Assessment of Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Its Association with Pet Ownership: A Cross-Sectional Study

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a frequent and distressing concern among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, often exerting a profound impact on psychological well-being, daily functioning, and treatment adherence. While several clinical and sociodemographic factors have been linked to FCR, the potential role of pet companionship has not been systematically investigated in this population. This cross-sectional study included 167 patients with CRC, assessing FCR with the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF), psychological distress with the DASS-21, and quality of life with the FACT-G. More than half of the participants (62.3%) met the threshold for high FCR. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that female sex, higher educational attainment, and increased depressive and anxiety symptoms were independently associated with greater odds of high FCR. Conversely, better overall quality of life was linked to lower FCR, with each additional FACT-G point reducing the likelihood of high fear by 5%. Notably, pet ownership emerged as a robust protective factor: pet owners demonstrated approximately one-quarter the odds of high FCR compared with non-owners. Subgroup analyses suggested that this protective effect was particularly evident among women and patients with fewer children, groups potentially more vulnerable to social isolation. These findings highlight pet ownership as a novel factor associated with reduced FCR in CRC patients and suggest potential directions for supportive interventions integrating companion animals into survivorship care.