title: Changes in short-term health-related quality of life in women undergoing gynecologic oncologic laparotomy: an associated factor analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of gynecologic cancer patients undergoing laparotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who underwent laparotomy by gynecologic cancer completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of life questionnaires (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OV28) presurgery and at 1 month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 181 women studied between January 2007 and March 2008, 116 women (64.1%) had ovarian cancer, 27 (14.9%) had cervical cancer, and 29 (16.0%) had endometrial cancer. By 1 month post-surgery, there was a significant decrease in HR-QOL on the global, abdominal/gastrointestinal (GI) score, body image, chemotherapy side effects, and other single items of the OV28 questionnaire, as well as on physical, role and social functioning, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, constipation, appetite loss, and financial difficulties items on C30 questionnaires. Emotional functioning on C30 questionnaires was significantly improved 1 month after surgery. The majority of these items persisted 1 month after surgery only in patients with ovarian cancer. Abdominal/GI score on OV28 questionnaires as well as role and physical functioning on C30 questionnaires were significantly lower between baseline and postsurgical HR-QOL in women with other gynecologic malignancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest a significant impact of HR-QOL among gynecologic cancer patients 1 month after laparotomy, particularly among those with ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. lucasminig@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minig
authors.forename: Jorge Iván
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Vélez
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Trimble
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: Diana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents