Year 2013 / Volume 105 / Number 5
Original
Quality of life assessment by applying EORTC questionnaires to rectal cancer patients after surgery and neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment

pp. 255-261

Juan Ignacio Arraras, Javier Suárez, Fernando Arias-de-la-Vega, Ruth Vera, Berta Ibáñez,Gemma Asin, Antonio Viudez, Uxue Zarandona, Mikel Rico and Irene Hernández

Abstract
Background: Quality of Life (QoL) is a key element in rectal
cancer (RC) patients.
Aims: this study assesses QoL in a sample of RC patients in
their treatment follow-up period, and compares surgery modalities.
Patients and methods: eighty four locally advanced RC patients
who had received surgery and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were
included in the study. Of these, 70 had adjuvant chemotherapy. All
patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-CR29 once
at least one year after completion of their treatment. Low anterior
resection (LAR) patients also completed a Functional Evaluation
questionnaire.
Results: QoL scores in the EORTC questionnaires for the sample
as a whole were high in most dimensions, in line with the general
population’s QoL values, although moderate limitations (> 30 points)
were observed in urinary frequency, flatulence, impotence and sexual
function. The scores for the Functional Evaluation were adequate
(mean combined bowel function score of 18.2).
LAR patients had a higher stool frequency than those with
abdominoperineal resection (APR; p < 0.001). No differences in
body image were found amongst LAR and APR patients.
LAR patients with a lower anastomosis had higher faecal incontinence
(p = 0.02), whereas those with a reservoir had better emotional
functioning (p = 0.04) and higher faecal incontinence (p =
0.03).
Conclusions: QoL scores and functional evaluation indicated
patients had adapted to their disease and treatment. The few differences
in QoL found between surgery modalities are in line with
other recent studies and in contrast with earlier ones that suggested
a lower QoL in APR patients.
Key words: Cancer. Quality of life. Surgery. Rectal. Chemoradiotherapy
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Juan Ignacio Arraras, Javier Suárez, Fernando Arias-de-la-Vega, Ruth Vera, Berta Ibáñez,Gemma Asin, Antonio Viudez, Uxue Zarandona, Mikel Rico and Irene Hernández. Quality of life assessment by applying EORTC questionnaires to rectal cancer patients after surgery and neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment. 255-261


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