One hundred and seven patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and 111
patients with advanced gastric cancer, stratified for key medical and
sociodemographic variables, were assessed with the Profile of Mood States
before beginning combination chemotherapy in a national cancer clinical
trials group. The pancreatic cancer patients had significantly higher
self-ratings of depression, tension-anxiety, fatigue, confusion-
bewilderment, and total mood disturbance; no difference was found in vigor
or anger-hostility. These data support prior observations that patients
with advanced pancreatic cancer experience significantly greater general
psychological disturbance than patients with another type of advanced
abdominal neoplasm.Abstract Teaser