Fear of Cancer Recurrence and Associated Factors in Lymphoma Survivors and Their Family Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a pervasive concern among lymphoma survivors and their family caregivers, influencing psychological and physical health. Given the substantial burden of FCR, identifying its predictors is crucial for targeted interventions that could enhance palliative care. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of FCR in lymphoma survivors and their caregivers, as well as associated factors. Methods: A total of 118 patients with lymphoma, along with their family caregivers, were recruited from Hacettepe University Cancer Institute between March 2024 and May 2024. Psychological assessments were conducted using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym). Results: High levels of FCR were experienced by 50.8% (n = 60) of lymphoma survivors and 57.6% (n = 68) of their caregivers. There was a positive correlation between the FCR of the survivors and caregivers (r = 0.349, p < 0.001). Poor overall quality of life (QoL) (aOR: 4.279, 95% CI: 1.738–10.531, p = 0.002), recent diagnosis (< 3 year) (aOR: 5.135, 95% CI: 1.852–14.238, p = 0.002), survivors' anxiety (aOR: 2.540, 95% CI: 1.014–6.363, p = 0.002) and caregivers' FCR (aOR: 2.970, 95% CI: 1.119–7.879, p = 0.029) were associated with high levels of FCR in lymphoma survivors. Conclusion: We observed high FCR levels in over half the survivors with lymphoma and a higher FCR risk in patients with anxiety, poor QoL and caregiver FCR. These findings highlight the critical need for developing comprehensive care plans and interventions targeting FCR in patients with lymphoma.