Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Background/Purpose: Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the cancers that exclusively affects women, with a 5-year survival rate of 10-35%. Consequently, in ovarian cancer survivors, the fear of experiencing a recurrence is high. There is a near absence of studies that have investigated the experience of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in women with ovarian cancer. One model has been proposed to guide the conceptualization of FCR and understand its impact in cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to better understand FCR through the reflections of ovarian cancer survivors by using the FCR model. Methods: This study has a descriptive qualitative design aimed at capturing the rich detail of the FCR topic. Twelve participants were recruited from the gynecology oncology clinics at two University teaching hospitals in Montreal. Researchers conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Content, transcribed verbatim, underwent content analysis. Results: FCR is a complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon and its impact was found to fall on a spectrum. The first four themes that emerged were moderators of the participants' FCR experience: (a) varied beliefs and sources of worry; (b) perception of risk of recurrence; (c) uncertainty surrounding different facets of recurrence; (d) management of FCR. The fifth theme spoke to the participants' opinions of the FCR model. Conclusions: The findings from this study offer a glimpse into the fear of recurrence of an ovarian cancer survivor. Each woman experienced it differently yet commonalities were found in their narratives. The insightful themes will allow nurses to intervene more effectively with their patients in the hopes of decreasing distress and improving quality of life.