Fear of Cancer Recurrence and COVID-19 Anxiety Among Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast Iran

Abstract

Cancer survivors face numerous therapeutic and health challenges during the COVID-19 epidemic. These patients experience high levels of anxiety and stress due to illness, external stresses, and crises, such as the COVID-19 epidemic. The present study showed a positive relationship between FCR and COVID-19 anxiety as well as moderate levels of FCR (according to the midpoint score of the questionnaire) and COVID-19 anxiety among cancer survivors. Factors affecting the mental condition of cancer survivors can play an important role in completing treatment and preventing disease exacerbation.

Keywords:

• Fear
• cancer recurrence
• anxiety
• COVID-19
• cancer survivors

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Social Determinants of Health Research Centre in Ali Ebn Abitaleb Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Science, Rafsanjan, Iran, for its support and collaboration. There was no funding for this study.

Ethical approval

After receiving the code of ethics No. IR.RUMS.REC.1399.237 from the ethics committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, the researcher started sampling. Informed consent form was obtained from the participants before the study. The objectives of the study, confidentiality and anonymity of information were explained and participants were free to complete the questionnaire. The Medical Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences officially approved this study (No. IR.RUMS.REC.1399.237). All participants consented to participate in this study. All participants consented to publish the results.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Data availability statement

Data are available by contacting with the corresponding author by email.