Sociodemographic and Clinical-Functional Characteristics of Women Treated at a Gynecologic Oncology Physiotherapy Clinic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32635/2176-9745.RBC.2026v72n2.5516Keywords:
Brachytherapy, Genital Neoplasms, Female, Fibrosis, Physical Therapy ModalitiesAbstract
Introduction: Gynecological cancers account for 15% of cancer cases among women worldwide, significantly affecting reproductive health and quality of life. Although technological advances have contributed to increased survival, patients frequently experience comorbidities and pelvic floor dysfunctions resulting from treatment, such as vaginal stenosis, fibrosis, pain, and genitourinary alterations. These issues highlight the importance of identifying and managing such complications appropriately. Objective: To characterize the sociodemographic and clinical-functional profile of women undergoing brachytherapy in a cancer rehabilitation physiotherapy outpatient clinic of a reference hospital and to analyze associations between treatment types, clinical factors, and functional outcomes. Method: A retrospective study was conducted with women treated in a physiotherapy outpatient clinic after brachytherapy at a specialized hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Participants were characterized according to clinical treatment data and physical-functional assessments recorded in medical charts. Results: A total of 106 women with gynecological cancer who underwent brachytherapy were included. Uterine cancer was the most prevalent (85.8%), and most participants also received chemotherapy and/or external radiotherapy. Regarding sexuality, 37.7% were sexually active, while 52.2% had already discontinued sexual activity before brachytherapy. Urinary dysfunctions were frequent: 29% had stress urinary incontinence, 41% urgency incontinence, 23.6% mixed incontinence, and 21.7% reported incomplete bladder emptying. Pain complaints included pelvic pain at rest (21.7%), pain during urination (13.2%), pain on palpation (31.4%), and burning on urination (31.1%). Conclusion: A high prevalence of urinary, sexual, and pain-related dysfunctions was observed after gynecological cancer treatment. These findings reinforce the multifactorial nature of pelvic floor dysfunctions in women with gynecological cancer, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive physiotherapeutic assessment that considers both oncological treatment effects and prior gynecological and obstetric history.
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