Health status and adaptation among long-term cervical cancer survivors

ObjectivesThis study assesses health and adaptation among long-term survivors of cervical cancer. Little research has been published on women who have survived over ten years after diagnosis of this disease. Both clinicians and patients can benefit from increased information on the likelihood of chronic and late effects of cervical cancer across the life course of survivors.Materials and methodsThe investigators interviewed 208 individuals six years or more post-invasive cervical cancer diagnosis from the Connecticut Tumor Registry. Cervical cancer survivors were compared with women from the general population interviewed in the Connecticut Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS). Measures of health status and adaptation were compared across successive categories of survival time, including self-assessment of general health according to an item from the MOS-36, days of ill health in past month, and days in past month in which activity was limited by physical or mental health.ResultsNo differences were detected in self-reported general health status between cervical cancer survivors and BRFS controls. But cervical cancer survivors more often reported days of illness and days in which their activities were limited by illness during the month prior to interview. No differences were detected in employment, marital status, or health insurance coverage. No statistically significant differences were detected across survival time categories.ConclusionsA high level of adaptation appears to prevail among cervical cancer survivors. Late effects on health status are not evident. However, the possibility that specific subgroups may experience particularly severe challenges should not be ignored and future research should help identify these subgroups.