Grant Number:	5R01CA078975-02 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Deimling, Gary
Organization:	Case Western Reserve University
Project Title:	Quality of Life of Older Longterm Cancer Survivors
Fiscal Year:	1999

DESCRIPTION: (Applicant's Description) The proposed study entitled, The Quality of Life (QOL) of Older Adult Long-term Cancer Survivors, has as its primary aim to determine the physiologic, psychologic, and social long-term effects of surviving cancer on older adults (age 60+). This study uses the general stress and coping paradigm and combines the perspectives of extreme stress theory and identity theory to examine the effects of cancer among a uniquely vulnerable group of survivors: older adults. The physiologic outcomes include indicators for assessing the QOL of older adults, such as physical and cognitive functioning and their appraisal of their physical health and symptoms; psychological outcomes include a global indicator of well being/life satisfaction along with measures of psychological distress (e.g., anxiety and depression) and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, several cancer specific measures of psychological QOL will tap fear of recurrence and stigma. Social QOL outcomes include effects on survivor's identity relevant characteristics, such as self-esteem and body image, and development of the survivor identity with indicators of a survivor's ability to maintain valued roles. Other core features of the model are personal dispositions, such as coping style and health beliefs, along with proactive behaviors, such as health promotion and marshaling support and how these buffer cancer survivors from the chronic stressors associated with cancer survivorship. Other buffers include social support (e.g., informal support received from family and friends and responsiveness of medical care). Central to the analysis are age-related stressors, such as co-morbid health problems and other negative life events that may exacerbate the stress associated with cancer. We propose a 60-month study using a longitudinal design to collect and analyze three waves of in-person interviews with 360 older adults (60 years of age and older), former patients of the Ireland Cancer Center (ICC) of University Hospitals (UH) of Cleveland. The interview data will be combined with the tumor registry life data for each survivor. The sample will include long-term survivors (5 years beyond primary treatment and currently in remission) and stratify the sample on colorectal (N=120), prostate (N=120), and breast cancer N=120), three of the four most common cancers among older adults and those in the ICC tumor registry. It will over-sample African-Americans (N=180) to provide maximum analytic power to identify racial differences. The ICC of UH is one of 12 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Cancer Centers with data on 25,500 cancer patients diagnosed and/or treated at University Hospitals of Cleveland since 1975. Multivariate analysis, such as regression and structural equation modeling, and growth curve analysis will be used to investigate the relationship between the variables in our conceptual model. Specific comparative analyses are planned with age, gender, and racial subgroups.




Beyond the treatment: The role of race, sex, and education in health trajectories between cancer survivors and noncancer older adults.
Authors: Ye M. , Kahana E. , Deimling G. , Perzynski A. , Stange K. .
Source: Journal Of Geriatric Oncology, 2023 Jun; 14(5), p. 101532.
EPub date: 2023-05-23 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 37229884
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The Landscape of Perception: Racial Differences in How Disability Is Viewed Among Older-Adult Cancer Survivors.
Authors: Ciaralli S. , Deimling G.T. , Burnham D.L. .
Source: International Journal Of Aging & Human Development, 2022 03; 94(2), p. 138-153.
EPub date: 2021-06-23 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 34162239
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Cancer disclosure, stigma and identity: Racial differences among older adult, cancer survivors.
Authors: Ciaralli S.R. , Deimling G.T. , Phelps E.K. , Beck G.L. .
Source: Journal Of Geriatric Oncology, 2021 07; 12(6), p. 888-893.
EPub date: 2021-04-02 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 33820737
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Life satisfaction among older adult, long-term cancer survivors: A comparison of Black with White survivors.
Authors: Deimling G. , Phelps E.K. , Gilbert M. , Ciaralli S. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2019-04-10 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2019-04-10 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 30970159
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Factors Affecting Perceptions of Disability and Self-Rated Health Among Older Adult, Long-Term Cancer Survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Pappada H. , Ye M. , Nalepa E. , Ciaralli S. , Phelps E. , Burant C.J. .
Source: Journal Of Aging And Health, 2019 04; 31(4), p. 667-684.
EPub date: 2017-12-06 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 29254449
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Personality and psychological distress among older adult, long-term cancer survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Albitz C. , Monnin K. , Renzhofer Pappada H.T. , Nalepa E. , Boehm M.L. , Mitchell C. .
Source: Journal Of Psychosocial Oncology, 2017 Jan-Feb; 35(1), p. 17-31.
EPub date: 2016-08-19 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 27541961
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Determinants of altered life perspectives among older-adult long-term cancer survivors.
Authors: Kahana B. , Kahana E. , Deimling G. , Sterns S. , VanGunten M. .
Source: Cancer Nursing, 2011 May-Jun; 34(3), p. 209-18.
PMID: 21522060
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Primary care physicians' involvement in the cancer care of older long-term survivors.
Authors: Bowman K.F. , Rose J.H. , Deimling G.T. , Kypriotakis G. , O'Toole E.E. .
Source: Journal Of Aging And Health, 2010 Aug; 22(5), p. 673-86.
PMID: 20595104
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Cancer survivorship and identity among long-term survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Bowman K.F. , Wagner L.J. .
Source: Cancer Investigation, 2007 Dec; 25(8), p. 758-65.
PMID: 17952742
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Functioning and activity participation restrictions among older adult, long-term cancer survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Sterns S. , Bowman K.F. , Kahana B. .
Source: Cancer Investigation, 2007 Mar; 25(2), p. 106-16.
PMID: 17453822
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Appraisal of the cancer experience by family members and survivors in long-term survivorship.
Authors: Bowman K.F. , Rose J.H. , Deimling G.T. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2006 Sep; 15(9), p. 834-45.
PMID: 16521175
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Cancer-related health worries and psychological distress among older adult, long-term cancer survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Bowman K.F. , Sterns S. , Wagner L.J. , Kahana B. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2006 Apr; 15(4), p. 306-20.
PMID: 16041841
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Coping among older-adult, long-term cancer survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Wagner L.J. , Bowman K.F. , Sterns S. , Kercher K. , Kahana B. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2006 Feb; 15(2), p. 143-59.
PMID: 15880638
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Families of long-term cancer survivors: health maintenance advocacy and practice.
Authors: Bowman K.F. , Rose J.H. , Deimling G.T. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2005 Dec; 14(12), p. 1008-17.
PMID: 15818596
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The health of older-adult, long-term cancer survivors.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Sterns S. , Bowman K.F. , Kahana B. .
Source: Cancer Nursing, 2005 Nov-Dec; 28(6), p. 415-24.
PMID: 16330962
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Appraisal of the cancer experience by older long-term survivors.
Authors: Bowman K.F. , Deimling G.T. , Smerglia V. , Sage P. , Kahana B. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2003 Apr-May; 12(3), p. 226-38.
PMID: 12673807
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Cancer survivorship and psychological distress in later life.
Authors: Deimling G.T. , Kahana B. , Bowman K.F. , Schaefer M.L. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2002 Nov-Dec; 11(6), p. 479-94.
PMID: 12476430
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