Pain trajectories and associated risk factors among older adults with a history of cancer in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Project Summary

Advances in early diagnosis and treatment have improved cancer survival and longevity. However, long-term challenges such as chronic pain have become increasingly important in survivorship care. Pain is common among cancer survivors and may persist for years after treatment, negatively affecting physical function, mental health, and quality of life, especially among older adults. Little is known about how pain changes over time among older cancer survivors compared with those without cancer. Using CLSA data, this study will examine long-term pain patterns in older adults with a history of cancer, and identify socio-demographic, health, and behavioral factors related to these patterns. The study will also compare pain patterns across cancer types and between cancer and non-cancer participants. Findings will improve understanding of long-term pain and inform future research, clinical practice, and policy related to pain management and healthy aging.