Sexual Inactivity During the Last 4 Weeks in Long-Term Cervical Cancer Survivors: Prevalence and Associated Factors.

Background: Most studies of cervical cancer (CC) survivors describe sexual inactivity in relation to treatment modalities, but few consider that inactivity varies with age and partner status.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexual inactivity in long-term CC survivors according to age and partner status, and to examine cancer-related, health, demographic, and psychological factors related to sexual inactivity.

Methods: All 974 women treated for CC from 2000 through 2007 in 2 areas of Norway, who were alive and cancer-free by the end of 2013, received a mailed questionnaire.

Long-term cervical cancer survivors on disability pension: a subgroup in need of attention from health care providers.

Purpose: Survivors of cervical cancer have an increased risk for permanently reduced work ability qualifying for disability pension (DP). Few studies describe the social and health situation of long-term survivors of cervical cancer (LSCCs) on DP as a subgroup among LSCCs. The purpose was to investigate the socio-demographic and health status of LSCCs holding DP in a population-based cohort using LSCCs holding paid work as reference.

Preferences for follow up in long-term survivors after cervical cancer.

Introduction: An increasing number of cervical cancer survivors combined with lack of data on the efficacy of long-term surveillance, challenges existing follow-up models. However, before introducing new follow-up models, cervical cancer survivors' own views on follow up are important. We aimed to explore preferences for follow up in long-term cervical cancer survivors and their associations with self-reported late-effects.

Lowered reference limits for hCG improve follow-up of patients with hCG-producing tumors.

Background: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by germ cell tumors, but can also be elevated in benign conditions such as primary hypogonadism, where hCG is produced by the pituitary gland. In our experience, the reference limits for hCG (Elecsys hCG+β-assay, Roche Diagnostics), were unnecessarily high and did not reflect levels encountered in clinical practice. We wanted to establish new reference limits to increase the clinical utility of the hCG-assay.

A study of chronic fatigue in Norwegian cervical cancer survivors.

Objective: Chronic fatigue after treatment is a common adverse event in cancer patients, but there are few studies in long-term survivors of cervical cancer. The aim of this investigation was to explore the prevalence of chronic fatigue and its association with various clinical and treatment-related factors in a population-based cohort of Norwegian cervical cancer survivors treated by any modality.

Methods: All patients, treated for cervical cancer from 2000 through 2007 in the Health Region of South-Eastern Norway, cancer-free, alive and aged ≤75years by the end 2013 (n=822) received a questionnaire covering chronic fatigue and other clinical variables.

[Cervical cancer after 10 years of nationally coordinated screening].

Background: A cervical cancer screening programme has been operating on a national level since 1995. Women aged 25-69 years who have not had a Pap smear in the previous 3-year period, are recommended by letter to contact a doctor and have a smear taken. The aims of the programme are a more rational use of tests and to decrease the incidence and mortality of the disease.

[Are analyses of cytological cervix smears from young women more harmful than beneficial?].

Background: The Norwegian coordinated cervical cancer screening program invites women from 25 to 69 years of age to have a cytological smear from the cervix uteri analysed every third year. The aim of this study was to identify the volume of smears collected and to evaluate the consequences of having or not having this done for 24-year-old and younger women not included in the screening program and to compare the results with those for other age groups.

Material And Methods: Data were obtained from the following Norwegian Cancer Registry sources: the Cancer Registry for incident cases of cancer cervix uteri (1995-2004), the Cytology Registry for volume of cervical specimen collection (1992-2005) and outcome of smears (2004), the CIN-treatment database for the number of incident cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (2004) and the Cervix Histology Registry for histological outcome of cervical biopsies (2004).