Psychological distress and quality of life in cervical cancer survivors after radiotherapy: do treatment modalities, disease stage, and self-esteem influence outcomes?

The present study evaluated whether differences in the type of radiotherapy, disease stage, and self-esteem influence psychological distress and quality of life (QOL) among cervical cancer survivors. Sixty survivors, after radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, or postoperative radiotherapy for cervical cancer, participated in the study. The participants were asked to complete questionnaires during follow-up visits. The questionnaires included the Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. The results indicated that psychological distress and QOL in cervical cancer survivors were not significantly different among treatment modalities and disease stage. Psychological distress and QOL differed significantly in accordance with the survivor's self-esteem. Survivors in the high self-esteem group had lower levels of anxiety and depression and higher QOL scores (emotional and social/family aspects of QOL and total QOL) than those in the low self-esteem group. Psychosocial support with consideration of a patient's self-esteem is necessary throughout and beyond radiotherapy for cervical cancer.