Quality of life and sexuality comparison between sexually active ovarian cancer survivors and healthy women Women's experiences after a radical vaginal trachelectomy for early stage cervical cancer. A descriptive phenomenological study. Telephone follow-up after treatment for breast cancer: views and experiences of patients and specialist breast care nurses. The effect of a clinical nurse specialist in gynaecological oncology on quality of life and sexuality.
Objective compare quality of life ( QoL ) and sexual functioning between sexually active ovarian cancer survivors and healthy women . Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 103 successfully treated ovarian cancer survivors and 220 healthy women . All women had engaged in sexual activity within the previous 3 months , and ovarian cancer survivors were under surveillance after primary treatment without evidence of disease .  QoL and sexual functioning were assessed using three question naires ; the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Question naire-Core 30 ( EORTC QLQ-C30 ) , Ovarian Cancer Module ( EORTC QLQ-OV28 ) , and the  Female Sexual Function Index  ( FSFI ) . Propensity score matching was used to adjust covariates between the ovarian cancer survivor and healthy women groups . In total , 73 ovarian cancer survivors and 73 healthy women were compared . Results Poorer social functioning ( mean , 82.4 vs. 90.9 ; p=0.010 ) and more financial difficulties ( mean , 16.4 vs. 7.8 ; p=0.019 ) were observed among ovarian cancer survivors than among healthy women . Sexuality , both in terms of desire , arousal , lubrication , orgasm , satisfaction , and pain and in terms of interest in sex , sexual activity , and enjoyment of sex ( EORTC QLQ-OV28 ) were similar between the groups . However , vaginal dryness was more problematic in ovarian cancer survivors , with borderline statistical significance ( p=0.081 ) . Conclusion Sexuality was not impaired in ovarian cancer survivors who were without evidence of disease after primary treatment and having sexual activities , compared with healthy women , whereas social functioning and financial status did deteriorate . Prospect i ve cohort studies are needed PURPOSE This paper reports on a phenomenological study of women 's experiences 1 - 10 years following a radical vaginal trachelectomy  and describes the impact on health , sexuality , fertility and perceived supportive care needs . METHOD AND SAMPLE Qualitative telephone interviews employing a descriptive phenomenological approach were conducted using a purposive sample of 12 women . KEY RESULTS Several felt their cancer experience was positive ; bringing them closer to family and changed their outlook on life . A few experienced delayed psychological reactions and /or fears of recurrence . Many experienced isolation and the desire to contact others with similar experiences . Women recovered well but a few experienced fears/concerns about lymphoedema and intermenstrual bleeding . Sexual function was not a long-term issue for most . Some that could feel the cerclage ( stitch ) during intercourse , developed techniques to reduce this . Single women felt vulnerable in new relationships . Pregnancy was an anxious time , especially for those that experienced a miscarriage or pre-term birth . Sources of support included the clinical nurse specialist , family/friends , surgical consultant , online patient forums and a support group . Women needed more information on trachelectomy statistics , pregnancy care recommendations as well as access to counselling , peer support , being seen by the same person and increased public awareness . CONCLUSIONS This study has provided an interesting and detailed insight into women 's experiences in the years following a trachelectomy , with results that have important considerations for practice such as provision of statistical information ; counselling ; peer support ; consistent pregnancy recommendations ; increased public awareness and increased identification and management or prevention of long-term physical effects AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore the views of patients and specialist breast care nurses on  telephone follow-up  after treatment for breast cancer . BACKGROUND A recent r and omised controlled trial demonstrated that nurse-led telephone follow-up led to high levels of patient satisfaction with no physical or psychological detriment . This study aim ed to explore in more detail the views of patients r and omised to telephone follow-up and the nurses who conducted telephone appointments .  DESIGN Qualitative . METHOD Individual interviews with 28 patients and four specialist breast care nurses . Content analysis was used to analyse the interview data . RESULTS Telephone follow-up was convenient for patients and provided continuity of care . Speaking on the telephone was perceived as a more ' normal ' activity than attending hospital outpatient clinics . A structured approach was appreciated , instilling feelings of confidence that all questions had been asked and no errors had been made . Specialist nurses emphasised the high level of skill required to deliver the intervention and perceived that the telephone approach was well able to meet the individual needs of patients . CONCLUSIONS Positive views on telephone follow-up were reported . An experienced and skilled practitioner , with effective communication skills , is required to deliver the intervention and a period of training is recommended . Nurse-led telephone interventions have a broader applicability to other disease conditions , although more work is needed to develop appropriate interventions and evaluate their effectiveness . RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses at advanced levels of practice are uniquely placed to deliver such complex interventions . However , a period of initial training with effective peer support and channels for ongoing feedback are essential for administering an intervention that relies on audio rather than visual cues Gynaecological malignancy has an immense impact on the well-being of women . For many women , however , treatment such as surgery is curative and healthcare intervention focuses on the physiological status of the women . The psychological , social and sexual consequences of the malignancy and its treatment have received little attention in research or in practice . The present study used a mixed quantitative and qualitative design to analyse a specialist nurse intervention ( including psychosexual intervention ) , and to explain the impact of the illness on women 's lives . The qualitative arm of the study collected interview data from 20 women and six partners . The r and omized controlled trial sample consisted of 36 women , with data collected using a quality of life measure ( the EORTC QLQ-C30 ) and the Lasry Sexual Functioning scale . This paper focuses on the r and omized controlled trial data , which identified that sexual functioning and quality of life were improved in the active group who received specialist psychosexual counselling . However , the validity of the sexual functioning scale is challenged by the qualitative results of the study , which emphasize the social meaning of sexuality
nan