Impact of cervical cancer on quality of life: beyond the short term (Results from a single institution)

Abstract

BackgroundCervical cancer (CC) is one of the most widespread gynecological malignancies in women worldwide. Treatment strategies and screening modalities have largely evolved these past years resulting in an improvement of survival. However, treatment modalities are associated with long term side effects that significantly impacts quality of life (QOL) in cervical cancer survivors. The aim of this study is to evaluate QOL (General and sexual QOL) in cervical cancer survivors up to 10 years after the diagnosis.Material and methodsIn a cross-sectional descriptive study design, 110 cervical cancer survivors (CCS) and 80 healthy controls completed questionnaires assessing QOL.ResultsParticipants were Arabic White, sexually active. The mean age at diagnosis was 34 years and was 43 years at the time of the interview. In our series long term CCS have generally a good global QOL comparable with healthy controls. However, issues concerning emotional functioning were over expressed by CCS. As to the sexual impact of cervical cancer; CCS experienced less sexual functioning and enjoyment and less satisfaction with their body image when compared to healthy controls.In a multivariate analysis, spiritual well-being and social support were the predictor factors that statistically affected QOL among the studied cohort, it accounted for 81 % of the variance in QOL scores.ConclusionsA better understanding of the complexity of the relationship between QOL and cervical cancer sequelae in one hand and socio-demographic factors in the other hand is necessary to improve QOL among cervical cancer survivors. More efforts should make to inform disease free patients about expected side effects and symptoms to face the physical changes that would affect their QOL and sexual activity.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors among cervical cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“…The general health status/QoL mean score was low, which is consistent with Iranian and Chinese findings [18,19], but lower than Brazilian and Indian studies [20,21]. The possible reasons could be the cultural belief, distorted perception of survivors regarding their illness, and lower self-esteem [22]. In this study, diarrhea was among the least reported symptoms among cervical cancer survivors, which is similar to the study conducted in India [23].…”

Oxidative Stress Triggered by Apigenin Induces Apoptosis in a Comprehensive Panel of Human Cervical Cancer‐Derived Cell Lines

“…Once posttreatment failure occurs, prognosis becomes worse: the 1-year survival rates of patients with such failures are less than 20% [ 6 ]. Moreover, various side effects are produced that can greatly influence a patient's quality of life [ 7 ]. Despite these alarming facts, efficient methods of treatment are still lacking.…”

Quality of life among female cancer survivors in Africa: An integrative literature review

“…Two studies were conducted in the Republic of South Africa. [ 27 28 ] Single studies were conducted from each of the following countries: Nigeria,[ 29 ] Kenya,[ 30 ] Sudan,[ 19 ] Uganda,[ 31 ] Morocco,[ 32 ] and Zambia. [ 33 ] In the following section, we present a synthesis of included studies.…”