Quality of Life in the First Year after Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Akira Tsunoda, Kentaroh Nakao, Manabu Takata, Goichi Kamiyama, Kenshi Hiratsuka, Katsuo Yamazaki, Naoto Suzuki, Masahiro Hayasi, Naokuni Yasuda and Mitsuo Kusano

Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Showa University School of Medicine

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the postoperative quality of life (QOL) in patients with colorectal cancer and to analyze the predictors of QOL one year after operation in this population. Methods: Subjects were 46 patients who undergoing curative resection for colorectal cancer who participated in a prospective longitudinal study in which detailed information was collected through standardized measures of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, and clinical evaluation. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of QOL at 1 year after surgery. Results: A significant improvement in patients'scores for emotional functioning was noted more than 2 months after surgery compared to those measured preoperatively. Scores for global QOL significantly improved over 6 months postoperatively, for fatigue after 7 months and for pain after 2 months compared to those measured 1 month after surgery, when scores were poorest. Poorer QOL 1 year after surgery was significantly associated with unemployment, positive lymph node involvement, and stoma. Discussion: A significant postoperative improvement in global QOL, emotional function, fatigue, and pain were found in colorectal cancer patients. Those who reported lower QOL at 1 year after surgery had unemployment, positive lymph node involvement, and stoma.

Key words
colorectal cancer, quality of life

Reprint requests
Akira Tsunoda Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Showa University School of Medicine
1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666 JAPAN

Accepted
April 28, 2004

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