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Urinary symptoms and impact on quality of life in women after treatment for endometrial cancer

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Abstract

The primary objective of our study is to describe urinary symptoms in women treated for endometrial cancer. We performed a cross-sectional survey of women who had undergone surgical treatment for endometrial cancer. Three validated questionnaires were utilized: the Sandvik Severity Index, the Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), and Incontinence Impact Questionaire-7 (IIQ-7). Our study included 70 women treated for endometrial cancer; 35.7% (25/70) of women reported adjuvant radiation therapy after surgical staging. Urinary incontinence was reported in over 80% of women. Mean UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores for women treated with adjuvant radiation therapy were higher compared to women with no adjuvant radiation therapy [47(±26.8) vs. 35.6(±21.7; p = 0.05)] and [24.4(±28.5) vs. 8.1(±16.4; p = 0.004)], respectively. Treatment with adjuvant radiation therapy was associated with more severe incontinence symptoms and impact on quality of life.

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Funding

Dr. Erekson is supported by grant T32 HD0406740-04 (Women and Infants Hospital/Brown Epidemiology/Clinical Trials, DHHS) and Dr. Sung is supported by grant 5-K12-HD050108-02 (WIH/Brown Women’s Reproductive Health Research Career Development Award, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).

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Correspondence to E. A. Erekson.

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Erekson, E.A., Sung, V.W., DiSilvestro, P.A. et al. Urinary symptoms and impact on quality of life in women after treatment for endometrial cancer. Int Urogynecol J 20, 159–163 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-008-0755-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-008-0755-z

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