Information request for cancer patients is high with frequent reported unmet needs. This aims of this study is:

– To measure the level of satisfaction with information received on minor/severe symptoms patients may suffer from, among cancer survivors 5 years after diagnosis.

– To identify the factors associated with the non-satisfaction with this level of information in both cases (minor symptoms and severe symptoms).

The VICAN survey consisted in a French representative sample of 4174 5-years cancer survivors. Self-reported data were collected by telephone interviews and self-administrated questionnaires. Only non-gendered cancers were selected. Weighted univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using statistical software STATA version 12.0, to identify factors associated non-satisfaction of the level of information received. The significativity threshold used for the univariate analysis was 20% and 5% for the multivariate.

A total of 2243 out of 4174 patients were selected, 54.2% were male, median age was 58 years and men were significantly older (63 vs 55, P<0.001). Women had a higher level of education (P=0.011), reported more attention difficulties (P=0.026) and memory problems (P<0.001) while men reported more hearing loss (P<0.001). No difference was found for depression (as assessed by the HADS scale) and the level of literacy. Survivors diagnosed with NHL, thyroid or colorectal cancer reported being less informed of minor and severe symptoms, compared to those with bladder, melanoma or lung cancer (P<0.001). Women reported being less informed of minor symptoms of their cancer (28.6% vs. 20.5%, P<0.001) and less informed of severe symptoms (18.2% vs. 12.0%, P=0.001). The gender difference was statistically significant for the overall population but not within each localization of cancer, except for kidney cancer: men were feeling not well informed about minor symptoms (21.1% vs. 29.1%, P=0.020). Women used more frequently internet to search information (27.6% vs. 19.5%, P<0.001). Only 2.7% of patients used internet to look for information about patients’ associations and women used it more frequently (3.9% vs. 1.7%, P=0.009).

Cancer survivors have been found to benefit from health care information. In this large prospective analysis including non-gendered cancers, women reported lower levels of information than men and searched online information more frequently. Gender difference and preference for information is an important issue in order to give appropriate information to cancer patients.