Assessment of the Quality of Life of Patients Treated for Cervical Cancer
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Cervical cancer is a major public health problem. It is the fourth most common cancer in women in the world, with an incidence exceeding 520,000 cases. The incidence rate increases with age, but some cases are diagnosed at a young age (7.6% of cases are diagnosed before age 35). Most cases are squamous cell carcinomas (87%). About 60% are diagnosed in stages I and II, while 5.4% of cases are diagnosed in stage IV locally advanced stages. Due to early detection and effective treatment, the 1- and 5-year survival rates for the early disease are 87% and 71%, respectively. For patients with locally advanced disease, the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and intra cavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) are now the treatment of choice. The presence of side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, urinary incontinence, lymphedema, vaginal stenosis, lack of vaginal lubrication, dyspareunia, sleep disorders, stress, and depression are common and affect the quality of life of mostly young patients at diagnosis and this implies a long life with the effects secondary and sequelae of treatment.