INTRODUCTION 
Cervical cancer affects mostly young women from poor countries and disadvantaged populations. There is limited information available to specifically outline the presenting features and treatment outcomes of young patients treated for cervical cancer. 
OBJECTIVES 
The aim of the study was to evaluate demographics and treatment outcome in young women under the age of 40 years with cervical cancer treated at a single institution in South Africa.

METHODS 
Retrospective study of patients younger than 40 years with cervical cancer referred for radiation from January 2015 to December 2018. The MOSAIQ® patient management system was used as the data source of patient names. Data collected included patient demographics; HIV status; stage; treatment and survival outcome.

RESULTS
In the study time period 96 patients under the age of 40 years were referred for radiotherapy. The median age was 33 years (24-38 years); 15.6% (n=15) were under the age of 30.  Overall, 36.5% were HIV-positive. 
Disease characteristics included 91.7% squamous cell carcinoma on histology; 65.6% (n=63) were Stage IIIB and above. The very young (under 30 years) had a high proportion presenting with advanced stage disease, 73.3% (n=11). 
Seventy-one patients (74%) received radical CCRT, RT or adjuvant CRT. HIV-negative patients were significantly more likely to be prescribed curative therapy (82% vs 60%; p=0.018). 
The majority of the cohort, 77 patients (80.2%), received a minimum of 40Gy EBRT Of the 71 patients who received radical therapy, 17 (23.9%) had a recorded date of death by study end, with no significant difference by HIV-status.

CONCLUSION 
The young women presenting with cervical carcinoma at our institution had a high prevalence of HIV and advanced stage. Though HIV status impacted treatment intent, more than 80% of the total cohort received radical radiation or high dose palliation.

CERVICAL CANCER IN YOUNG WOMEN TREATED AT A SINGLE INSTITUTION – A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY