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. 2011 Sep;22(3):152-60.
doi: 10.3802/jgo.2011.22.3.152. Epub 2011 Sep 28.

Health-related quality of life and late morbidity in concurrent chemoradiation and radiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma

Maaike J Berveling  1 , Johannes A Langendijk, Jannet C Beukema, Marian J E Mourits, Anna K L Reyners, Elisabeth Pras
Affiliations

Health-related quality of life and late morbidity in concurrent chemoradiation and radiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma

Maaike J Berveling et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Concurrent chemoradiation has improved survival of patients with cervical carcinoma. However, follow-up of randomized studies is relatively short and data on long term toxicity are scarce, as is information on their health-related quality of life. This study assesses and compares incidences of late side-effects among patients treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiation using two toxicity scoring systems, and investigates impact on health-related quality of life.

Methods: Between 1985 and 1993, 114 patients underwent radiotherapy (n=39) or chemoradiation (n=75) for stage IIA-IVB cervical carcinoma. Late side-effects were scored retrospectively by reviewing medical charts using standardised checklists, focusing on bladder- and intestinal side effects. Health-related quality of life was assessed once using the EORTC QLQ-C30.

Results: No significant differences in late treatment-related side-effects between radiotherapy and chemoradiation groups were found. Grade ≥ 2 toxicity was found in 33% (bladder), and in 6% (bowel). Only 1.8% had both grade 3-4 toxicity. Bladder syndrome with high urinary frequency, urine incontinence and small bowel toxicity had a significant impact on health-related quality of life.

Conclusion: Grade 2 are relatively frequent late side effects in curatively treated patients, but are not enhanced by the addition of chemotherapy. Their negative impact on health-related quality of life stresses the importance of new radiation techniques, aiming at reduction of these side effects.

Keywords: Cervical carcinoma; Concurrent radiochemotherapy; Late treatment-related morbidity; Radiotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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