Quality of life and mood in women with gynecologic cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND Quality of life (QOL) and mood were prospectively investigated during the first year of treatment among women with gynecologic cancers. Relationships of coping styles to QOL and mood were examined. METHODS Ninety‐eight patients with early stage or regionally advanced gynecologic cancers were recruited. Mood and QOL were assessed at initial clinic visit and at one year, and medical information was abstracted from charts at both time‐points. RESULTS Although decrements in physical, functional, and total well‐being were reported at baseline by regionally advanced patients, by one year, all patients reported significant improvements in QOL and mood. There were no differences between early stage and regionally advanced patients in their improvement for these measures. Controlling for medical variables and age, patients who coped using greater acceptance and positive reframing at their initial visits reported better one year QOL; those with continued higher levels of these adaptive coping strategies at one year reported better concurrent functional and emotional well‐being. Greater seeking of social support at one year was associated with better concurrent social well‐being and doctor‐patient relationships. In contrast, disengaged coping at study entry was associated with poorer doctor‐patient relationships at one year; continued disengagement at one year was associated with poorer concurrent QOL and greater distress. CONCLUSIONS During the first year following treatment, QOL and mood improved among both early stage and regionally advanced gynecologic oncology patients. Patients using disengaged coping are particularly at risk for poor QOL and distress. Cancer 2002;94:131–40. © 2002 American Cancer Society.