Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41787680›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2026

Symptom Clusters and Symptom Burden in Cancer Survivors.

Marilyn J Hammer, Carolyn Harris, Rachel Pozzar, Karin Snowberg, Steven M Paul, Bruce A Cooper, Maura E Abbott, Susan Chang, Stacey Kenfield, Erin Van Blarigan and 3 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Cancer medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Marilyn J HammerDana-Farber Cancer Institute and Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Carolyn HarrisSchool of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Rachel PozzarDana-Farber Cancer Institute and Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Karin SnowbergSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Steven M PaulSchool of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Bruce A CooperSchool of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Maura E AbbottColumbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Susan ChangSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Stacey KenfieldSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Erin Van BlariganSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Katherine Van LoonSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Jon D LevineSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Christine MiaskowskiSchool of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextLimited information is available on the symptom burden and symptom clusters in cancer survivors.

objectivesDescribe the occurrence, severity, and distress of 44 symptoms; determine risk factors associated with a higher symptom burden; and evaluate for symptom clusters using symptom occurrence rates.

methodsSurvivors (n = 1147) were recruited using an online survey. Symptom burden and symptom clusters were assessed using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale that included 44 symptoms and evaluated occurrence, severity, and distress. Simultaneous multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors associated with a higher symptom burden. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify symptom clusters using ratings of symptom occurrence.

resultsSurvivors reported an average ten concurrent symptoms. Survivors who are younger, female, with a higher comorbidity burden, evidence of metastatic disease, and a poorer functional status were at increased risk for a higher symptom burden. Six symptom clusters were identified (i.e., psychological cluster, cancer and treatment-related cluster, respiratory cluster, pain cluster, weight loss cluster, epithelial cluster).

conclusionAdditional research is warranted to confirm the prevalence rates for the various symptoms and symptom clusters; identify additional risk factors for a higher symptom burden; and determine the underlying mechanisms for the symptom clusters. Future studies need to develop and test targeted interventions for each of the symptom clusters within and across various types of cancer.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsNeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsSeverity of Illness IndexSurveys and QuestionnairesSymptom AssessmentSymptom Burdencancerexploratory factor analysispatient reported outcomessurvivorssymptom clusterssymptoms

Identifiers

PMID41787680
PMCPMC12963460

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.