Reproductive concerns of women treated with radical trachelectomy for cervical cancer

To report the reproductive concerns of women treated for stage I cervical cancer with fertility-preserving surgery.

Newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients undergoing radical trachelectomy were enrolled in this study preoperatively and assessed over time. Preliminary data from the preoperative analysis and 3-month and 6-month assessment points addressing reproductive concerns are presented.

Between February 2004 and June 2006, 29 patients were enrolled in the study. Three patients were excluded because they did not undergo the planned surgery and 6 patients were excluded because they required adjuvant therapy. Future childbearing was the main reason most women chose to undergo the procedure; however, treatment choice was also guided by conversations with their doctors (41%, n=12). Twenty-six (90%) initially expressed concern over future conception and childbearing, but this increased to all patients by 6 months. At enrollment, the majority of the patients had high expectations for future conception and childbearing but this declined over time. Despite this, patients' distress gradually decreased over time.

Our results show that many women who have undergone a radical trachelectomy present with distress and reproductive concerns that persist for up to 6 months postoperatively. Concerns about conception appear to decrease following surgery; however, concerns about pregnancy appear to increase post trachelectomy itself. This pilot study reflects the first preliminary data from an active ongoing study prospectively collecting information over 2 years from newly diagnosed stage I cervical cancer patients undergoing radical trachelectomy.