One in three South Korean cancer survivors fears recurrence at clinical levels, study finds

A significant portion of cancer survivors in South Korea, nearly one-third, experience a fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) at a level that impacts their daily lives. This rate is substantially higher than the global average, with 31.01% of surveyed survivors reporting clinically significant FCR, compared to 19.2% worldwide.

The study, conducted by Professor Yoo Eun-seung's team at Korea Cyber University, analyzed 345 domestic cancer survivors. While 60.87% reported high levels of FCR, the research found that medical factors like cancer type, stage, or metastasis were not directly correlated with the intensity of this fear. Instead, age emerged as a key risk factor.

Younger survivors, especially those under 40, exhibited much stronger fears of recurrence. The researchers attribute this to the psychological and economic uncertainties associated with major life milestones such as pursuing education, career development, marriage, and child-rearing. These life stage challenges appear to exacerbate the fear of recurrence in younger individuals.

Furthermore, the study identified a strong link between FCR and co-occurring mental health conditions, including illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder. Cognitive factors like thought suppression and catastrophizing also played a role. Survivors who excessively focused on bodily sensations or experienced high uncertainty about their illness progression showed increased fear.

Professor Yoo emphasized that psychological distress does not end with cancer treatment. She stressed the necessity of systematic evaluation and appropriate psychological interventions for cancer survivors, particularly targeting younger individuals and those exhibiting high health anxiety or excessive attention to physical symptoms. The findings, published in Supportive Care in Cancer, underscore the critical need for ongoing psychological care beyond medical treatment.

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Cancer treatment ending does not mean the end of psychological difficulties related to cancer. This study shows that a considerable number of cancer survivors experience significant fear of recurrence even after treatment. In particular, there is a need to systematically assess the fear of cancer recurrence and provide appropriate psychological support to younger cancer survivors and those showing excessive attention to health anxiety and physical symptoms.