Patients’ and Oncologists’ Perspectives On A Novel Clinician Led Fear of Cancer Recurrence (CIFeR) Intervention

Abstract PurposeDespite strong demand from breast cancer survivors, there is a dearth of flexibly delivered, accessible psychological interventions addressing fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). This study aimed to explore patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives concerning the experience, utility and barriers to a novel clinician-led FCR intervention (CIFeR).MethodsTwenty female participants (Mean age; 59.8, SD = 11.43), diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer (mean years since diagnosis = 2.8, SD = 1.37 years) participated in telephone interviews, and their five oncologists completed a semi-structured electronic survey. Thematic qualitative analyses were performed on interview transcripts and survey responses.ResultsFindings indicated both patients and clinicians were positive about CIFeR with perceived cognitive, behavioural and emotional benefits of CIFeR most pronounced for patients with clinically significant FCR. All patients, however, found that receiving CIFeR (especially the tailored prognostic information) from their oncologists with whom they had a long-standing relationship, added a much-needed human element to addressing FCR. Similarly, clinicians valued CIFeR as a clear and consistent way to address unmet needs around FCR, with some barriers around time, language and cultural issues noted.ConclusionOverall, all participants perceived CIFeR as strongly beneficial in reducing FCR and related worries, thus warranting further evaluation of its utility in clinical practice.This study was prospectively registered on the 2nd of October, 2018 in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001615279).

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Fear of cancer recurrence in young early-stage breast cancer survivors: the role of metacognitive style and disease-related factors

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.3252 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 2059-2063 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

B. Thewes ◽

M. L. Bell ◽

P. Butow

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Early Stage ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Early Stage Breast Cancer ◽

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽

Related Factors ◽

Fear Of Cancer

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Assessing the relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and health care utilization in early-stage breast cancer survivors

Journal of Cancer Survivorship ◽

10.1007/s11764-018-0714-8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 775-785 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Amy K. Otto ◽

Emily C. Soriano ◽

Scott D. Siegel ◽

Stefanie T. LoSavio ◽

Jean-Philippe Laurenceau

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Utilization ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Early Stage ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Fear Of Cancer ◽

The Relationship

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Novel Clinician-Lead Intervention to Address Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors

JCO Oncology Practice ◽

10.1200/op.20.00799 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. OP.20.00799

Author(s):

Jia Liu ◽

Phyllis Butow ◽

Kim T. Bui ◽

Anastasia Serafimovska ◽

Daniel S. J. Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Endocrine Therapy ◽

Effect Size ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽

Prognostic Information ◽

Fear Of Cancer

PURPOSE: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) affects 50%-70% of cancer survivors. This multicenter, single-arm study sought to determine the participant-rated usefulness of an oncologist-delivered FCR intervention. METHODS: Women who completed treatment for early breast cancer (could be receiving endocrine therapy) with baseline FCR > 0 were invited to participate. FCR was measured using a validated 42-item FCR Inventory. The brief oncologist-delivered intervention entailed (1) FCR normalization; (2) provision of personalized prognostic information; (3) recurrence symptoms education, (4) advice on managing worry, and (5) referral to psycho-oncologist if FCR was high. FCR, depression, and anxiety were assessed preintervention (T0), at 1 week (T1), and 3 months (T2) postintervention. The primary outcome was participant-rated usefulness. Secondary outcomes included feasibility and efficacy. RESULTS: Five oncologists delivered the intervention to 61/255 women invited. Mean age was 58 ± 12 years. Mean time since breast cancer diagnosis was 2.5 ± 1.3 years. Forty-three women (71%) were on adjuvant endocrine therapy. Of 58 women who completed T1 assessment, 56 (97%) found the intervention to be useful. FCR severity decreased significantly at T1 (F = 18.5, effect size = 0.39, P < .0001) and T2 (F = 24, effect size = 0.68, P < .0001) compared with baseline. There were no changes in unmet need or depression or anxiety. Mean consultation length was 22 minutes (range, 7-47 minutes), and mean intervention length was 8 minutes (range, 2-20 minutes). The intervention was perceived as useful and feasible by oncologists. CONCLUSION: A brief oncologist-delivered intervention to address FCR is useful and feasible, and has preliminary efficacy in reducing FCR. Plans for a cluster randomized trial are underway.

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Perilla Oil and Bifidobacterium for Alleviating Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors: Study Protocol for a Three-Arm Phase II Randomized Controlled Study (POB Study)

Methods and Protocols ◽

10.3390/mps4030046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

Yohei Sasaki ◽

Mina Honyashiki ◽

Takayuki Kinoshita ◽

Akira Matsui ◽

Ayako Nakashoji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Study Protocol ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Fear Of Cancer Recurrence ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Perilla Oil ◽

Fear Of Cancer

The fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is the most common and most severe unmet need among cancer survivors. Safe treatments for the FCR that are easily disseminated are greatly needed. Our primary aim is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and effect size of perilla oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and Bifidobacterium, a probiotic, on FCR in breast cancer survivors after the completion of chemotherapy. This study has been planned as an exploratory clinical study (phase II) and will be conducted as a three-arm, 12-week parallel group, masked-rater randomized controlled trial. Fifteen participants will be randomized with 1:1:1 allocation to receive Bifidobacterium plus perilla oil, Bifidobacterium alone, or no intervention (control). Interventions will end within 12 weeks after the random allocation of each participant. The participants will be outpatients with invasive breast cancer aged 20 years or older whose chemotherapy was completed at least 6 months before registration; hormone therapy may be ongoing. The primary outcome will be severity of FCR at 12 weeks assessed by masked raters using the 4-item Concerns about Recurrence Scale concerning overall fear of recurrence. The study protocol for the current study is registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031200029).

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