Abstract P097

The Psychological Impact of Lung Cancer Screening in Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors

Background: People previously treated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are at increased risk of developing lung cancer. This study examined the psychological impact of receiving an invitation and undergoing lung cancer screening in HL survivors enrolled in a single-centre low-dose CT (LDCT) screening pilot.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-six HL survivors were invited to complete questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life (Short Form 12 (SF-12)); anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6)); severity of worry (Brief Worry Score (BWS)), and frequency of cancer worry (Revised Impact of Events (RIES)). Questionnaires were completed at invitation (baseline), pre-LDCT and 2, 6 and 12 months post-LDCT.

Results: Ninety-nine participants completed all questionnaires; a further 24 completed baseline questionnaires before declining further participation in the pilot. Three participants were diagnosed with lung cancer and did not complete follow-up questionnaires. The mean age of participants was 52, and the mean years since treatment completion was 21. 67% were never smokers. Cancer worry severity (BWS) was elevated at baseline and remained elevated during follow-up. Across all questionnaires, higher scores were observed among younger participants, those treated with ABVD chemotherapy compared to other chemotherapy regimens, and those with fewer years since treatment completion. Participants who completed baseline questionnaires only and did not undergo LDCT reported significantly higher baseline anxiety and cancer worry than those who underwent LDCT screening. Identification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules on LDCT was not associated with significant differences in psychological outcomes.

Conclusions: HL survivors demonstrated high cancer worry severity at baseline and over the 12 months following invitation to lung cancer screening. It remains unclear whether these levels reflect pre-existing cancer-related concern or are influenced by the screening process itself, showing a neutral impact on worry. Further research in larger, more diverse cohorts is needed to clarify the impact of lung cancer screening on cancer worry, anxiety, and quality of life and to inform supportive care strategies for this high-risk population.