Fear of Progression and its Associated Factors among Postoperative Patients with Breast Cancer: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective Fear of progression (FoP) is commonly observed in breast cancer patients. It may exist for a period of time even after cancer survivorship. Our study aims at investigating the distribution and associated factors of FoP based on postoperative patients with breast cancer in Northeast China. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. 257 postoperative patients with breast cancer were recruited using convenience sampling method. Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form was used to evaluated the FoP status of participants. Hierarchic multiple linear regression was applied to identify the independent relevant factors. Mediation effect analysis was conducted to explore the potential pathway between attitude towards cancer and FoP. All P values were two-tailed. P < 0.05 was considered to represent statical significance. Results The most frequent fear of the participants was “worrying that medications could damage the body”. After adjusting for other factors, the following independent variables were identified to be the associated factors for FoP: age, number of descendants, time after operation, postoperative pain, regular review, personality, anxiety and depression, self-esteem and self-acceptance and attitude towards cancer. Moreover, we have confirmed the mediation role of anxiety and depression in the relationship between FoP and attitude towards disease. Conclusion Clinicians should help and guide patients to correctly view the necessity and double-sided of operation and medication treatment. Additional attention should also be paid to patients with pessimistic personality or low psychosocial adaptability.