The impact of treatment for genital cancer on quality of life and body image--results of a prospective longitudinal 10-year study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of treatment for genital cancer on quality of life and body image to determine patients' therapy-related needs for quality improvement of medical care before and after surgery.

Methods: We started to evaluate women with cervical cancer planned for pelvic exenteration in 1993 and integrated women planned for a Wertheim-Meigs surgery in 1995 before surgery, 4 and 12 months after surgery. Thanks to funding since 1999, more than 400 patients with a diagnosis of genital (n = 185) or breast (n = 217) cancer participated in this prospective study until July 2003.

The physician-patient relationship before cancer treatment: a prospective longitudinal study.

Objectives: To evaluate quality of life before surgery for genital cancer to determine risk factors that might influence the physician-patient relationship.

Methods: From 1993 until 2003, 129 women with cervical cancer entered this prospective study. Patients were contacted 1 to 5 days before surgery by a psychologist or psychotherapeutically trained physician on the surgical ward.