Quality of life components in women with cervical cancer post-diagnosis

Introduction. A cervical cancer (CC) diagnosis can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life (QoL) across many domains. This study aimed to identify QoL components in women diagnosed with CC post-diagnosis, and compare them to healthy controls. Material and methods. QoL was assessed using the SF-36 survey and six-item Female Sexual Function Index in 60 women diagnosed with CC pre-treatment and 60 healthy women. Results. The women with CC scored significantly lower on physical functioning (M = 53.56 vs. 69.69), psychological functioning (M = 35.33 vs. 85.67), and sexual functioning (M = 32.50 vs. 88.50) compared to controls (all p < 0.001). Conclusions. A CC diagnosis was associated with markedly reduced QoL in physical, psychological, and sexual do­mains, even pre-treatment. Early screening and support for psychological and sexual wellbeing should be integral in CC patient care.