ArticlePsycho-oncology2016
Emotional responses to the experience of cancer 'alarm' symptoms.
Article in Psycho-oncology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- What do people fear about cancer? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of cancer fears in the general population.Psycho-oncology · 2017Pooled it
- Hidden misinformation in YouTube short videos on syphilis: A mixed-methods study.PEC innovation · 2025Article
- Is concern for gynaecological alarm symptoms associated with healthcare-seeking? A Danish population-based cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2022Article
- Patients' Reaction to Diagnosis with Thyroid Cancer or an Indeterminate Thyroid Nodule.Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association · 2021Article
- Ethnic inequalities in older adults bowel cancer awareness: findings from a community survey conducted in an ethnically diverse region in England.BMC public health · 2021Article
- Psychological and physical effects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on young Ghanaian women: a qualitative study.BMC psychiatry · 2020Article
- Using the candidacy framework to understand how doctor-patient interactions influence perceived eligibility to seek help for cancer alarm symptoms: a qualitative interview study.BMC health services research · 2018Article
- Understanding middle-aged and older adults' first associations with the word "cancer": A mixed methods study in England.Psycho-oncology · 2018Article
- What triggers healthcare-seeking behaviour when experiencing a symptom? Results from a population-based survey.BJGP open · 2017Article
- The impact of body vigilance on help-seeking for cancer 'alarm' symptoms: a community-based survey.BMC public health · 2016Article
- Worrying about wasting GP time as a barrier to help-seeking: a community-based, qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2016Article
- Emotional responses to the experience of cancer 'alarm' symptoms.Psycho-oncology · 2016Article
- Unintended consequences of an 'all-clear' diagnosis for potential cancer symptoms: a nested qualitative interview study with primary care patients.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2016Article
- What prompts help-seeking for cancer 'alarm' symptoms? A primary care based survey.British journal of cancer · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo qualitatively explore associations between emotional responses to experience of cancer 'alarm' symptoms and help-seeking in a community sample of adults.
methodInterviewees (n = 62) were recruited from a community sample (n = 2042) of adults aged ≥50 years, who had completed a health survey that included a list of cancer alarm symptoms. Participants who had reported an alarm symptom both at baseline and 3-month follow-up (n = 271), and who had consented to contact (n = 215), constituted the pool for invitations to interview.
resultsOver a third of participants (37%) described an emotional response to their symptom experience. In all these cases, there was evidence of awareness of the risk of cancer. Emotional responses were usually either classified as mild ('worry') or severe ('fear'). Worry was often described in the context of a desire to seek medical help, either to rule out cancer or to minimise patient delay. In contrast, the 'fear' group described associations with death, the perceived incurability of cancer, and the consequence of a cancer diagnosis. Where the emotional reaction was fear, medical contact was seen as something to be avoided either because it had no value or because it was preferable not to be told a diagnosis.
conclusionIn this community sample, worry about the possibility of cancer was associated with help-seeking, either for reassurance or as part of a 'sensible' strategy to deal with the risk. In contrast, fear was associated with avoiding help-seeking or even thinking about cancer, which could lead to prolonged help-seeking intervals.
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