What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim was to identify factors influencing fear of cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors.

June 20, 2026Open Access

Factors influencing fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Puntos clave

The aim was to identify factors influencing fear of cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors.
Cross-sectional study conducted from November 2024 to January 2025 with 387 participants screened through convenience sampling.
Fear of cancer recurrence and other factors assessed using FCR Inventory-Short Form, MSAS, and SSRS.
Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between influencing factors and fear of cancer recurrence.
Age < 40 years, severe medical burden, tumor stage III, cancer diagnosis time of 6-12 months, and chemotherapy were significantly associated with higher fear of cancer recurrence (p < 0.05).
Worrying and feeling nervous were significantly linked to increased fear of cancer recurrence (p < 0.01).
Physical symptoms like lack of energy and not recognizing oneself also correlated with heightened fear of cancer recurrence (p < 0.05).

Resumen

PURPOSE: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a prevalent psychological concern among breast cancer survivors, and identifying influencing factors is crucial for designing effective interventions. We aimed to investigate the relationship of FCR with sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, physical and psychological symptoms, and social support among survivors of breast cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional study performed between November 2024, and January 2025. 387 potential participants were screened using convenience sampling. Fear of cancer recurrence, symptoms, and social support were assessed using the FCR Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF), the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), respectively. Factors influencing FCR in survivors of breast cancer were determined using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The findings revealed that age < 40 years (B = 3.505, p = 0.012), severe medical burden (B = 5.079, p < 0.001), tumor stage III (B = 4.309, p = 0.018), cancer diagnosis time of 6-12 months (B = 2.174, p = 0.014), and chemotherapy (B = 2.077, p = 0.031) were significantly associated with higher FCR. Endocrine therapy was positively associated with FCR scores, although this association did not reach statistical significance (B = 2.300, p = 0.054). Among the psychological factors, worrying (B = 2.213, p < 0.001) and feeling nervous (B = 0.880, p = 0.006) were significantly associated with higher FCR. Among the physical factors, "I do not look like myself" (B = 0.796, p = 0.010) and lack of energy (B = 0.662, p = 0.018) were also significantly associated with higher FCR. CONCLUSIONS: FCR in this population is influenced by age, medical burden, cancer stage, duration of cancer diagnosis, treatment methods, and physical and psychological symptoms. Although social support was not significant in this study, its potential role, as reported in previous literature, warrants further attention.

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