Quality of Life in Gynecologic Cancer Patients

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: A descriptive study for evaluating the variables which influence the quality of life was performedin women with gynecologic cancer undergoing various kinds of treatment. <br/><b>Methods</b>: The study was based on achart review of 104 women with gynecologic cancer and analyses of their compiled FACT-G (V4); (FunctionalAssessment of Cancer Therapy-General) questionnaires. Patients were assessed before and 3 months aftertreatment.The relationship of a number of biomedical variables with quality of life outcomes was tested. <br/><b>Results</b>:The mean age of patients was 50.13 years. The most involved organ was ovary (42.3%).The mean of sociofamilial,emotional, functional well-being and overall quality of life 3 months after the treatment were greaterthan previously. The mean of physical well-being after 3 months of treatment was lower than before that (p<0.05).There were no statistical difference between the mean of overall quality of life before treatment and that 3months after treatment for variables such as marital status, qualification, job, parity, co-morbidity diseases,organ involved, and stage of cancer (p>0.05). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: More studies must utilize quality of life as a primaryendpoint. As gynecologic cancers are usually discovered in late stages, strategies for supportive care need tofocus on symptom management.