Abstract
BACKGROUND.
Cancer survivors may develop additional cancers after their first diagnosis, but to the authors' knowledge the quality of life (QOL) consequences of a second cancer are not known. The current study assessed QOL and its correlates after a second cancer diagnosis.
METHODS.
QOL was compared between 487 survivors of secondโorder and higherโorder primary cancer diagnoses, and a matched group of 589 survivors of a single cancer diagnosis. Outcome measures included standardized questionnaires that assessed depressive symptoms, perceived stress, vitality, postโtraumatic growth, existential wellโbeing, sexual adjustment, and global QOL.
RESULTS.
Survivors of multiple primary cancer diagnoses had significantly lower global QOL (t (792) = 5.42; P < .001), vitality (Student t test [t] (794) = 2.41; P < .01), and existential wellโbeing (t (775) = 2.78; P < .01), and higher intrusive stress symptoms (t (775) = โ1.93; P < .05). Controlling for demographic, medical, and traitโlike psychosocial characteristics (eg, optimism and resilience), having multiple primary cancer diagnoses explained small, although significant, variances in global QOL (coefficient of determination [R^2^] = .04; P < .001), vitality (R^2^ = .01; P < .05), and existential wellโbeing (R^2^ = .01; P < .05), with patients in the multiple primary cancer group faring worse on all of these measures.
CONCLUSIONS.
The results of the current study suggest that the typical survivor of multiple primary cancers experiences modest but lasting QOL deficits. Cancer 2007. ยฉ 2007 American Cancer Society.