Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Stomach Cancer Survivors: Exploring Socio-Demographic, Physical, Psychological and Quality of Life-Related Factors

Background: This study aimed to evaluate factors related to the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in stomach cancer survivors.Methods: A total of 363 stomach cancer survivors were divided into three groups according to the Korean version of the FCR Index (FCRI). We compared the socio-demographic and cancer-related factors, communication within the medical team during treatment, care coordination, social support, physical symptoms, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and health promotion and disease prevention activity, which was defined as second primary cancer screening, osteoporosis evaluation, supplementary drug intake, dietary pattern, regular exercise, and smoking cessation, according to the levels of FCRI using the linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, sex, stage, time since diagnosis, family cancer diagnosis, and comorbidities.Results: An average of 7.3 years have passed since diagnosis. The highest FCRI group was younger or had a high percentage of family cancer diagnosis. Satisfaction for communication and care coordination, social support, HRQoL, and physical symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, and insomnia, were negatively associated with the FCR of stomach cancer survivors. Anxiety and depression were positively associated with the FCR. However, FCR was not associated with sex, time since diagnosis, cancer stage, treatment modality, socioeconomic status, or health promotion and disease prevention activity.Conclusions: FCR in stomach cancer survivors was associated with physical, psychological, and HRQoL factors rather than socio-demographic or cancer–related factors. Understanding the association between HRQoL, physical and psychosocial factors, and FCR may advance survivorship care for stomach cancer survivors.