SELF-REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH LIFE AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IN LONG-TERMCANCER SURVIVORS AND A MATCHED CONTROL-GROUP

The response to two validated questions assessing self-reported satisf action with life and physical health were compared between 204 long-te rm head and neck cancer survivors from a randomised radiotherapy trial and 766 matched controls. The control group, participants in a large population health survey in a county in the middle of Norway, was matc hed to the patients with regard to age, gender, marital status/family type and education. Compared with the controls, the patients reported significantly lower satisfaction with life and physical health. Sixty- four per cent of the patients were satisfied with life and 44% felt st rong and healthy while the percentages of the controls were 82% and 52 %, respectively. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were poor pre dictors of the patients' responses. Clinicians must be aware of the ps ychosocial morbidity in the growing population of cured cancer patient s, and intervention studies are needed in patients at risk, in order t o determine whether this morbidity can be prevented, reduced, or treat ed.