The relationship between age and intensity of cancer-related symptoms

Nausea, vomiting, and pain are among the most universally feared problems associated with cancer and its treatment. However, not all individuals experience these symptoms, and intensity varies widely for those who do. A number of variables might affect intensity of nausea, vomiting, and pain. This study explored the relationship between age and intensity of cancer-related nausea, vomiting, and pain. The study included a sample of 99 subjects who were experiencing pain and a sample of 25 subjects at risk for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. An independent t-test revealed a significant difference in intensity of symptoms between younger and older subjects for the pain group (p less than 0.01); the Mann-Whitney U revealed a significant difference by age in the nausea and vomiting group (p less than 0.05). In addition, there were low to moderately negative relationships found between age and symptom intensity for both groups (pain, r = -0.22, p less than 0.05; nausea and vomiting, r = -0.43, p less than 0.05). Results support the commonly held belief that elderly people report a lower intensity of some physical symptoms than do younger individuals. However, relationships between age and symptom intensity are weak, which suggests that individuals' responses to cancer-related symptoms should continue to be the nurse's primary concern.