Fear of cancer recurrence is defined as “fear, worry, or concern relating to the possibility that cancer will come back or progress". While low level of concerns about the potential threat of cancer recurrence is normal, realistic response, high fear of cancer recurrence can be detrimental, affecting individuals’ quality of life and functional capacity.
Our recent longtiudinal study on fear of cancer recurrence investigated why some cancer patients have persistent high fear of cancer recurrence while others have normal low level of fear of cancer recurrence. We examined the interrelationship among maladaptive metacognition beliefs about negative thinking (e.g. rumination and worry), the use of negative styles of thinking and persistent high fear of cancer recurrence.
Our study showed 3 in 10 survivors persistently worried about cancer returning over the first 12-month post-treatment. Modifying metacognitive knowledge to interrupt maladaptive cognitive processing including intrusion and avoidance may be an effective therapeutic intervention for patients at risk of persistent fear of cancer recurrence.
Related publication
Ng, D. W. L., Kwong, A., Suen, D., Chan, M., Or, A., Ng, S. S., ... & Lam, W. W. (2019). Fear of cancer recurrence among Chinese cancer survivors: prevalence and associations with metacognition and neuroticism. Psycho‐Oncology, 28(6), 1243-1251
Ng, D. W.L., Foo, C. C., Ng, S. S., Kwong, A., Suen, D., Chan, M., ... & Lam, W. W. (2020). The role of metacognition and its indirect effect through cognitive attentional syndrome on fear of cancer recurrence trajectories: a longitudinal study. Psycho‐Oncology, 29(2), 271-279.
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