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13. Vaginal and vulvar cancer
97 The impact of local symptoms on health-related quality of life in vulvar cancer survivors – a nationwide longitudinal study
  1. Diana Zach1,
  2. Pernille T Jensen2,
  3. Henrik Falconer1,
  4. Zuzana Kolkova3,
  5. Katja Stenström Bohlin4,
  6. Preben Kjølhede5,
  7. Ivette Raices Cruz6,
  8. Elisabeth Åvall-Lundqvist7 and
  9. Angelique Flöter Rådestad8
  1. 1Department of Gynaecological Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  2. 2Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
  3. 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Skåne University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
  4. 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden
  5. 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
  6. 6Institute of Environmental Medicine, Biostatistics Core Facilities, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  7. 7Department of Oncology and Dept of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
  8. 8Department of Hereditary Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

Introduction/Background Vulvar cancer and its treatment may cause severe symptoms and a deterioration in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Knowledge about symptoms and HRQOL at diagnosis and during surveillance is important to offer adequate support and guide relevant interventions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the course of vulvar- and lymphoedema symptoms and its association with HRQOL in women with vulvar cancer.

Methodology PROVE is a longitudinal nationwide cohort study investigating HRQOL in women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer. Consenting women completed the validated European Organisation of Treatment and Research of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ C30) and the EORTC- vulva cancer questionnaire (VU34) at diagnosis (baseline), 3, and 12 months after treatment. Mean scores of symptoms and functioning scales were calculated. Adjusted and unadjusted linear mixed- effects models with patient-specific random intercept were applied to estimate mean changes over time and to investigate associations between vulvar symptoms and HRQOL over time.

Results Between 2019 and 2021, 140 of 153 (92%) women with FIGO stage I-IV vulvar cancer completed the questionnaires at least at one time point. Vulvar pain, sore, itchy, and irritated skin were highly prevalent at baseline (mean score 38–45) with a significant improvement after twelve months (change in mean score -21, p<0.001). Furthermore, HRQOL improved significantly from baseline to 12 months after treatment (change in mean score +4 to +15, p<0.05). Severe vulvar symptoms were associated with impaired emotional, role, cognitive, and social functioning, besides the EORTC summary score of mental health. Leg lymphoedema symptoms increased significantly over time (change in mean score +6, p=0.003)

Conclusion Local vulvar symptoms are highly prevalent at the diagnosis of vulvar cancer. Despite improvement in symptoms during surveillance, severe local symptoms are persistently associated with impaired HRQOL. Leg lymphedema symptoms increase significantly over time at a group level.

Disclosures None

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Abstract 97 Table 1

https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2024-ESGO.1031

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