Process / pipelinecancer-specific psychological distress

Cancer Worry Scale: Measuring Psychological Distress in Cancer Care

The Cancer Worry Scale (CWS) is a brief 8-item instrument assessing the degree to which cancer-related worry interferes with daily functioning and emotional well-being. Developed by Lerman et al. in 1991, it quantifies cancer-related anxiety and distress—psychological burden distinct from symptom burden and functional impairment. It is widely used in cancer screening, treatment, and survivorship contexts to identify patients requiring psychological support.

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Sources

  1. Lerman, C., Trock, B., Rimer, B. K., Jepson, C., Brody, D., & Boyce, A. (1991). Psychological side effects of breast cancer screening. Health Psychol, 10(1), 259–267. DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.10.1.259

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ScholarGateCancer Worry Scale (Cancer Worry Scale). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/oncology/cancer-worry-scale