PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Diana Zach
AU  - Elisabeth Åvall Lundqvist
AU  - Henrik Falconer
AU  - Preben Kjølhede
AU  - Katja Stenström Bohlin
AU  - Päivi Kannisto
AU  - Henrike Häbel
AU  - Pernille T Jensen
AU  - Angelique Flöter Rådestad
TI  - 2022-RA-226-ESGO Unmet needs of women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer – a nationwide Swedish cohort study
AID  - 10.1136/ijgc-2022-ESGO.919
DP  - 2022 Oct 01
TA  - International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
PG  - A427--A428
VI  - 32
IP  - Suppl 2
4099  - http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/32/Suppl_2/A427.2.short
4100  - http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/32/Suppl_2/A427.2.full
SO  - Int J Gynecol Cancer2022 Oct 01; 32
AB  - Introduction/Background Little is known about the unmet needs of women with vulvar cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of women with vulvar cancer at the time of diagnosis.Methodology This is a prospective, longitudinal nationwide cohort study investigating health-related quality of life in women with vulvar cancer. Eligible women were diagnosed with primary vulvar cancer between 2019 and 2021. Participants completed five validated instruments including 15 items from the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form (SCNS-SF34) before start of treatment, and during follow-up. Here, we present results from the baseline questionnaire.Results 136 of 153 (89%) included women completed the baseline questionnaire. Median age was 69 years, 62% were living in a relationship, and 70% had one or more comorbidities. Most women (73%) were diagnosed at FIGO stages IA- II, 96% were treated by surgery. More than every second woman reported needs for eight of the 15 selected items of the SCNS. The most reported needs concerned information about treatment, side-effects, and improved self-care. Besides, two thirds of women needed help in managing the fear of cancer spread (figure 1). Expressing high needs for information and help with fear of cancer spread was associated with more comorbidities (information how to help yourself: OR 10.2 (95% CI 1.9 – 54.6); information about side-effects: OR 10.2 (95% CI 1.9 – 54.6); information about care: OR 5.4 (95% CI 1.9 – 25.5); fear of cancer spread: OR 15.9 (95% CI 1.8 – 140.6)), but not with age, partner status, or FIGO stage.Abstract 2022-RA-226-ESGO Figure 1 Proportion of needs for 15 items of the supportive care needs survey short formConclusion Women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer request predominantly information about treatment, side-effects, and improved self-care irrespective of age, partner status, or stage of disease. Women´s fear of cancer spread should be a central part of counselling at the time of diagnosis.