Cervix BT - 2016

SUMMARY General QoL, emotional and social functioning are impaired at baseline, but improve during the first 6 months after treatment to reach a level comparable to the reference population, while cognitive functioning remains impaired. Both social and role functioning show lowest scores at baseline, that increase after treatment to reach a plateau at 6 months, but declines slightly at 3 and 4 years. The overall symptom experience is elevated at baseline and decreases to a level within the range of the reference population. Similarly, tumor-related symptoms (e.g. pain, appetite loss and constipation), which are present before treatment, decrease substantially at the first follow-up after treatment. Several treatment-related symptoms develop either immediately and persist over time (diarrhea, menopausal symptoms, peripheral neuropathy and sexual functioning problems) or develop gradually after treatment (lymph edema and dyspnea).