Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms in women with breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Women with breast cancer undergoing oncological therapies may develop pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), often related to the reduction in oestrogen levels induced by oncological treatments. Objective: To assess the prevalence of PFD symptoms in women who underwent breast cancer surgery and to relate this to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and quality of life (QoL). Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of 30 women who had undergone breast cancer surgery 4 to 5 weeks previously. A sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 were applied. Results: It was observed that 40% of the participants reported symptoms of urinary incontinence, 67.9% of faecal incontinence for gas. Among the sexually active participants, 38.9% reported decreased lubrication and 38.9% dyspareunia. Premenopausal women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed changes in their menstrual cycle. Age, menstrual status, parity and level of physical activity were identified as factors influencing PFD and QoL. In addition, women with more PFD symptoms had worse perceived QoL (p=0.033). Conclusions: Women with breast cancer who underwent oncological treatment have a high prevalence of urinary and faecal for gas incontinence, as well as changes in sexual function and satisfaction, with a negative impact on their QoL.