FOLLOW UP OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND SEXUAL WELLBEING IN GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCERS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Gynaecologic cancers are malignancies that starts in women’s reproductive organs including; cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. Relatively little is known about the determinants of QOL in women with gynaecologic malignancies and what can impact it, including matters of sexuality and intimacy. Vast amount of evidence exists showing that cancer dramatically impacts woman’s sexuality and sense of self where sexual functioning can be affected by illness, pain, anxiety, stressful circumstances and medications. With improvements in early detection, surgery and adjuvant therapy, long term survival and cure are becoming possible, thus quality of life is becoming a major issue for patients and should be addressed by providers. Aim of the Work: To follow up the quality of life and sexual dysfunction in women undergoing treatment or on follow-up for gynaecologic cancers .
Patients and Methods: In this cross sectional study Data were collected from patients attending the chemotherapy and gynaecological outpatient clinic in the clinical oncology department Ain Shams University Hospitals. Patients were chosen according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. 66 Patients agreed to participate and were questioned privately, an informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Result: There was a strong positive significant correlation between the quality of life and sexual functioning, few patient's demographics were found to have significant effect on sexuality and quality of life where lubrication was significantly affected by female genital mutilation, age was significantly correlated to both the SWB and EWB, also the SWB was affected by marital years
Conclusion: Quality of life is strongly correlated to sexual functioning which is considered an integral part of patient's lives that must be followed for all gynecological cancer patients as patients don’t get to express their concerns about their sexual health

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