Symptoms affecting quality of life in women with gynecologic cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To review quality-of-life issues in women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers. DATA SOURCES: Research studies, review articles, and medical and nursing text-books. CONCLUSIONS: Women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers carry a heavy physical and emotional burden because of surgical morbidity, chemotherapy toxicities, loss of fertility, changes in body image, sexual concerns, and altered relationships. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Health care providers play a key role in the identification and treatment of the complications of cancer therapy. Minimizing the effect of the symptoms of gynecologic cancer may positively impact the patient's quality of life.