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Caregivers of cancer patients often experience physical and emotional stress; however, few researchers have evaluated the prevalence of stress symptoms and their effect on caregivers. In an ongoing longitudinal study, investigators are evaluating stress symptoms in both patients and caregivers: They now report baseline data on the symptom burden of family caregivers (FCs) and its effect on functional status and quality of life (QOL).
Sixty men with prostate cancer who were to begin radiation therapy at a U.S. cancer center or community hospital each designated one person as being most involved in their care. These designees (all women; mean age, 64) were considered primary FCs; most were white and well educated and lived with the patients. E…