Sexual Quality of Life of Patients With Gynecologic Cancer Treated With Brachytherapy.
NCT ID: NCT04184154
Last Updated: 2021-11-04
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
167 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2017-04-05
2017-11-08
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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The standard of care for cervical cancer combines chemoradiotherapy with utero-vaginal brachytherapy, followed or not with surgery. For endometrial cancer, post-operative vaginal brachytherapy is recommended for intermediate-risk tumors or following radiotherapy for high-risk patients. However, in both cancer localizations, the combination of external radiation and brachytherapy induces numerous adverse effects affecting the patients' overall and sexual quality of life. Digestive, urinary and sexual disorders reported include abdominal pain, incontinence, cystitis, dyspareunia, vaginal irritation, pain during intercourse. A major adverse effect reported is reduction of vaginal elasticity together with vaginal shrinking (shorter and tighter vagina), up to vaginal stenosis. The EMBRACE study showed in 630 patients with locally-advanced cervical cancer a grade ≥ 2 vaginal stenosis rate of 21% at 2 years. A study reported that among sexually active women, 54% were not satisfied or little satisfied with their sexual activity; about 50% women also reported vaginal dryness and more than 40% pain during penetration. The EMBRACE study reported in locally-advanced cervical cancer patients the persistence of treatment-related symptoms, diarrhea, menopausal symptoms, peripheral neuropathy and sexual functioning problems two years after diagnosis. Vaginal dryness, hot flashes and pain at penetration were reported up to 5 to 10 years after diagnosis in cancer survivors as compared with controls in a case-control study. In endometrial cancer patients, a long-term analysis of the PORTEC-2 study reported vaginal dryness, short or narrow vagina and pain during intercourse at 7 years after treatment.
Studies in psycho-oncology or nursing care have assessed the impact of these disorders and are bringing up some solutions, among which use of vaginal dilators to prevent vaginal stenosis and improve sexual quality of life. International guidelines were issued on the use of vaginal dilators by these patients. Both guidelines and studies assessing patient education interventions to increase the patients' use of the vaginal dilators concluded on the possible benefit of educational programs stenosis prevention. Some programs well integrated in the patients' care pathway have been published. Early interventions starting as soon as the disease announcement consult with the radiation oncologist are still needed to improve vaginal stenosis prevention and the patients' sexual quality of life.
In this context, the investigator have initiated, for the first time in France, the "Gyn and Co LR" patient education program, approved by the Regional Health Agency. This program, fully integrated in the patients' care pathway, aimed to optimize an early care of sexual disorders and prevent vaginal stenosis in patients treated with brachytherapy for cervical or endometrial cancer.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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OTHER
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Interventions
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Questionnaires
The self-questionnaire of 104 questions collected personal and socio-demographics data, global and sexual quality of life characteristics (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer \[EORTC\] quality of life questionnaires: QLQ-C30 and gynecologic and cervical cancer specific-questionnaire QLQ-CX24), vaginal dilatators and moisturizers use, and barriers and facilitators of their use. Clinical data were extracted from the patients' medical files. Vaginal stenosis was evaluated at 6 weeks after the end of brachytherapy and after 1-year follow-up by in-town gynecologists or in our Institute, and censored in case of complete vaginal obliteration
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Patient who agreed to follow an therapeutic education program during the brachytherapy treatment
* Patient who agreed, after receiving information, to participate to the study
Exclusion Criteria
18 Years
FEMALE
No
Sponsors
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Institut du Cancer de Montpellier - Val d'Aurelle
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Christine KERR, MD
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier
Locations
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Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier
Montpellier, Occ, France
Countries
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References
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Potter R, Tanderup K, Kirisits C, de Leeuw A, Kirchheiner K, Nout R, Tan LT, Haie-Meder C, Mahantshetty U, Segedin B, Hoskin P, Bruheim K, Rai B, Huang F, Van Limbergen E, Schmid M, Nesvacil N, Sturdza A, Fokdal L, Jensen NBK, Georg D, Assenholt M, Seppenwoolde Y, Nomden C, Fortin I, Chopra S, van der Heide U, Rumpold T, Lindegaard JC, Jurgenliemk-Schulz I; EMBRACE Collaborative Group. The EMBRACE II study: The outcome and prospect of two decades of evolution within the GEC-ESTRO GYN working group and the EMBRACE studies. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2018 Jan 11;9:48-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2018.01.001. eCollection 2018 Feb.
Colombo N, Creutzberg C, Amant F, Bosse T, Gonzalez-Martin A, Ledermann J, Marth C, Nout R, Querleu D, Mirza MR, Sessa C; ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO Endometrial Consensus Conference Working Group. ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO Consensus Conference on Endometrial Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-up. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2016 Jan;26(1):2-30. doi: 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000609.
Shisler R, Sinnott JA, Wang V, Hebert C, Salani R, Felix AS. Life after endometrial cancer: A systematic review of patient-reported outcomes. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 Feb;148(2):403-413. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.11.007. Epub 2017 Nov 14.
Pfaendler KS, Wenzel L, Mechanic MB, Penner KR. Cervical cancer survivorship: long-term quality of life and social support. Clin Ther. 2015 Jan 1;37(1):39-48. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2014.11.013.
Zomkowski K, Toryi AM, Sacomori C, Dias M, Sperandio FF. Sexual function and quality of life in gynecological cancer pre- and post-short-term brachytherapy: a prospective study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016 Oct;294(4):833-40. doi: 10.1007/s00404-016-4099-5. Epub 2016 Apr 27.
Greimel ER, Winter R, Kapp KS, Haas J. Quality of life and sexual functioning after cervical cancer treatment: a long-term follow-up study. Psychooncology. 2009 May;18(5):476-82. doi: 10.1002/pon.1426.
Huffman LB, Hartenbach EM, Carter J, Rash JK, Kushner DM. Maintaining sexual health throughout gynecologic cancer survivorship: A comprehensive review and clinical guide. Gynecol Oncol. 2016 Feb;140(2):359-68. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.11.010. Epub 2015 Nov 7.
Wilmoth MC. Sexuality: a critical component of quality of life in chronic disease. Nurs Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;42(4):507-14; v. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2007.08.008.
Bergmark K, Avall-Lundqvist E, Dickman PW, Henningsohn L, Steineck G. Vaginal changes and sexuality in women with a history of cervical cancer. N Engl J Med. 1999 May 6;340(18):1383-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199905063401802.
Bruner DW, Lanciano R, Keegan M, Corn B, Martin E, Hanks GE. Vaginal stenosis and sexual function following intracavitary radiation for the treatment of cervical and endometrial carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1993 Nov 15;27(4):825-30. doi: 10.1016/0360-3016(93)90455-5.
Brand AH, Bull CA, Cakir B. Vaginal stenosis in patients treated with radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2006 Jan-Feb;16(1):288-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2006.00348.x.
Hofsjo A, Bergmark K, Blomgren B, Jahren H, Bohm-Starke N. Radiotherapy for cervical cancer - impact on the vaginal epithelium and sexual function. Acta Oncol. 2018 Mar;57(3):338-345. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2017.1400684. Epub 2017 Nov 15.
Kirchheiner K, Nout RA, Lindegaard JC, Haie-Meder C, Mahantshetty U, Segedin B, Jurgenliemk-Schulz IM, Hoskin PJ, Rai B, Dorr W, Kirisits C, Bentzen SM, Potter R, Tanderup K; EMBRACE Collaborative Group. Dose-effect relationship and risk factors for vaginal stenosis after definitive radio(chemo)therapy with image-guided brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer in the EMBRACE study. Radiother Oncol. 2016 Jan;118(1):160-6. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2015.12.025. Epub 2016 Jan 9.
Sekse RJ, Hufthammer KO, Vika ME. Sexual activity and functioning in women treated for gynaecological cancers. J Clin Nurs. 2017 Feb;26(3-4):400-410. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13407. Epub 2016 Jun 23.
Other Identifiers
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ICM-URC 2017/14
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id