PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Shannon Myers Virtue AU - Sharon L. Manne AU - Melissa Ozga AU - David W. Kissane AU - Stephen Rubin AU - Carolyn Heckman AU - Norm Rosenblum AU - John J. Graff TI - Cancer-Related Concerns Among Women With a New Diagnosis of Gynecological Cancer: An Exploration of Age Group Differences AID - 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000010 DP - 2014 Jan 01 TA - International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer PG - 165--171 VI - 24 IP - 1 4099 - http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/24/1/165.short 4100 - http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/24/1/165.full SO - Int J Gynecol Cancer2014 Jan 01; 24 AB - Objective The study aimed to characterize cancer-related concerns among women with a new diagnosis of gynecological cancer from a developmental life stage perspective. The study compared the degree of cancer-related concern between young women (45 years or younger), middle age women (46–64 years), and older women (65 years or older).Materials/Methods Data from women (N = 243) with a condition diagnosed as primary gynecological cancer who were participating in a randomized control trial were analyzed. Women completed a measure that assessed the degree of concern in 12 cancer-related domains (physical functioning, cancer treatment, emotional functioning, sexual functioning, disease progression/death, own well-being, partner well-being, relationship with spouse/partner, body image, relationship with others, employment, and finances). Multivariate comparisons were made between the 3 age groups on the cancer-related concerns.Results There were age group differences in overall cancer-related concern and specific cancer-related domains. Young women reported the greatest cancer-related concern (P < 0.001). They reported greater concern over emotional functioning (P < 0.001) and sexual functioning (P < 0.001) compared to the middle- and older-age groups. Older women reported less concern over the impact of cancer on finances (P = 007). There were no differences between age groups in concern over physical impairment, cancer treatment, disease progression/death, own well-being, partner well-being, relationship with spouse/partner, body image, and relationship with others.Conclusions Age may play an important role in the impact of a gynecological cancer diagnosis in domains of functioning, specifically emotional functioning, sexual functioning, and finances. Other cancer-related areas may represent more universal degree of impact. Professionals may benefit from considering the impact of cancer from a developmental life stage perspective.