title: Quality of life and mental health in Brazilian women treated for invasive carcinoma of the cervix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) and mental health (MH) of women surviving at least 2 years after treatment for invasive carcinoma of the cervix by radical hysterectomy (RH), chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, or by surgery followed by adjuvant therapy (RH + chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). The QOL/MH of a control group of women with no history of malignancy was also assessed for comparison with the treated groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of QOL and MH were assessed in 114 Brazilian women (57 patients with an average of 4 years since treatment completion and 57 control subjects). The 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, the Life Events Inventory, and a general survey for the assessment of sociodemographic data were applied to each participant of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were noted among the 3 treatment groups or between these and the control group concerning the levels of QOL (either physical or MH aspects), anxiety, general health, or life events. However, lower levels of anxiety were detected in cancer survivors when compared with the control group (P = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After at least 2 years, the QOL and the MH of Brazilian women treated for invasive carcinoma of the cervix were similar to those of women without malignancy and were not affected by the modality of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Obstetrics and Gynecology, †Psychology and Surgery, and ‡Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Caixeta
authors.forename: Emma E C
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Agnaldo L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Silva-Filho
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cunha-Melo
authors.forename: Sérgio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Triginelli
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*