in cancer patients: A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology. 22(5), 978986.Google Scholar
Donovan, K.A., Mitchell, S.A., Dueck, A.C., et al. (2014). Recommended patient-reported core set of symptoms and quality-of-life domains to measure in ovarian cancer treatment trials. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 106(7), 18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferrell, B., Smith, S.L., Cullinane, C.A., et al. (2003). Psychological well-being and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors. Cancer, 98(5), 10611071.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fitch, M.I. (2010). Gynecologic cancer. In Psycho-Oncology. Holland, J.C. et al. (eds.), pp. 167171. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Fitch, M.I. & Steele, R. (2010). Identifying supportive care needs of women with ovarian cancer. The Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 20(2), 6674.Google Scholar
Fitch, M.I., Gray, R.E., DePetrillo, D., et al. (1999). Canadian women's perspectives on ovarian cancer. Cancer Prevention and Control, 3(1), 5260.Google ScholarPubMed
Fitch, M., Gray, R.E. & Franssen, E. (2000). Perspectives on living with ovarian cancer: Young women's views. The Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 10(3), 101108.Google Scholar
Fitch, M.I., Gray, R.E. & Franssen, E. (2001). Perspectives on living with ovarian cancer: Older women's views. Oncology Nursing Forum, 28(9), 14331442.Google ScholarPubMed
Hamilton, A.B. (1999). Psychological aspects of ovarian cancer. Cancer Investigation, 17(5), 335341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Howell, D., Fitch, M.I. & Deane, K.A. (2003). Women's experiences with recurrent ovarian cancer. Cancer Nursing, 26(1), 1017.Google Scholar
Greenberg, D.B., Kornblith, A.B., Herndon, J.E., et al. (1997). Quality of life for adult leukemia survivors treated on clinical trials of Cancer and Leukemia Group B during the period 1971–1988: Predictors for later psychological distress. Cancer, 80(10), 19361944.Google Scholar
Herschbach, P., Book, K., Dinkel, A., et al. (2010). Evaluation of two group therapies to reduce fear of progression in cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 18(4), 471479 Google Scholar
Humphris, G. & Ozakinci, G. (2008). The AFTER intervention: A structured psychological approach to reduce fears of recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer. British Journal of Health Psychology, 13(2), 223230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koch, L., Jansen, L., Brenner, H., et al. (2013). Fear of recurrence and disease progression in long term (≥5 years) cancer survivors: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Psycho-Oncology, 22(1), 111.Google Scholar
Kornblith, A.B., Mirabeau-Beale, K., Lee, H., et al. (2010). Long-term adjustment of survivors of ovarian cancer treated for advanced-stage disease. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 28(5):451469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee-Jones, C., Humphris, G., Dixon, R., et al. (1997). Fear of cancer recurrence: A literature review and proposed cognitive formulation to explain exacerbation of recurrence fears. Psycho-Oncology, 6(2), 95105.3.0.CO;2-B>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manne, S.L., Rubin, S., Edelson, M., et al. (2007). Coping and communication-enhancing intervention versus supportive counseling for women diagnosed with gynecological cancers. Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 75(4), 615.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matulonis, U.A., Kornblith, A., Lee, H., et al. (2008). Long-term adjustment of early-stage ovarian cancer survivors. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 18(6), 11831193.Google Scholar
McCorkle, R., Pasacreta, J. & Tang, S.T. (2003). The silent killer: Psychological issues in ovarian cancer. Holistic Nursing Practice, 17(6), 300308.Google Scholar
Mirabeau-Beale, K.L., Kornblith, A.B., Penson, R.T., et al. (2009). Comparison of the quality of life of early and advanced stage ovarian cancer survivors. Gynecologic Oncology, 114(2), 353359.Google Scholar
National Cancer Institute (2013). A snapshot of ovarian cancer. Available from http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/ovarian.Google Scholar
National Cancer Institute (2014). Recurrent or persistent ovarian epithelial cancer treatment. Available from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/ovarianepithelial/HealthProfessional/page6.Google Scholar
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2007). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: Distress management, version 1. Available from http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physiciangls/PDF/distress.pdf.Google Scholar
Northouse, L.L. (1981). Mastectomy patients and the fear of cancer recurrence. Cancer Nursing, 4(3), 213220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parker, P.A., Andrzej, K., Basen-Engquist, K., et al. (2006). The associations between knowledge, CA125 preoccupation, and distress in women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecologic Oncology, 100(3), 495500.Google Scholar
Reb, A.M. (2007). Transforming the death sentence: Elements of hope in women with advanced ovarian cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(6), E70E81.Google Scholar
Seigel, R., Ma, J., Zou, Z., et al. (2014). Cancer statistics, 2014. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 64(1), 929.Google Scholar
Shinn, E.H., Carmack Taylor, C.L., Kilgore, K., et al. (2009). Associations with worry about dying and hopelessness in ambulatory ovarian cancer patients. Palliative & Supportive Care, 7(3), 299306.Google Scholar
Simard, S., Savard, J. & Ivers, H. (2010). Fear of cancer recurrence: Specific profiles and nature of intrusive thoughts. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 4(4), 361371.Google Scholar
Simard, S., Thewes, B., Humphris, G., et al. (2013). Fear of cancer recurrence in adult cancer survivors: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 7, 300322.Google Scholar
Steginga, S.K. & Dunn, J. (1997). Women's experiences following treatment for gynecological cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 24, 403408.Google Scholar
Stewart, D.E., Duff, S., Wong, F., et al. (2001). The views of ovarian cancer survivors on its cause, prevention, and recurrence. Medscape Women's Health, 6(5), 5.Google Scholar
Sugimoto, A. & Thomas, G. (1998). Early-stage ovarian carcinoma. In Cancer in Women. Kavanah, J. et al. (eds.). Malden: Blackwell Science.Google Scholar
Thewes, B., Butow, P., Zachariae, R., et al. (2012). Fear of cancer recurrence: A systematic literature review of self-report measures. Psycho-Oncology, 21(6), 571587.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vickberg, S.M.J. (2003). The Concerns About Recurrence Scale (CARS): A systematic measure of women's fears about the possibility of breast cancer recurrence. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25(1), 1624.Google Scholar
Walker, L.M., Bischoff, T.F. & Robinson, J.W. (2010). Supportive expressive group therapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 60 3), 407427.Google Scholar
Wenzel, L.B., Donnelly, J.P., Fowler, J.M., et al. (2002). Resilience, reflection, and residual stress in ovarian cancer survivorship: A gynecologic oncology group study. Psycho-Oncology, 11, 142153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed