Biobehavioral Correlates of Cancer-related Cognitive Dysfunction and Its Co-occurring Symptoms

Biobehavioral Correlates of Cancer-related Cognitive Dysfunction and Its Co-occurring Symptoms

This descriptive, cross-sectional study will evaulate and fully characterize factors associated with cognitive dysfunction in Breast Cancer (BCS) and Colorectal Cancer (CRC) survivors that have cognitive concerns, and factors associated with psychoneurological symptom cluster in BCS and CRC survivors.

Primary Aim: To identify demographic factors (age and education), medical and cancer treatment-related factors (comorbidities and treatment type), psychosocial factors (perceived stress, affect, optimism, coping, emotional support), cancer-related symptoms (pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue and sleep disturbance), and genetic factors (APOE, COMT, BDNF) associated with the level of subjective or the level of objective cognitive dysfunction in breast cancer and colorectal cancer survivors.

Secondary Aim: To identify demographic factors (age and education), medical and cancer treatment-related factors (comorbidities and treatment type), psychosocial factors (perceived stress, affect, optimism, coping, emotional support), and genetic factors (APOE, COMT, BDNF) associated with psychoneurological symptom cluster using either subjective or objective cognitive dysfunction in breast cancer and colorectal cancer survivors.

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria for Breast cancer survivors:

1. Female BCS

2. ≥ 21 years of age and older

3. Ability to provide written consent and HIPAA authorization

4. ≥6 months post-adjuvant therapy and neo-adjuvant therapy for early stage (Stage I-IIIA) breast cancer.

   Current Aromatase Inhibitors or Tamoxifen treatment at time of enrollment is allowed.

5. Identify cognitive concerns (select yes)

Inclusion Criteria for Colorectal cancer survivors:

1. Male or female CRC survivors
2. Ability to provide written consent and HIPAA authorization
3. ≥ 21 years of age and older
4. ≥6 months post-adjuvant therapy and neo-adjuvant therapy for early stage (stage I-III) CRC
5. Identify cognitive concerns (select yes)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Report metastatic breast or colorectal cancer (Stage IV) at time of consenting.
2. Unable to read and understand English to complete survey questionnaires.