Snapshot of symptoms of advanced cervical cancer patients referred to the palliative care service in a cancer center in Mexico.

Objective: To report the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with advanced cervical cancer referred to the palliative care service (PC) at a major cancer center in Mexico.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with advanced cervical cancer referred to the PC of INCan, between January 2011 and December 2015. Demographic and clinical characteristics at the time of admission to the INCan, time to referral to PC, initial Edmonton Symptom Assessment System evaluation, and follow up were recorded.

Results: In all, 359 patients were included, median age 51 years, predominantly poor with low education. Most patients 322 (90%) received tumor-specific treatment; presence of nephrostomies and other tumor-related complication was frequent. Median time to referral was 335 days, more than 180 (50%) had five or more symptoms, pain and fatigue were the most prevalent.

Conclusion: Women with advanced cervical cancer have a high burden of symptoms; PC is only considered at the end of life. Efforts for an early referral to PC should be made.