Graduation Year

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

School of Aging Studies

Major Professor

Brent J. Small, Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

Stacey B. Scott, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Alyssa Gamaldo, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Heather Jim, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Eun Sook Kim, Ph.D.

Abstract

There are over 15.5 million cancer survivors in the U.S. currently, increasing to over 20 million by 2026. Long-term cancer survival has raised awareness for the issues that affect quality of life (QoL) after treatment. Fatigue and subjective cognitive dysfunction are common quality of life concerns for survivors but little is known regarding prevalence of these problems in daily life. The purpose of the current project is to examine these concerns after treatment using data from a 2 week daily diary study of breast cancer survivors up to 3 years post-treatment. Of importance is determining the factors that contribute to reporting decreased QoL.

Taken together, our findings suggest that within-persons, survivors who reported worse mood and physical function tended to also report higher levels of fatigue. Similarly, subjective reporting of cognitive function is influenced by current mood and physical symptoms such as fatigue. Demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms prior to the study were unrelated to fatigue and subjective cognitive function. This dissertation advances the current understanding of daily QoL issues. These findings also highlight the importance of capturing these experiences in daily life.

Download

Share

COinS