Cancer Of Lower Genital Tract Research Articles

What do gynecologic cancer survivors desire in a survivorship program?

Objectives: This study aims to assess the concerns and quality of life (QOL) of women treated for gynecologic cancers who were invited to participate in a survivorship program. The primary objective is to identify components of a survivorship program that would be most useful for survivors of gynecologic malignancies. Methods: This is a quality improvement initiative. Women diagnosed and treated for a gynecologic malignancy at our cancer center in 2018 were asked to participate in a survivorship survey by mail between 1/2019 and 3/2019. Additionally, women attending an inperson survivorship visit between 12/2019 and 10/2020 were asked to participate at their first visit. All data was self-reported including cross-sectional data on demographics, treatment and current symptoms. Patients’ concerns and desires for assistance were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale with 0=not helpful/no concern to 4=extremely helpful/very concerning. QOL was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-G). Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: A total of 92 women completed the survey, representing a 57% response rate. A total of 41 (45.5%) patients had uterine cancer, 40 (44.4%) had ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer, and 10 (11.1%) had a lower genital tract cancer (cervical, vulvar, vaginal). A total of 83 (95.4%) of patients received initial surgery and 61 (67.8%) received adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy with a mean time from treatment completion to survey administration of 6.0 + 7.6 months. The mean age was 61 years old + 11 years. Women with lower genital tract cancers were significantly younger than the women with uterine and ovarian cancer, respectively (50y + 10y vs. 64y + 10y vs. 61y + 12y, p 60 years old. The top 5 most-desired survivorship components included: instruction in nutrition (35%), assistance with weight loss (30%), stress reduction (27%), fatigue reduction (27%), and improved long-term side effects (24%). A total of 15% of respondents desired components focused on anxiety treatment, and less than 10% desired help with sleep, relationships, sex life, and finances. Uterine cancer survivors were more likely to desire weight loss assistance versus non-uterine survivors (37% vs 24%, p=0.05). Patients with lower genital tract cancers desired assistance with relationships more frequently when compared to uterine and ovarian groups, respectively (11% vs 5% vs 3%, p Download : Download high-res image (130KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Survivors of gynecologic cancer desire nutrition, weight loss, and stress reduction as part of their survivorship programs. Further research should be done to assess patient preferences for survivorship program content and consider age and disease type preferences to optimize personalized participation.

High squamous intraepithelial lesion and cancer of lower genital tract in women with anogenital warts

The aim of this paper was to determine the incidence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and cancer of lower genital tract in patients with anogenital warts and their treatment. Between 1 September 1988 and 30 June 1994, 221 consecutive women with anogenital warts were prospectively examined in the colposcopy outpatient clinic. In 2004, the same group of patients was re-examined. There were abnormal cytological findings in 111 (50.2%) patients; 31 patients (14.0%) had HSIL, and 6 of them (2.7%) had cancer. There were abnormal colposcopic findings in 152 (68.8%) women; 78 women (35.3%) had abnormal histological findings. In the histological findings, HSIL was found in 41 (18.5%) women and cancer in 6 (2.7%). In spite of the fact that anogenital warts are caused by HPV types of low oncogenic risk (6/11), there is an increased incidence of HSIL and cancer in these women. Therefore, women with anogenital warts belong to an increased risk group regarding the cancer of lower genital tract, especially if they are associated with HPV types of a high oncogenic risk.

Health of The Nation: Way Forward in Sexual Health

Sexual health is a wide concept encompassing education, health promotion and disease prevention, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted diseases, screening and counselling for HIV antibodies, management of HIV infected patients, family planning, termination of pregnancy, psychosexual counselling, prevention of cervical and lower genital tract cancers, and sexual abuse. Implementation of The Health of the Nation (1992) will include assessing the current situation, views, alliances and interventions, need for research and development and within alliances setting challenging but achievable targets. The Health of the Nation includes a target for gonorrhoea which is a surrogate for partner change, sexually transmitted diseases in general and HIV infection, and a target for conceptions among those under 16 years of age. These targets need to be adjusted locally and may be staged. All interventions to achieve these targets must be available. Implementation of The Health of the Nation to achieve the main objectives which are to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and provision of effective family planning services will be challenging but sexual health gain will be well worthwhile.