S445
Clinical - Gynaecological
ESTRO 2026
radiochemotherapy+brachytherapy - RTCT+BRT (locally advanced carcinoma stage II/IIIC2) compared with those treated surgically (stage IA1/IIA1). Material/Methods: A total of 115 women (mean age=46.3±8.9) participated since November 2023: 61 treated with RTCT+BRT and 54 with surgery, matched for age and marital status. Psychological and sexual variables were assessed at baseline (T0) and six months post-treatment (T1) using standardized measures: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Female Sexual Function Index, and EORTC QLQ-CX24. Results:
though this remained relatively elevated (p < .05). Sexual functioning, which was almost absent at baseline, improved across several domains—desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction, despite post- treatment pain (FIGURE 2).Conversely, the surgical group exhibited decreased distress and fatalism as a coping style, higher affection in the couple, but also declines in sexual desire and activity at follow-up. These findings suggest divergent psychological trajectories: while RTCT+BRT patients showed increased menopausal symptoms, peripheral neuropathy, and pain, they appeared to undergo a gradual psychological realignment, shifting from emotional withdrawal toward renewed sexual engagement and relational connection. In contrast, surgery women, even if less distressed, tended to adopt more fatalistic or avoidant coping styles, accompanied by reduced dyadic satisfaction and greater sexual inhibition. Conclusion: These results emphasize that different treatment modalities—surgery or RTCT+BRT — lead to distinct psychological, sexual, and relational profiles. Integrating psychosocial assessment into clinical practice may support the development of timely and targeted interventions, fostering a more holistic recovery beyond disease control. Although the two groups differ prognostically, it remains essential to individualize care pathways. Tailoring supportive and rehabilitative strategies to psychological adjustment patterns, symptoms, and relational dynamics can promote better
overall adaptation and quality of life throughout the cancer trajectory. References:
1.Cianci S, Tarascio M, Arcieri M, et al. Post treatment sexual function and quality of life of patients affected by cervical cancer: A Systematic Review. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:704. doi: 10.3390/medicina59040704. 2.Tramacere F, Lancellotta V, Casà C, et al. Assessment of sexual dysfunction in cervical cancer patients
At baseline, the RTCT+BRT group reported higher levels of dissociation, depression, and sexual concerns, but also greater dyadic satisfaction than the surgical group (FIGURE 1). At T1, RTCT+BRT patients showed significant reductions in distress, anxious preoccupation, and dissociative functioning,
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