The health and well-being of cancer survivors in the UK: findings from a population-based survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To compare self-reported health and well-being in a sample of cancer survivors with individuals who have not had
cancer and with individuals who have a serious chronic condition other than cancer.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey drawn from an online panel of 400 000 UK citizens supplemented with other online
recruitment and telephone recruitment. The participants were 4892 individuals 30 years of age or above, including 780 individuals
with a previous cancer diagnosis, 1372 individuals with one or more of 10 chronic conditions but not cancer and 2740 individuals
without a previous cancer diagnosis or chronic condition. Thirteen measures of health and well-being were constructed from answers
to 25 survey items covering physical, psychological and social dimensions of health and well-being.
RESULTS: Cancer survivors were significantly more likely to report poor health outcomes across all 13 measures than those with no
history of cancer or a chronic condition. The adjusted odds ratios for cancer survivors with no chronic conditions compared with
healthy participants ranged from 1.37 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–1.96) for emotional well-being to 3.34 (95% CI: 2.74–
4.08) for number of health professionals consulted in the last 12 months. The health profile of cancer survivors was similar to those
with a history of a serious chronic health condition.
CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of individuals who have had a diagnosis of cancer experience ongoing poor health and well-being
following cancer and cancer treatment. The results of this study provide an initial basis for the development of specific help and
support for cancer survivors.
Keywords: neoplasms; cancer survivors; quality of life; health outcomes

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ORCID for CL Foster: orcid.org/0000-0002-4703-8378

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