title: Cervical cancer survivorship: long-term quality of life and social support.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the mainstays of cervical cancer treatment. Many patients receive multiple treatment modalities, each with its own long-term effects. Given the high 5-year survival rate for cervical cancer patients, evaluation and improvement of long-term quality of life are essential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pertinent articles were identified through searches of PubMed for literature published from 1993 to 2014. We summarize quality of life data from long-term follow-up studies of cervical cancer patients. We additionally summarize small group interviews of Hispanic and non-Hispanic cervical cancer survivors regarding social support and coping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data are varied in terms of the long-term impact of treatment on quality of life, but consistent in suggesting that patients who receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment have the highest risk of increased long-term dysfunction of bladder and bowel, as well as sexual dysfunction and psychosocial consequences. Rigorous investigations regarding long-term consequences of treatment modalities are lacking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continued work to improve treatment outcomes and survival should also include a focus on reducing adverse long-term side effects. Providing supportive care during treatment and evaluating the effects of supportive care can reduce the prevalence and magnitude of long-term sequelae of cervical cancer, which will in turn improve quality of life and quality of care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California.
authors.forename: Krista S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Pfaendler
authors.affiliation: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; Department of Medicine and Program in Public Health, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Lari
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California.
authors.forename: Mindy B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mechanic
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California. Electronic address: kpennerk@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Kristine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Penner
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: cervical cancer; long-term effects; quality of life; survivorship