Treatment modality affects long-term quality of life in gynaecological cancer.
In order to survey the side effects after cancer treatment, quality of life data were collected from females in clinical remission.


METHODS
The study was cross-sectional; every patient that visited the outpatient clinic during a period of three months was asked to anonymously complete the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and five additional specific questions related to gynaecological cancer.


RESULTS
In total, 235 patients (90%) returned the questionnaire. In general, both the levels of functioning and symptomatology were time-dependent. Patients with short treatment-free intervals reported more problems than the others. When using treatment modality as an independent variable in the statistical calculations, a treatment-related effect on functioning and symptomatology was demonstrated (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Patients previously treated with chemotherapy had poorer role- and cognitive functioning and more problems with fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dyspnoea, constipation and financial problems, compared with those not treated with chemotherapy (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). Those patients who had been treated with external radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy had significantly more problems with flatulence and diarrhoea (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In conclusion, patients who underwent treatment for gynaecological cancer reported long-term side effects also many years after finishing treatment. The problems where related to treatment modality which should be considered, especially when planning adjuvant treatment.
Carlsson
M
M
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Strang
P
P
Bjurström
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents