Oral Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Cancer Survivorship: A 2-Year Longitudinal Database Study (126480)

Lawrence Kasherman 1 2 3 , Vu Quang Do 4 , Wai Yin Chan 5 , Sim Yee (Cindy) Tan 3 , Angela Liao 6 , Lachlan Huynh 6 , Krishna Suryadevara 6 , Ash Malalasekera 3 , Joanne Shaw 7 , Janette L Vardy 1 3
  1. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Illawarra Cancer Care Centre, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
  3. Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre, Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
  4. New South Wales Ministry of Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Transdisciplinary School, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Objectives: Cancer survivors (CS) of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds face disparities in care. We compared demographics, health concerns, quality of life (QoL) and exercise behaviours between CALD and non-CALD CS.

Sample and setting: Data were drawn from the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre database (September 2013–April 2024) using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) collected at baseline, 12-months (T1), and 24-months (T2).

Procedures: Analyses compared CALD (requiring interpreters) and non-CALD survivors’ PROMs on symptoms, QoL, and exercise, over time.

Results: Of 872 consenting CS at baseline (median 10.9-months from diagnosis), PROM data were available for 174 CS at T1 and 129 at T2. CALD CS comprised 15% (n=137) across 21 languages (Mandarin 35%, Korean 19%, Cantonese 14%), and were more likely to be females (58%) aged 40-64 (51%). Most were colorectal or breast CS. Fatigue (44%), numbness (37%) and pain (34%) were the most common moderate-severity symptoms and were similar across time for CALD and non-CALD CS. However, CALD CS reported higher prevalence of anorexia at baseline (26%;p=0.0004) and T2 (25%;p=0.013). At baseline, CALD CS reported significantly lower moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (54 vs 138 mins/week;p<0.001), but differences improved at T1 (166 vs 190 mins/week;p=0.943) and T2 (126 vs 168 mins/week;p=0.337). Resistance exercise levels were also lower in CALD CS (4 vs 18 mins/week;p=0.001), with improvements over time (T1: p=0.064, T2: p=0.321). Global FACT-G scores were comparable between CALD groups at baseline and T1, but significantly lower in CALD CS at T2 (83 vs 89.3;p=0.045)

Conclusion and clinical implications: CALD CS experience similar symptom profiles to non-CALD CS but report persistently higher anorexia and reduced QoL at 24 months. Differences in aerobic and resistance exercise behaviours lessened over time. Culturally tailored, sustained interventions targeting nutrition and exercise may help reduce long-term disparities in CALD survivorship outcomes.