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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2015

01-09-2015 | Original Article

Is long-term cancer survivors’ quality of life comparable to that of the general population? An italian study

Authors: Maria Antonietta Annunziata, Barbara Muzzatti, Lorena Giovannini, Francesca Romito, Claudia Cormio, Vittorio Mattioli, Daniela Barberio, Valentina Abate, Francesco De Falco, Fiorino Mirabella, Angelo Picardi, Riccardo Capocaccia, Umberto Tirelli

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

Since long-term survivorship is now a reality for an increasingly number of people with a history of cancer, understanding their quality of life (QoL) can inform health care policy as well as help supporting individual patients. This study was aimed to quantify QoL of this specific population in comparison with data provided for both the general population and cancer patients and to assess QoL association with several sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables.

Methods

Three hundred fourteen Italian long-term cancer survivors (people who have been free from cancer and cancer treatments for at least 5 years) completed a battery of questionnaires including the SF12 for QoL assessment.

Results

Both physical and mental functioning were higher than those among Italian cancer patients but lower than those of the Italian general population (p < .001). Poorer QoL (physical and mental functioning) was associated more often with psychological conditions (as anxiety and depression) than with sociodemographic and cancer-related variables.

Conclusions

These data support an ongoing specific interest in the QoL of long-term cancer survivors and suggest the need for further study of multidimensional functioning in this population.
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Metadata
Title
Is long-term cancer survivors’ quality of life comparable to that of the general population? An italian study
Authors
Maria Antonietta Annunziata
Barbara Muzzatti
Lorena Giovannini
Francesca Romito
Claudia Cormio
Vittorio Mattioli
Daniela Barberio
Valentina Abate
Francesco De Falco
Fiorino Mirabella
Angelo Picardi
Riccardo Capocaccia
Umberto Tirelli
Publication date
01-09-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2015
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2628-6

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