Introduction: Fatigue is the common symptom in colorectal cancer patients and psychological distress has been proved as one of the most related factors. However, the relationship between fear of recurrence and fatigue has not been studied in colorectal cancer patients.

Objectives: To explore the relationship between fear of recurrence and fatigue in colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in surgery clinics at 2 medical centers in northern Taiwan. Colorectal cancer patients who were diagnosed within 5 years were recruited. Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCR-sf) and fatigue symptom Inventory were used to assess patients’ fear of recurrence and fatigue characteristics. Generalized estimating equation was used to examine their relationships after controlling other confounding factors (symptom severity and depression). 

Results: Among 97 patients with mild fatigue, 54.6% (n=54) had been identified as clinical levels of fear of recurrence (the score of FCR-sf >= 13). No significant differences of levels of FCR and fatigue in patients with different treatment status (active treatment vs. survivors) and cancer stage. FCR was significant positively associated with average fatigue(r =.25, p=.013) and patients with higher level of fear of recurrence (>= 13) had significant higher than level of average fatigue than patients with lower level than 13. 

Conclusion: Colorectal cancer patients with higher level of fear of recurrence had the higher level of fatigue in average. Therefore, decreasing the level of fear of recurrence might be an important factor to help colorectal cancer patients in managing fatigue effectively. However, their causal effect needs to identify in the further study.

20 / WAS LEVEL OF FEAR OF RECURRENCE ASSOCIATED WITH LEVEL OF FATIGUE IN COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS?