Examining Stress and Quality of Life in Bladder Cancer

Patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer experience high levels of distress, according to one study.

Patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer have high levels of distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, according to research conducted by Ahrang Jung, a Ph.D., student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing.

In her study, Jung found that about one if four patients with the disease experience PTSD symptoms. Factors that contribute to their stress include uncertainty for the future, especially when it comes to cancer recurrence, as well as frequently needed to undergo invasive testing.