Survival from cancer has improved over the past decade resulting in more long-term survivors. The literature on multi-dimensional quality of life (QOL) among long-term (5+ years) adult survivors is reviewed for each of seven cancer sites (i.e. breast, ovarian, cervical, prostate, colorectal, head and neck, and Hodgkin's disease survivors). Overall, long-term survivors experience good to excellent QOL. Physical domain QOL was the most frequently measured while spiritual domain QOL was the least frequently measured. QOL varies according to treatment received and by age for all groups with older persons (excepting head and neck and Hodgkin's disease survivors) reporting better QOL. QOL improves with time for breast cancer survivors and tends to decrease over time for prostate cancer survivors. Issues regarding sexual functioning affected the social domain-especially for breast and prostate cancer survivors. Social support improves psychological domain QOL for breast, cervical, and colorectal survivors. Review of findings may assist researchers and clinicians wishing to enhance the QOL of the long-term survivor population by identifying the most pressing and widely experienced concerns and by providing directions for future research.

Interventions designed to increase utilization of social networks may be an effective way to increase use of cancer screening, which may ultimately lead to reduced mortality from cancer.

This study examined associations between social ties (as measured by the Social Network Index), instrumental and emotional support, and the use of three female cancer screening tests: mammography, cervical smear, and clinical breast examination. Data were taken from a household survey of 670 African-American women living in northern California in 1986. In multiple logistic regression models, Berkman's index was associated with increased use of mammography but not with the use of cervical smear or clinical breast examination. Instrumental and emotional support measures were not significant. These results suggest that social networks may have a role in early cancer detection.

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