[Fear of Recurrence (FoR) after Partial Laryngectomy (PA)]

Fear of recurrence (FoR) is a common problem in cancer patients. However, it is quite unknown in which extent patients who underwent a PL have FoR. This pilot study examines the extent of FoR and coping strategies in cancer patients after PL as well as associations between FoR and medical, treatment-related, psychosocial and demographic parameters.

In a multicentre cross-sectional study, data was taken from 154 cancer patients after PL. Data was collected in personal interviews and with standardised questionnaires (e. g., PA-F; HADS; EORTC H&N-C35).

The study participants had a low level of FoR (MW=6.67; SD=2.43) and a high level of coping strategies (MW=3.24; SD=0.83). FoR was higher in young patients (r=-0.265; p=0.002) and in users of medical rehabilitation programs (U=1 480; p=0.025). Patients who thought smoking (r=0.197; p=0.029) or/and inner conflicts (r=0.177; p=0.050) was/were the reason(s) for their cancer and who reported more swallowing problems, had a significantly higher level of FoR (r=0.496; p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between the extent of FoR and time passing by since the last surgery of the larynx (r=- 0.322; p<0.001).

Frequently occurring swallowing problems as well as internal causal attributions for the development of cancer as smoking increase the level of FoR. Since internal causal attributions may cause feelings of guilt, psycho-oncological treatment can be indicated for patients with higher levels of FoR. Furthermore, younger individuals and patients with more swallowing problems need more attention by physicians and therapists.