INTRODUCTION: Fecal incontinence is a symptom reported by cancer survivors after pelvic radiotherapy and is recognized to be one of the most troubling symptom-induced sources of distress to patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how fecal incontinence, patient-reported as emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning, impact self-assessed quality of life from a social, psychological, sexual, and functional aspect among gynecological cancer survivors treated with pelvic radiotherapy. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 789 eligible women in the Stockholm and Gothenburg areas treated with pelvic radiotherapy alone or as combined treatment of gynecological cancer. From the Swedish Population Registry, we identified 478 control women. Data were collected using a study-specific, validated, postal questionnaire including questions covering symptoms from the pelvic region, demographics, social functioning, psychological, and quality-of-life issues. RESULTS: Participation was 78% for cancer survivors and 72% for control women. The fecal incontinence symptom emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning was reported by 70 cancer survivors (12%), with lowered quality of life in 74% of the 70 cancer survivors. This symptom kept the survivors from going to parties (relative risk [RR], 11.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6-21.1), kept the survivors from traveling (RR, 9.3; 95% CI, 5.3-16.5), affected their work ability (RR, 7.9; 95% CI, 3.8-16.4), hindered their sexual life (RR, 9.2; 95% CI, 4.8-17.6), and changed them as persons (RR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.9-8.1). The prevalence of the symptom emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning among control women was 3 (1%) of 344. CONCLUSIONS: Among gynecological cancer survivors having undergone pelvic radiotherapy alone or as part of a combined treatment, fecal incontinence is associated with social, psychological, sexual, and functional consequences.
INTRODUCTION: Fecal incontinence is a symptom reported by cancer survivors after pelvic radiotherapy and is recognized to be one of the most troubling symptom-induced sources of distress to patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how fecal incontinence, patient-reported as emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning, impact self-assessed quality of life from a social, psychological, sexual, and functional aspect among gynecological cancer survivors treated with pelvic radiotherapy. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 789 eligible women in the Stockholm and Gothenburg areas treated with pelvic radiotherapy alone or as combined treatment of gynecological cancer. From the Swedish Population Registry, we identified 478 control women. Data were collected using a study-specific, validated, postal questionnaire including questions covering symptoms from the pelvic region, demographics, social functioning, psychological, and quality-of-life issues. RESULTS: Participation was 78% for cancer survivors and 72% for control women. The fecal incontinence symptom emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning was reported by 70 cancer survivors (12%), with lowered quality of life in 74% of the 70 cancer survivors. This symptom kept the survivors from going to parties (relative risk [RR], 11.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6-21.1), kept the survivors from traveling (RR, 9.3; 95% CI, 5.3-16.5), affected their work ability (RR, 7.9; 95% CI, 3.8-16.4), hindered their sexual life (RR, 9.2; 95% CI, 4.8-17.6), and changed them as persons (RR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.9-8.1). The prevalence of the symptom emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning among control women was 3 (1%) of 344. CONCLUSIONS: Among gynecological cancer survivors having undergone pelvic radiotherapy alone or as part of a combined treatment, fecal incontinence is associated with social, psychological, sexual, and functional consequences.
Authors: Aparna S Ramaseshan; Jessica Felton; Dana Roque; Gautam Rao; Andrea G Shipper; Tatiana V D Sanses Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2017-09-19 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: Stefan Carlsson; Fredrik Jäderling; Anna Wallerstedt; Tommy Nyberg; Johan Stranne; Thordis Thorsteinsdottir; Sigrid V Carlsson; Anders Bjartell; Jonas Hugosson; Eva Haglind; Gunnar Steineck Journal: BJU Int Date: 2016-03-18 Impact factor: 5.588
Authors: Gail Dunberger; Helene Lindquist; Ann-Charlotte Waldenström; Tommy Nyberg; Gunnar Steineck; Elisabeth Åvall-Lundqvist Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-06-29 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Gunnar Steineck; Viktor Skokic; Fei Sjöberg; Cecilia Bull; Eleftheria Alevronta; Gail Dunberger; Karin Bergmark; Ulrica Wilderäng; Jung Hun Oh; Joseph O Deasy; Rebecka Jörnsten Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-02-03 Impact factor: 3.240