Abstract
M.Tech. (Radiography)
Cervical cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in
Zambia. More recently, improved cure rates have been obtained with the
concomitant use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in locally advanced cancer of
the cervix. However, the side effects associated with the treatment have a major
impact on the quality of life (QoL) of these women. Prior to this study, QoL in
Zambian women treated for cervical cancer with chemo-radiation had not been
assessed thus creating a gap in the literature and hampering an attempt to
improve QoL in this cohort of patients.
The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the impact of chemo-radiation
treatment on QoL and to determine what socioeconomic and demographic
factors are closely related with QoL decrements in Zambian women treated for
cervical cancer at Cancer Diseases Hospital. This would then facilitate the
introduction of intervention programmes aimed at improving QoL in these
patients.
The study was prospective and explored the phenomenon of QoL with the use of
the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
questionnaire and a demographics questionnaire answered by 45 women treated
for cervical cancer with chemo-radiotherapy at Cancer Diseases Hospital. The
use of the EORTC quality of life questionnaire added validity and reliability to the
study as it is used extensively to measure health-related quality of life in cancer
survivors worldwide.
Analysis of the data indicates that patients with advanced cervical cancer treated
with chemo-radiotherapy generally experienced a favourable QoL, and treatment
was considered worthwhile by the majority of patients. However, women
described problems with sexuality and marital relationships. Low education and
living without a partner were depicted as risk factors for the development of the
reported problems.
To improve QoL in survivors, interventions focusing on more social support,
education to improve patients’ understanding of their disease and treatment
effects as well as physical rehabilitation through exercise interventions are
recommended as mandatory.