A cross-sectional study of distress: a cancer response

Aim: To describe the experience of distress in people with cancer of working age.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients (N = 168) with both ongoing (N = 56) and completed treatment (N = 105) completed the Distress Thermometer and the detailed problem list. Data were analysed by descriptive and analytical statistics.

Results: A large proportion of patients (29%) continued to experience high distress (>3 according to the Distress Thermometer) even after treatment was completed. Patients experienced several problems after treatment had ended such as fatigue (44%), sleep problems (34%), worries (31%), pain (31%), tingling in hands and feet (31%) and problems with memory/concentration (30%). Patients with financial/insurance problems had significantly higher distress than those who did not have these problems.