Quality of life differences among long-term cancer survivors based upon cancer type and number of treatment types

More than 10 million cancer survivors are now living in the United States. Using the QOL-CS, a measure of quality of life of cancer survivors, the current study considered quality of life differences in 115 cancer survivors based upon three cancer types (breast, prostate, and colon cancers) and number of types of cancer treatments received. It was hypothesized that differences in HRQOL would be found between the cancer type and number of treatment types received. Results were mixed. MANOVA analysis revealed statistically significant differences based upon cancer type. Breast cancer survivors had significantly higher scores than prostate cancer survivors on social well-being, and prostate cancer survivors demonstrated significantly higher scores on psychological well-being than breast cancer survivors. No differences in HRQOL were found between the two groups based upon the number of treatment types received. Limitations of the study are reviewed and implications for future research and counseling are considered.