Target-Adverse Events and Fear of Cancer Progression, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study examined fear of cancer progression (FoP), anxiety, and depression in 128 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing three generations of EGFR-TKIs therapy. Results showed that adverse events (AEs) like photosensitivity, paronychia, and alopecia were linked to higher levels of FoP, anxiety, and depression. The third-generation therapy (osimertinib) had fewer AEs compared to the first (gefitinib and erlotinib) and second (afatinib) generations, though severe itching and dry skin were still reported. The incidence rates of FoP, anxiety, and depression ranged from 13.8-26.3%, 23.8-40.4%, and 16.7-42.1%, respectively, highlighting the need for focused care on these psychological aspects across different therapies.