PURPOSE

Since long-term survivorship is now a reality for an increasingly number of people with a history of cancer, understanding their quality of life (QoL) can inform health care policy as well as help supporting individual patients. This study was aimed to quantify QoL of this specific population in comparison with data provided for both the general population and cancer patients and to assess QoL association with several sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables.

METHODS

Three hundred fourteen Italian long-term cancer survivors (people who have been free from cancer and cancer treatments for at least 5 years) completed a battery of questionnaires including the SF12 for QoL assessment.

RESULTS

Both physical and mental functioning were higher than those among Italian cancer patients but lower than those of the Italian general population (p < .001). Poorer QoL (physical and mental functioning) was associated more often with psychological conditions (as anxiety and depression) than with sociodemographic and cancer-related variables.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support an ongoing specific interest in the QoL of long-term cancer survivors and suggest the need for further study of multidimensional functioning in this population.