<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic><bold>Background.</bold> The literature reports are unclear whether a permanent stoma reduces the quality of life (QOL) of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3-4 and/or N+). Our aim was to compare the QLQ of patients with abdominoperineal resection and with restorative surgery, treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy in a prospective phase II clinical trial.</italic><italic><bold>Methods.</bold> Fifty-seven patients were irradiated to 45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks to the pelvis concomitantly with oral capecitabine 825 mg/m2, twice a day, including weekends. Surgery was scheduled 4-6 weeks after the completion of the chemoradiotherapy. Four courses of chemotherapy were planned postoperatively. Patients still alive and without recurrence of the disease, with a minimum follow up of 2 years, were surveyed with two self-rating questionnaires developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): one was cancer specific (EORTC QLQ-C30) and one was site specific (EORTC QLQ-C38).</italic><italic><bold>Results.</bold> QLQ was assessed in 28 of 32 patients eligible (87.5%). The median time from surgery to filling in the questionnaires was 35 months. For all scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-C38, no significant differences in median scores were observed between the two groups of patients.</italic><italic><bold>Conclusions.</bold> QOL did not differ in patients with abdominoperineal resection from patients with sphinctersparing surgery.</italic></abstract>

Background. The literature reports are unclear whether a permanent stoma reduces the quality of life (QOL) of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3-4 and/or N+). Our aim was to compare the QLQ of patients with abdominoperineal resection and with restorative surgery, treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy in a prospective phase II clinical trial.Methods. Fifty-seven patients were irradiated to 45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks to the pelvis concomitantly with oral capecitabine 825 mg/m2, twice a day, including weekends. Surgery was scheduled 4-6 weeks after the completion of the chemoradiotherapy. Four courses of chemotherapy were planned postoperatively. Patients still alive and without recurrence of the disease, with a minimum follow up of 2 years, were surveyed with two self-rating questionnaires developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): one was cancer specific (EORTC QLQ-C30) and one was site specific (EORTC QLQ-C38).Results. QLQ was assessed in 28 of 32 patients eligible (87.5%). The median time from surgery to filling in the questionnaires was 35 months. For all scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-C38, no significant differences in median scores were observed between the two groups of patients.Conclusions. QOL did not differ in patients with abdominoperineal resection from patients with sphinctersparing surgery.

Quality of life in patients after combined modality treatment of rectal cancer: Report of a prospective phase II study

Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia

Radiology and Oncology

Background. The literature reports are unclear whether a permanent stoma reduces the quality of life (QOL) of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer...

Quality of life in patients after combined modality treatment of rectal cancer: Report of a prospective phase II study

Published Online: Dec 29, 2008

Page range: 207 - 214

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-008-0019-z

Keywords
preoperative radiochemotherapy, rectal cancer, quality of life

This content is open access.

Quality of life in patients after combined modality treatment of rectal cancer: Report of a prospective phase II study

Published Online: Dec 29, 2008

Page range: 207 - 214

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-008-0019-z

Keywordspreoperative radiochemotherapy, rectal cancer, quality of life

This content is open access.

Keywords
preoperative radiochemotherapy, rectal cancer, quality of life