Longitudinal study on the changes of cancer recurrence fear in patients with primary liver cancer after the first transcatheter arterial chemoembolization
LI Na
LUO Chen
LIN Yuexin
SHEN Ling
Abstract：Objective:To explore the longitudinal changes and influencing factors of fear of cancer recurrence in patients with primary liver cancer after the first transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE),and to provide the basis for phased psychological intervention.Methods:A total of 183 patients with primary liver cancer who underwent their first TACE in a hospital from February to December 2023 were selected by convenience sampling.Fear of cancer recurrence was assessed using the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form at 3 days,1 month,6 months,and 12 months after the procedure.Results:The fear of cancer recurrence scores at these four time points were(35.68±8.02),(36.83±7.53),(31.07±6.45),and(29.12±5.74)respectively,showing an overall decreasing trend(F=38.353,P<0.001).The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that medical burden,depression,and social support predicted fear of cancer recurrence at each time points within one year after surgery;disease perception predicted the fear of recurrence at 1 month,6 months,and 12 months postoperatively;age 18～44 years predicted the fear of recurrence at 1 month and 6 months postoperatively;and employed predicted the fear of recurrence at 12 months postoperatively.Conclusions:Fear of cancer recurrence in primary liver cancer patients gradually alleviates over time after the first TACE,with predictors showing dynamic changes.It is recommended to implement targeted psychological interventions based on the characteristics of different postoperative phases to reduce fear of cancer recurrence.
Keywords：primary liver cancertranscatheter arterial chemoembolizationcancerfear of recurrencelongitudinal study
Publication Date：2026-03-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-04-01(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 1015-1021 )