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We examine the relationships between fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), physical activity, smoking status, and engagement in healthier habits in a US population-based sample of post-treatment cancer survivors. We used data from the 2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Experience with Cancer Survivorship Supplement. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the relationship of FCR to physical activity, smoking status, and engagement in healthier habits. In all analyses, MEPS survey weights were applied to account for the survey design. Compared with those reporting no FCR, survivors reporting high FCR had significantly lower odds of reporting that they were not currently smokers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46; 95% CI 0.24, 0.91) and those with any level of FCR had significantly higher odds of reporting healthier habits since diagnosis relative to those with no FCR (low FCR OR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.36, 2.85; high FCR OR = 2.40; 95% CI 1.33, 4.32). FCR was not associated with the odds of reporting physical activity. Findings from this large population-based survey suggest that some of survivors’ lifestyle factors may be related to their level of FCR. Understanding the effects of FCR on lifestyle factors may help survivors, survivorship care providers, and policy makers better understand important differences among cancer survivors and personalize interventions in clinical care.

Prior studies reveal gaps in cancer survivors' discussions with health care providers about follow-up care and receipt of care plans; however, whether survivorship care planning may vary by cancer type is not known. We surveyed 615 survivors of breast, colorectal, prostate, lung cancer, and melanoma enrolled in three health plans to examine cancer survivors' self-reported discussions of follow-up care, including the need for surveillance, late and long-term effects, emotional needs, and health behaviors. We assessed whether cancer survivors received a written treatment summary and post-treatment care instructions. Most (92%) survivors reported having a discussion about the need for surveillance; 75%, late and long-term effects; 69%, lifestyle and health behaviors; and 53%, emotional and social needs. Most (88%) reported receiving post-treatment care instructions and 47%, a treatment summary. While there was little difference among survivors' receipt of surveillance or health behavior recommendations by cancer type (p = 0.85 and p = 0.66, respectively), discussions of late and long-term effects occurred among 82% of prostate, 78% of breast, 73% of melanoma, 72% of colorectal, and 67% of lung survivors (p = 0.06). Approximately half of survivors reported discussions of emotional needs, with modest differences by cancer type (p = 0.08). Our findings indicate that most patient-provider discussions cover information on surveillance, with less emphasis on late and long-term effects, lifestyle and health behaviors, and substantially less focusing on emotional and social needs. No or modest differences in discussions occurred by cancer type. Whether tailoring information to individual cancer survivor needs is beneficial should be examined.