Comparison of the impact of radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy on the quality of life of 1-year survivors with cervical cancer

Abstract

Improvement of screening programs and new treatment strategies against cervical cancer (CC) have increased survival rates of patients in the last decades. As more women survive this type of cancer, their quality of life (QOL) has become a field of great scientific and social importance. Different types of therapy have varying results on the QOL of patients. In this study, we compared the impact of radiotherapy (RAD) and radiochemotherapy (RAD/ CHEM) on CC patients' QOL. Our sample included 105 women who suffered from CC stages IA-IIIA. They were treated either with RAD or RAD/CHEM, and filled in the questionnaires 1 year after treatment completion. We used 4 questionnaires, EORTC QLQ C-30, EORTC QLQ-CΧ24, Questionnaire of Post-traumatic Psychological Disorder, and Greek Symptom Control Questionnaire by M.D. Anderson, in order to assess their QOL. Except for differences in descriptive characteristics of the patients' (age, number of children, contraceptives) and early toxicity in some organs, no statistically significant difference was observed in the main (physical, sexual, emotional) aspects of life between the 2 groups of treated patients. Treatment type had no effect on total QOL. In conclusion, the addition of CHEM to RAD in the treatment plan of CC patients had no significant impact on their QOL.

An exploration into the quality of life of women treated for cervical cancer

“…Financial difficulties, especially during the time of treatment, had a negative influence on QOL. This does not seem to be unique to Africa, as, although not to the same extent, studies conducted across Europe and in Turkey and Poland report financial difficulties in this group of women especially during the treatment phase (Bjelic-Radisic et al 2012; Krikeli et al 2011; Pasek et al 2013; Yavas et al 2017). Although treatment is free of cost to South African patients, women with cervical cancer have to travel to the hospital on a daily basis during the time of their treatment, which could explain this finding.…”