Long-Term Morbidity and Quality of Life in Cervical Cancer Survivors: A Multicenter Comparison Between Surgery and Radiotherapy as Primary Treatment

Marloes Derks*, Luc R C W van Lonkhuijzen, Rinske M Bakker, Anne M Stiggelbout, Cornelis D de Kroon, Henrike Westerveld, Jan Paul W R Roovers, Gemma G Kenter, Moniek M Ter Kuile

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 

To compare long-term morbidity and quality of life after primary surgery or primary radiotherapy for stage IB/II cervical cancer.

METHODS: 

A cross-sectional study was performed. Patients treated for stage IB/II cervical cancer between 2000 and 2010 were approached to participate. Primary treatment consisted of radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHL), for selected cases followed by adjuvant (chemo-)radiotherapy, or primary (chemo)radiotherapy (PRT). European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-C30 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-CX24 questionnaires were administered. A multivariable analysis was performed to identify factors associated with morbidity/quality of life. In a subgroup analysis, we compared patients with RHL + adjuvant radiotherapy with those after PRT.

RESULTS: 

Three hundred twenty-three cervical cancer survivors were included (263 RHL/60 PRT). In the PRT group, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage was higher and women were older. In the RHL group, more women had a partner. Women treated with PRT reported lower physical (β, -6.01) and social functioning (β, -15.2), more financial problems (β, 10.9), diarrhea (β, 9.98), symptom experience (β, 6.13), sexual worry (β, 11.3), and worse sexual/vaginal functioning (β, 11.4). Women treated with RHL reported significantly more lymphedema (β, -16.1). No differences in global health were found. In the subgroup analysis, women after PRT (n = 60) reported poorer social functioning, less sexual enjoyment, and higher symptoms experience than women after RHL and adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 60). The latter reported more lymphedema.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although global health scores are not significantly different, women after PRT report more physical, social, and sexual symptoms. These results can be well used by physicians to inform their patients about treatment-related morbidity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)350-356
Number of pages7
JournalInternational journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2017
Externally publishedYes

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