Quality of life characteristics inpatients with cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Annually about 500,000 women worldwide are diagnosed with cervical cancer. For many patients, young age at the time of diagnosis and a good prognosis regarding the disease imply a long life with the side-effects and sequels of various treatment options. The present study investigated the extent to which different quality of life (QoL) domains in patients during and after treatment for cervical cancer are affected according to menopausal status, treatment status and treatment modality.


METHODS
QoL data from 346 cervical cancer patients from 14 countries who were included in a cervical cancer module validation study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of life Group were analysed according to menopausal status, treatment status and treatment modality. QOL was assessed using the EORTC Quality of life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and the QLQ-CX24 module. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance.


RESULTS
Active treatment had the strongest negative impact on 13 different QoL domains: physical, role, emotional, cognitive, social functioning, global health/QoL, fatigue, nausea and emesis, pain, appetite loss, constipation, symptom experience and sexual enjoyment. Irradiation alone ± other therapy was associated with most symptoms of diarrhoea. Age had the most negative impact on sexual activity and the strongest positive effect on sexual worry.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results revealed that patients with cervical carcinoma had different side-effects with different impacts on QOL depending on the menopausal status and therapy modalities. Patients should be informed about the possibility that therapy may have a negative impact on QoL.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, Austria.
Vesna
V
Bjelic-Radisic
Pernille T
PT
Jensen
Karin Kuljanic
KK
Vlasic
Ann-Charlotte
AC
Waldenstrom
Susanne
S
Singer
Weichu
W
Chie
Andy
A
Nordin
Elfriede
E
Greimel
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents