abstract: All’s Well That Ends Well? Quality of Life and Physical Symptom Clusters in Long-Term Cancer Survivors Across Cancer Types (Australia/Canada)

 Blogger's Note:  search blog for other posts on 'symptom cluster' research, note that the abstract does not discuss the current status of the 5/6 year survivors (eg. in treatment,  type/s of treatments, # prior treatments, stage.....

Blogger's Opinion:   short answer - no, back to the 'drawing' board on this one

 abstract: "Cancer patients also will welcome the news that only a minority of five-year survivors experience long-term and late effects."

All’s Well That Ends Well? Quality of Life and Physical Symptom Clusters in Long-Term Cancer Survivors Across Cancer Types:

Publication year: 2012

Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Volume 43, Issue 4

Context 
Little is known about the presentation of multiple concurrent symptoms (symptom clusters) in long-term cancer survivors, with few studies adequately powered to compare quality of life (QoL) and symptom presentation by cancer type.

Objectives 
This research aimed to 1) assess patient-reported QoL and 2) identify clusters of cancer-related physical symptoms by cancer type among long-term breast, prostate, colorectal, and melanoma cancer survivors.

Methods
A population-based cross-sectional sample of 863 adult cancer survivors five to six years post-diagnosis completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), assessing global QoL and frequency of presentation of cancer-related physical symptoms.

Results
Long-term survivors reported higher levels of global QoL than 1) the general population (age-adjusted mean=79.4 vs. 71.1, small clinical difference) and 2) cancer patients early in the care trajectory (age-adjusted mean=77.1 vs. 61.3, moderate clinical difference). The majority (71%) did not report any cancer-related physical symptoms; 18% reported multiple (two or more) symptoms in the past month. Factor analysis found that cognitive functioning, fatigue, insomnia, pain, dyspnea, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting formed a cluster (α =0.48). No symptom clusters were identified that were specific to just one cancer type. However, individual symptoms (including diarrhea, pain, constipation, and insomnia) modestly discriminated between cancer types.

Conclusion
Contrary to expectations, no symptom clusters specific to one type of cancer were identified and survivors reported few cancer-related symptoms and high QoL. These results convey a strong “good news” message, providing health professionals with a sound foundation for making encouraging predictions about their patients’ long-term physical recovery after cancer. Cancer patients also will welcome the news that only a minority of five-year survivors experience long-term and late effects.