Adaptation and quality of life among long-term cervical cancer survivors in the military health care system.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed quality of life in long-term cervical cancer survivors eligible for health care in the military health system.


METHODS
TRICARE beneficiaries who were diagnosed as having cervical cancer in 1980 to 2000 completed self-administered questionnaires including standardized measures of quality of life, distress, and sexuality.


RESULTS
Forty-one women (72% of those who received questionnaire packets) provided questionnaire data. More than 2,500 questionnaires were undeliverable, with no forwarding address. Data indicated that quality of life, cervical cancer-related stress, and intimacy concerns were comparable to population normative values. Survivors received more cancer screenings than the general population. Nearly one-half of respondents reported no effect of cancer on their sexual relationships, whereas approximately one-half said that cancer had a negative impact.


CONCLUSIONS
Although cervical cancer survivors overall reported a high quality of life, many experienced significant decrements in sexual functioning. The Automated Central Tumor Registry presents challenges and potential for conducting this kind of research.
Gotay
Carolyn C
CC
Prevention and Control Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
Farley
John H
JH
Kawamoto
Crissy Terawaki
CT
Mearig
Adela
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012042:Registries; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*