Survival of the Patients Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer and Associated Prognostic Factors in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Background: Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer among Sri Lankan females with an age-standardized incidence rate of 8.6 per 100,000 in 2008. Aim: Present study assessed the five-year survival of cervical cancer patients diagnosed in 2008 in the western province of Sri Lanka and the associated prognostic factors. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess five-year survival among cervical cancer patients of the western province, diagnosed in 2008, from hospital based cancer registry. Ethical clearance was from Ethical Review Committee of Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Study sample consisted of 177 patients who were eligible. Two pretested data records sheets were used. Patient contact details, incident date, clinical stage, histology treatment details, last contact date and survival status at the last contact date were abstracted from the hospital records. Data abstraction from the hospital records were conducted by medical officers. Patients were followed-up at the field by the public health nursing sisters to assess survival-status and associated prognostic factors in 2014. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata-12. Observed survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier product-limit method. Survival time was limited only for the five years from the incidence date. Survival at 1, 3 and 5 years were calculated. Log-rank test was used in univariate analysis to identify. Potentially important prognostic variables were identified using log-rank test in univariate analysis. Cox-proportional hazards model was used in multivariate analysis using covariates found to be with probability of 0.2 or below in log-rank test. Results: Mean age of the total of 177 eligible patients was 56.3 years (SD=12.4). Majority 79 (44.6%) were from Colombo district. Sixty one (34.5%) and thirty seven (20.9%) were from Gampaha and Kalutata districts respectively. Seventy (56.0%) were in stage IIIA and B. Most 42 (31.8%) had radiotherapy as first treatment while 24 (18.2%) had chemo-radiation, 17 (12.9%) had chemotherapy and 17 (12.9%) had surgery. Thirty-four (24.2%) had other options as first line. Forty-one (23.1%) had experienced the death within the five-year period from the incidence-date. One, three and five year survivals were 86.0%, 70.0% and 62.5% respectively. District, clinical stage, undergone surgery were statistically significant in univariate analysis ( P < 0.05). Only clinical stage was found to be significant in multiple cox- regression( P < 0.05). Women in stage III & IV were 3.5 times more likely to die compared with those in stage I and II at diagnosis. Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients had fairly good five-year survival (62.5%). Late clinical stage being poor prognostic factor reflects the need of strengthening prevention, screening and palliative care.