Quality of Life in Ovarian-Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Background: Ovarian cancer accounts for 4% of cancers occurring in women and ranks first in gynecological cancer mortality. Maintaining and improving quality of life is an important goal of cancer treatment. The toxicities of cancer treatment particularly chemotherapy can impact an individual’s wellbeing. Objective: Assessment of quality of life among ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Method: A descriptive study was conducted among 202 patients with ovarian cancer treated at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in Bangladesh. Ethical approval was received from the ethics committee of NICRH. Data was collected using the EORTC QLQC30 questionnaire and the ovarian cancer specific EORTC QOL OV-28 module. Functional, symptomatic and global variables were scored and analyzed by SPSS. Multiple linear regressions determined the effects of predictor variables and correlation of the global health status with other variables. Results: 48.6% of patients were ages 41 to 50 years. The mean score of global health status was 55.77. Deteriorating emotional function, distressing physical and psychological symptoms, sexual dysfunction and financial difficulties adversely affect the quality of life. Their correlation with global health status was strongly significant (P value < 0.05). Fatigue (r value -0.604;p < 0.05) loss of appetite (r value -0.442;p < 0.05), insomnia (r value -0.339;p < 0.05), dyspnea (r value -0.377;p < 0.05), heartburn (r value -0.369;p < 0.05), and alopecia (r value -0.262;p < 0.05) were negatively associated with QOL. Conclusion: The overall quality of life among the ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is low. Increasing knowledge in this area will help clinicians to optimize patient management. Interventions should focus on both physical and psychological and sexual health issues that adversely affect the quality of life.