Issues related to Long-term Gynecological Cancer Survivors.

Kim, Jae Weon; Chung, Hyun Hoon; Kang, Soon Beom

Review

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006;49(5):997-1006.
Published online May 1, 2006.

Issues related to Long-term Gynecological Cancer Survivors.

Jae Weon Kim, Hyun Hoon Chung, Soon Beom Kang

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kjwksh@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

As cancer has been the leading cause of death since year 1989, concerns and knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer also have been increased in Korea. Between the year 1999 and 2002, over 100 thousand of cancer patients occurred and a total of 64,731 patients died of cancer in year 2004, which comprised 26.3% of the nationwide mortality. The research and support on the cancer had been mainly focused on the early detection and treatment. However, research or agenda on the issues of cancer survivors were relatively neglected compared with it. The issues related to cancer survivors affect the whole life-span of not only the patients but also the family and the society. Now is the time for us to seek for knowledge and method to solve these issues of cancer survivors such as chronic adverse effect and secondary malignancy associated with cancer treatment, and quality of life. Moreover, we should take more concerns and research on the ideal tools of follow-up and screening to improve the health of cancer survivors after treatment.

Key Words: Gynecologic cancer, Survivor, Quality of life