published_or_final_version / Obstetrics and Gynaecology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

M.Tech. (Radiography) / Cervical cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in Zambia. More recently, improved cure rates have been obtained with the concomitant use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in locally advanced cancer of the cervix. However, the side effects associated with the treatment have a major impact on the quality of life (QoL) of these women. Prior to this study, QoL in Zambian women treated for cervical cancer with chemo-radiation had not been assessed thus creating a gap in the literature and hampering an attempt to improve QoL in this cohort of patients. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the impact of chemo-radiation treatment on QoL and to determine what socioeconomic and demographic factors are closely related with QoL decrements in Zambian women treated for cervical cancer at Cancer Diseases Hospital. This would then facilitate the introduction of intervention programmes aimed at improving QoL in these patients. The study was prospective and explored the phenomenon of QoL with the use of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire and a demographics questionnaire answered by 45 women treated for cervical cancer with chemo-radiotherapy at Cancer Diseases Hospital. The use of the EORTC quality of life questionnaire added validity and reliability to the study as it is used extensively to measure health-related quality of life in cancer survivors worldwide. Analysis of the data indicates that patients with advanced cervical cancer treated with chemo-radiotherapy generally experienced a favourable QoL, and treatment was considered worthwhile by the majority of patients. However, women described problems with sexuality and marital relationships. Low education and living without a partner were depicted as risk factors for the development of the reported problems. To improve QoL in survivors, interventions focusing on more social support, education to improve patients’ understanding of their disease and treatment effects as well as physical rehabilitation through exercise interventions are recommended as mandatory.