Introduction/Background We examined the effect of elapsed time after treatment on overall quality of life, neurotoxicity, sexual life, lymphedema, and utility in ovarian cancer survivors.

Methodology This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study which investigated overall quality of life, neurotoxicity, sexual life, lymphedema, and utility in ovarian cancer survivors. One hundred seventy six patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who received platinum-based chemotherapy as the first-line treatment and did not suffer a recurrence were included in this analysis. Associations of elapsed time after treatment with overall quality of life (NFOSI 18, NCCN/FACT Ovarian Symptom Index-18), neurotoxicity (NTX4), sexual life (FSFI-6K, Female Sexual Function Index Scoring), lymphedema (GCLQ, Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire), and utility (EQ-5D, EuroQol-5 dimension) were visualized via line plot.

Results Overall quality of life (NFOSI 18) improved till 3 years (29 at 1 year -> 28 at 2 year -> 26 at 3 year) after treatment and plateaued. Neurotixicity (NTX4) improved till 5 years after treatment (8 -> 7.5 -> 6->5), but it did not reach a normal level (score 0). Sexual life (FSFI-6K) improved till 3 years after treatment (4->7->10) and plateaued at score 10 indicating female sexual dysfunction (score<21). Lymphedema (GCLQ) not improved over time (15 -> 14 -> 16.5), and it did not return to a normal level over time (score>5). Utility (EQ-5D index) improved till 3 years after treatment (0.8250->0.875->0.925) and EQ-5D VAS imploved gradually till 5 years after treatment (71.5->72->73->76->74) suggesting gradual recovery of utility over time.

Conclusion In ovarian cancer survivors, the quality of life, symptom burdens and utility slowly improved as elapsed time after treatment increases, but were not fully recovered.