Pain, cancer-related distress, and physical and functional well-being among men with advanced prostate cancer

  • Emily A. Walsh
  • , Patricia B. Pedreira
  • , Patricia I. Moreno
  • , Paula J. Popok
  • , Rina S. Fox
  • , Betina Yanez
  • , Michael H. Antoni
  • , Frank J. Penedo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Men with advanced prostate cancer (APC) experience high levels of pain, which contribute to poor psychosocial and functional outcomes. Cancer-related distress explains the relationship between pain severity and interference, yet specificity of distress characteristics (e.g., hyperarousal, intrusive, or avoidant symptoms) in explaining associations between pain experiences and well-being has not been explored within APC. This study examined men with APC entering a clinical trial and tested associations of baseline pain, cancer-related distress, and physical and functional well-being. Methods: One hundred ninety men with APC enrolled in a randomized-controlled trial and were assessed prior to randomization. The McGill Pain Questionnaire assessed pain severity, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General captures physical and functional well-being. The Impact of Events Scale-Revised measured cancer-specific distress symptoms, including hyperarousal, avoidance, and intrusion symptoms. Controlling for age, cancer stage at diagnosis, income, education, and race/ethnicity, mediation models (SPSS PROCESS, model 4) tested whether cancer-specific distress accounted for the associations between pain severity and physical and functional well-being. Results: Men were on average 68 years of age, White non-Hispanic, with stage IV cancer. Pain severity was related to poorer physical (p <.001) and functional well-being (p <.001). Associations between pain severity and physical and functional well-being were partially mediated by greater intrusive and hyperarousal symptoms but not avoidant symptoms. Conclusion: For men with APC, intrusive and hyperarousal symptoms may partially explain the relationship between pain severity and decrements in physical and functional well-being. APC pain management should attend to such distress symptoms, which may contribute to interference if left unaddressed. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03149185.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number28
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cancer-related distress
  • Cognitive behavioral stress management
  • Functional well-being
  • Physical well-being
  • Prostate cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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