TY - JOUR
T1 - Cancer-related concerns among women with a new diagnosis of gynecological cancer: an exploration of age group differences
AU - Myers Virtue, Shannon
AU - Manne, Sharon L
AU - Ozga, Melissa
AU - Kissane, David
AU - Rubin, Stephen C
AU - Heckman, Carolyn J
AU - Rosenblum, Norman G
AU - Graff, John J
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - The study aimed to characterize cancer-related concerns among women with a new diagnosis of gynecological cancer froma 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). Materials/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 ameasure 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 themiddle- 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.
AB - The study aimed to characterize cancer-related concerns among women with a new diagnosis of gynecological cancer froma 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). Materials/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 ameasure 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 themiddle- 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.
UR - http://journals.lww.com/ijgc/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2014&issue=01000&article=00027&type=abstract
U2 - 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000010
DO - 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000010
M3 - Article
SN - 1048-891X
VL - 24
SP - 165
EP - 171
JO - International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
JF - International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
IS - 1
ER -