Evaluation of Quality of Life in Women with Cervical Cancer undergoing Palliative Chemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: In cervical cancer, evaluating quality of life, is very important because it identifies aspects related to physical, mental and social well-being that are affected by the disease. Objective: To evaluate the impact of palliative chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel on quality of life related to health in women with cervical cancer. Method: This is an observational prospective study of quality of life in patients with cervical cancer undergoing the first palliative chemotherapy in the period from 1 April to 30 July 2015. Sociodemographic data were collected from medical records and quality of life was measured by a validated questionnaire prior to undergoing the first, second, fourth and sixth chemotherapy cycles. To analyze the magnitude of the change of variables, the criteria established by Osoba were used and statistical significance analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test. Results: A negative impact was observed in the symptoms of diarrhea, and peripheral neuropathy, as well as improvement in emotional, physical, functional and social capacity and minimizing of symptoms such as fatigue, pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and constipation. However, it was not possible to observe statistically significant differences in change in general health during the treatment. Conclusion: Despite the positive impact observed on various symptoms and functions, it was not possible to observe improvement in the quality of life of the patients evaluated.