title: Quality of life and sexual function after type C2/type III radical hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The introduction of screening programs have made cervical cancer detectable at earlier stages and in younger patients. Nevertheless, only a few studies have examined the QoL and sexual function in disease-free cervical cancer survivors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the sexual function in a cervical cancer patient's group treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) plus type C2/type III radical hysterectomy (RH).
  
  
  METHODS
  We have enrolled in the oncologic group (OG) sexually active patients affected by cervical cancer (stage IB2 to IIIB) treated with NACT followed by RH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included subjects were interviewed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-CX24 Questionnaire. Two consecutive assessments were recorded: at the first evaluation postoperatively (T1) and at the 12-month follow-up visit (T2). Results were compared with a benign gynecological disease group (BG) and with a healthy control group (HG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 patients for OG, 37 for BG, and 35 women for HG were recruited. After surgery, sexual activity has been resumed by 76% of the OG patients and 83.7% of the BG patients (P = not significant). Cancer survivors had clinically worse problems with symptom experience, body image, and sexual/vaginal functioning than controls (P < 0.05). OG patients also reported more severe lymphedema, peripheral neuropathy, menopausal symptoms, and sexual worry. For sexual activity, the score difference between cancer survivors and women with benign gynecological disease is not statically significant. Concerning sexual enjoyment assessment, our study shows comparable results for OG and BG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nevertheless, the worsening of symptom experience, body image, and sexual/vaginal functioning, OG patients have same sexual activity and sexual enjoyment data compared with those of BG patients. Thus, NACT followed by RH could be a valid therapeutic strategy to treat and improve well-being especially in young cervical cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rome, Italy. francescoplotti@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Plotti
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.forename: Violante
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Donato
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angioli
authors.forename: Pierluigi Benedetti
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Panici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*